Lady of Burlesque

Lady of Burlesque
by William A. Wellman

Lady of Burlesque
List Price: $7.98
Category: DVD
See more DVD details

Buy Lady of Burlesque at Amazon.com
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Barbara Stanwyck, Charles Dingle, Iris Adrian, J. Edward Bromberg, Michael O'Shea
Director: William A. Wellman
Cinematographer: Robert De Grasse
Producer: Hunt Stromberg
Writer: Gypsy Rose Lee
Writer: James Gunn
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-04-16
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Alpha Video

DVD Reviews of Lady of Burlesque

DVD Review: Lady of Burlesque
Summary: 4 Stars

In theory, LADY OF BURLESQUE is a murder mystery, but mystery takes a back seat to the brawling backstage antics of crossed love affairs and star rivalry. Barbara Stanwyck endows star stripper "Dixie Daisy" with her own memorable brand of tough class--and although she can only be shown from the waist up when she bumps and grinds, she still manages to tear strips off her musical number "Play It On The G-String." The rest of the cast is equally memorable, many of them burlesque stars in their own right. Pinky Lee (Mandy) is memorably teamed with Marion Martin (Alice Angel) to delightful effect; Iris Adrian (Gee-Gee)is the gum smacking brash blonde to end all gum smacking brash blondes; and such memorable character actors as Michael O'Shea (Biff), Gloria Dickson (Dolly), and J. Edward Bromberg (Foss) round out the cast superbly.

Sad to say, LADY OF BURLESQUE has fallen into public domain, and it has not been well preserved. I have seen several releases of the film, and all of them are plagued with breaks in the film and the soundtrack. LADY OF BURLESQUE may never be regarded as a "great" film, but it is an extremely entertaining one, particularly for those who already know something about the now-lost world of burlesque. As one character says, "Makes me want to leave the wife!" Recommended.

DVD Review: The History of Cinema...
Summary: 5 Stars

This film is full of surprises. I saw it accidentally and thought it was much older than I discovered it is when looking it up on IMDb. It's like a peek backstage at a burlesque show where all of the aciton happens. It actually catches your interest and manages to hold it, because of these historical artifacts if nothing else.

For example, you'll be surprised to see Barbara Stanwyck dancing and doing it very well, in long full body shots that show it's actually her doing the dancing.

Next you'll see Pee Wee Herman...then realize it couldn't possibly be him and you realize it's Pinky Lee, the one who inspired Herman's career. You'll recognize all of the vaudeville routines from other comedians. Abbott and Costello's routines especially. All in all it's a film worth watching, and watch for the surprises as well. You'll never realize how much you owe to burlesque and vaudeville and how you have laughed all your life at jokes that were written long before any of us were ever born.

DVD Review: Entertaining film but public domain quality print
Summary: 4 Stars

"Lady of Burlesque" has been in the public domain for years with some lousy prints. This DVD is probably the best available. Even so, the soundtrack is still often hard to hear and there are some jumps in continuity. A pity too, because this is a very entertaining film.

Gutsy William Wellman directed the laconic Barbara Stanwyck in a role which returns her to her roots on Broadway. She sings, dances, throws off the wisecracks and easily dominates the screen with her witty performance. She is beautifully paired with the underrated Michael O'Shea as a Burlesque comic and surrounded by as tough a group of broads as ever assembled - foul mouthed Iris Adrian, dumb Marion Martin and bitter Gloria Dickson are standouts. The film is very clever because while the censorship would not allow anything too raunchy, Wellman brilliantly creates the tawdry backstage atmosphere of a burlesque theatre.

The film is based on famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee's novel "The G String Murders". The murder mystery is trite and secondary to the byplay.

DVD Review: Based on the G-String Murders by Gypsy Rose Lee
Summary: 5 Stars

By 1942, the Burlesque movies were all but over thanks to the "Production Code" brought upon Hollywood by the Moral Majority. However, Lady of Burlesque, based on the book "The G-String Murders" written by Gypsy Rose Lee, was brought to the screen.

Lady of Burlesque stars Barbara Stanwyck, alongside many of the Burlesque Stars of the day such as Dixie Daisy & Pinky Lee. This movie has been classified as a mystery/thriller but has a lot of relationship drama as love triangles and rivalry between the stars crowds the backstage.

