Du Barry Was a Lady

Du Barry Was a Lady

Year: 1943

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Roy Del Ruth

ComedyMusicFantasy

Hat‑check attendant Louis Blore is smitten with nightclub star May Daly, who prefers a poor dancer but wants a wealthy marriage. When Louis wins the Irish Sweepstakes, he proposes; May accepts even though she doesn’t love him. After a head injury, Louis dreams he is King Louis XV, pursuing the infamous Madame Du Barry.

Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the glittering world of a 1930s nightclub, the rhythm of music and the clink of glasses set a breezy backdrop for a comedy of wishes and social climbing. The venue is a lively stage where stars shine, hopeful patrons mingle, and the line between fantasy and reality feels delightfully thin. Light‑hearted dialogue and playful choreography give the film a buoyant, almost dream‑like texture, inviting the audience to watch ordinary ambitions swell into grand, if slightly absurd, aspirations.

​Louis Blore, a diligent hat‑check attendant, becomes infatuated with the captivating ​May Daly, the club’s dazzling singer whose magnetic presence draws a circle of admirers. Though May’s heart leans toward the earnest dancer ​Alec Howe, a charming master of ceremonies, she is also guided by a pragmatic longing for security, hoping a wealthy match will lift her out of modest origins. When a sudden windfall from the Irish Sweepstakes lands in Louis’s pocket, his earnest proposal offers May a tempting, if complicated, path that intertwines affection with the allure of sudden riches.

A sudden head injury propels Louis into a vivid reverie where he imagines himself as the regal King Louis XV, navigating the opulent corridors of Versailles while pursuing the enigmatic ​Madame Du Barry. This fantastical interlude swirls lavish costumes, grandiose sets, and a tongue‑in‑cheek satire of power and desire, contrasting sharply with the ordinary hustle of the nightclub and subway scenes. The film balances this surreal wanderlust with its grounded, comic examination of love, ambition, and the sparkle of wealth, leaving viewers delighted by the playful tension between the ordinary and the extravagantly imagined.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:58

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with Wish-Fulfilling Dreams like Du Barry Was a Lady

Characters escape their troubles through elaborate, wish-fulfilling dream sequences.If you enjoyed the extravagant Versailles dream sequence in Du Barry Was a Lady, you'll like these movies where characters escape into elaborate fantasies. This list features similar comedies and musicals that use dream sequences as a whimsical plot device to explore themes of love, ambition, and social climbing.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically feature a protagonist dissatisfied with their ordinary life who experiences a vivid, often comedic or romantic, dream. This dream world acts as an allegory for their real-world conflicts, leading to a lighthearted resolution where they return to reality with newfound clarity, often making a happier choice.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together for their shared use of dream logic as a central narrative device, their light and whimsical tone, and their focus on wish-fulfillment and escapism. They balance romantic or comedic fantasy with a gentle grounding in reality.

Satirical Romantic Comedies like Du Barry Was a Lady

Sparkling comedies that gently mock the upper class while delivering romance.For fans of the glamorous nightclub satire and romantic plot in Du Barry Was a Lady, this list highlights similar movies that blend romance with a gentle mockery of high society. Discover other comedies and musicals where love triumphs over wealth in a stylish, humorous way.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a charming but perhaps misguided protagonist navigating a world of wealth and performance, often symbolized by settings like nightclubs or lavish parties. The story humorously critiques social climbing and materialism, ultimately affirming the value of authentic emotion and leading to a happy romantic resolution.

Why These Movies?

This thread unites movies through their specific blend of a light romantic comedy structure with satirical elements aimed at class and wealth. The experience is defined by a glamorous aesthetic, a playful tone, and a central theme of love vs. money.

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Du Barry Was a Lady Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Du Barry Was a Lady

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Du Barry Was a Lady

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