Lady Be Good (1941)

Director:

Norman Z. McLeod
(more)

Writers:

Jack McGowan (story)
Jack McGowan (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

September 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

THE TAP-HAPPIEST, SWING-SINGIEST, MELODIC MIRACLE SINCE "ZIEGFELD GIRL"! (original print media ad - all caps)

Plot:

Songwriters Dixie Donegan and Eddie Crane are still in love after their divorce. Dixie's friend Marilyn Marsh tries to convince them to marry again...

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Songwriter | Party | Deception | Broadway Manhattan New York City

Awards:

Won Oscar.

Cast

Eleanor Powell	...	Marilyn Marsh
Ann Sothern	...	Dixie Donegan Crane
Robert Young	...	Edward 'Eddie' Crane
Lionel Barrymore	...	Judge Murdock
John Carroll	...	Buddy Crawford
Red Skelton	...	Joe 'Red' Willet
Virginia O'Brien	...	Lull
Tom Conway	...	Mr. Blanton, Dixie's Lawyer
Dan Dailey	...	Bill 'Billy' Pattison (as Dan Dailey Jr.)
Reginald Owen	...	Max Milton
Rose Hobart	...	Mrs. Carter Wardley
Phil Silvers	...	Master of Ceremonies
James Berry	...	A Berry Brother, Specialty Performer
Warren Berry	...	A Berry Brother, Specialty Performer
Nyas Berry	...	A Berry Brother, Specialty Performer
Connie Russell	...	Singer in 'Fascinating Rhythm' Production Number
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Berry Brothers	...	Themselves
Edward Gargan	...	Policeman (scenes deleted)
Cyril Ring	...	Party Extra
Ernie Alexander	...	Pageboy (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict	...	Extra at Nightclub Table (uncredited)
Robert Bradford	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
J.W. Cody	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
James Conaty	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Frank Darien	...	Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Doris Day	...	Debutante (uncredited)
Dorothy Fay	...	Debutante (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Banquet Guest at Max's Table (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Ben Hall	...	Messenger with Diamond Ring (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Edward Hearn	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Harvey Karels	...	Bit in 'Fascinating Rhythm' Number (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Guest (uncredited)
Six Hits and a Miss	...	Singers ("Fascinating Rhythm" number) (uncredited)
Hattie Noel	...	Specialty Dancer in Montage (uncredited)
Henry Norton	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Ronald R. Rondell	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Patsy Shaw	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
Don Sullivan	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
Charles Teske	...	Bit in 'Fascinating Rhythm' Number (uncredited)
Ludovico Tomarchio	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Extra (uncredited)
Paul White	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)
Beal Wong	...	Solo Bit in Montage (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Z. McLeod
Busby Berkeley		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Jack McGowan		(story)
Jack McGowan		(screenplay) &
Kay Van Riper		(screenplay) and
John McClain		(screenplay)

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer

Original Music by
George Bassman		(uncredited)
George Stoll		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
George J. Folsey		(as George Folsey)
Oliver T. Marsh

Film Editing by
Fredrick Y. Smith

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marvin Stuart	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John S. Detlie	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Stunts
Lee Bailey	....	stunts: "Fascinating Rhythm" number

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Ballbusch	....	montage (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo Arnaud	....	orchestrator
Leo Arnaud	....	vocal arranger
George Bassman	....	orchestrator
George Bassman	....	vocal arranger
Busby Berkeley	....	director: musical numbers
Merrill Pye	....	musical presentation
Walter Ruick	....	music continuity: Eleanor Powell
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator
Conrad Salinger	....	vocal arranger
George Stoll	....	musical director (as Georgie Stoll)

Other crew
Jack Ackerman	....	trainer: Buttons the dog (uncredited)
Lee Bailey	....	stand-in: dance, Eleanor Powell (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Loew's
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1941) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Six Hits and a Miss  singers: "Fascinating Rhythm" number (uncredited)
• The Berry Brothers  group performers

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #7279) | Australia:G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

For Eleanor Powell's dance-version of the song "Lady, Be Good", MGM auditioned several dogs, but none of them was able to do the required tricks. Finally, Powell bought a dog off a propman and trained it herself for several weeks so that the dance could be done as she wanted.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM Parade: Episode #1.9" (1955)

Soundtrack:

Oh ! Lady Be Good

A Lot of Fun and Great Musical Numbers

Everyone in this movie is terrific, and the story is one of the better ones among musicals of the period. The songs and dances are great, too, with two of the high points being beautiful Ann Sothern's "The Last Time I Saw Paris" and Eleanor Powell's dancing finale. But most amazing of all is Powell's duet with her dog. This number should be rated along with Fred Astaire's dance on the ceiling in "Royal Wedding" and Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" as one of the best of all time. If you're looking for social commentary, turn on NPR. If you want something deep, find a stable and pick up a shovel. This movie was meant to be fun and entertaining, and it succeeds perfectly on both counts.