DVD Review: Based on the G-String Murders by Gypsy Rose Lee
Summary: 5 Stars

By 1942, the Burlesque movies were all but over thanks to the "Production Code" brought upon Hollywood by the Moral Majority. However, Lady of Burlesque, based on the book "The G-String Murders" written by Gypsy Rose Lee, was brought to the screen.

Lady of Burlesque stars Barbara Stanwyck, alongside many of the Burlesque Stars of the day such as Dixie Daisy & Pinky Lee. This movie has been classified as a mystery/thriller but has a lot of relationship drama as love triangles and rivalry between the stars crowds the backstage.

General DVDs

DVD Video
Bestsellers in General DVDs
The Office - Season Five ImageThe Office - Season Five
UNI DIST CORP. (MCA); Release date: 2009-09-08; DVD
Best price: $22.39
Price in other shops: $59.98
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) ImageNational Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-09-30; DVD
Best price: $9.48
Price in other shops: $19.96
Spaceballs ImageSpaceballs
MGM HOME VIDEO (UNDER FOX); Release date: 2000-04-25; DVD
Best price: $3.42
Price in other shops: $14.98
The Ugly Truth (Widescreen Edition) ImageThe Ugly Truth (Widescreen Edition)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2009-11-10; DVD
Best price: $13.49
Price in other shops: $28.96
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Its A Very Sunny Christmas ImageIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Its A Very Sunny Christmas
TCFHE; Release date: 2009-11-17; DVD
Best price: $13.65
Price in other shops: $26.98
Blazing Saddles (30th Anniversary Special Edition) ImageBlazing Saddles (30th Anniversary Special Edition)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2004-06-29; DVD
Best price: $4.29
Price in other shops: $12.98
The Proposal (Single Disc Widescreen) ImageThe Proposal (Single Disc Widescreen)
BUENA VISTA HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-10-13; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops: $29.99
Cars [Blu-ray] ImageCars [Blu-ray]
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2007-11-06; DVD
Best price: $12.45
Price in other shops: $34.99
Four Christmases ImageFour Christmases
NEW LINE HOME VIDEO; Release date: 2009-11-24; DVD
Best price: $12.66
Price in other shops: $28.98
Julie & Julia ImageJulie & Julia
Release date: 2009-12-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops: $28.96
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Barbara Stanwyck - The Signature Collection (Annie Oakley / East Side, West Side / My Reputation / Executive Suite / Jeopardy / To Please a Lady) ImageBarbara Stanwyck - The Signature Collection (Annie Oakley / East Side, West Side / My Reputation / Executive Suite / Jeopardy / To Please a Lady)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $36.71
Price in other shops: $49.98
The Mad Miss Manton ImageThe Mad Miss Manton
Release date: 2009-07-21; Published: 2009; DVD
Best price: $23.99
Price in other shops: $26.99
Double Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series) ImageDouble Indemnity (Universal Legacy Series)
Uni; Release date: 2006-08-22; DVD
Best price: $15.24
Price in other shops: $26.98
The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir) ImageThe Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)
ROBINSON,EDWARD G; Release date: 2007-07-10; DVD
Best price: $4.02
Price in other shops: $19.98
TCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1 (Waterloo Bridge [1931] / Baby Face / Red-Headed Woman) ImageTCM Archives - Forbidden Hollywood Collection, Vol. 1 (Waterloo Bridge [1931] / Baby Face / Red-Headed Woman)
Unknown; Release date: 2006-12-05; DVD
Best price: $26.79
Price in other shops: $39.98
My Reputation ImageMy Reputation
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-10-30; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $19.98
The Lady Eve - Criterion Collection ImageThe Lady Eve - Criterion Collection
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2001-10-16; DVD
Best price: $24.50
Price in other shops: $39.95
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers ImageThe Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Release date: 2002-11-19; DVD
Best price: $2.45
Price in other shops: $7.98
Sorry, Wrong Number ImageSorry, Wrong Number
Paramount; Release date: 2002-05-28; DVD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops: $14.98
Ball of Fire ImageBall of Fire
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $7.89
Price in other shops: $14.98
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners