Playmates (1941)

Lulu Monahan (Patsy Kelly), the press agent for John Barrymore (John Barrymore),is attempting to get a sponsor for a radio program. To that end, she and the agent for bandleader Kay Kyser (... See full summary »

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

James V. Kern (story), M.M. Musselman (story)

Stars:

Kay Kyser, John Barrymore, Lupe Velez

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kay Kyser	...	Kay Kyser
John Barrymore	...	John Barrymore
Lupe Velez	...	Carmen del Toro
Ginny Simms	...	Ginny Simms - Band Singer
May Robson	...	Grandma Kyser
Patsy Kelly	...	Lulu Monahan
Peter Lind Hayes	...	Peter Lindsay
Kay Kyser Band	...	Kay Kyser's Band
Harry Babbitt	...	Harry Babbitt - Band Member
M.A. Bogue	...	Ish Kabibble (as Ish Kabibble)
Sully Mason	...	Sully Mason - Band Member

Storyline

Lulu Monahan (Patsy Kelly), the press agent for John Barrymore (John Barrymore),is attempting to get a sponsor for a radio program. To that end, she and the agent for bandleader Kay Kyser (Kay Kyser), plant a story that the great Shakespearean actor, over his heartfelt objections, will teach Kyser how to play Shakespeare, which isn't the same as playing Paducah, which soon becomes evident. Highlights are the singing of Ginny Simms and a rumba by Lupe Velez; lowlights already cited.

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Plot Keywords:

actor shares last name with character | actor shares first and last name with character | actress shares first and last name with character | actress shares first name with character | actress shares last name with character | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 December 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dois Romeus Enguiçados

Filming Locations:

Pasadena, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min (copyright length) 95 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Jacques Vanaire (Alphonse), Sally Cairns (Manicurist), William Halligan (Mr. Loomis) and William Emile (Fencing Instructor). Both Marshall Ruth and Wally Walker were inside a bull costume and could not be identified, but it is assumed they were there.

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Goofs

When Carmen throws the knife at John and Lulu, the wire used is clearly visible, and a small hole where it sticks in the wall is already present.

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Quotes

Lulu Monahan: You help me build up this gag with Kyser and you'll have a nice, juicy, big radio deal and your worries'll be over!
John Barrymore: But, why Kyser? I would rather be found lying on a flop house floor getting stiff with rigor mortis.
Lulu Monahan: You can get stiff with anybody you want; but, Kyser has news value. And we're gonna cash in on it if I have to bust a girdle trying!

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Connections

References Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

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Soundtracks

Romeo Smith and Juliet Jones
(1941)
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Husen)
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason, Ginny Simms, M.A. Bogue, Peter Lind Hayes and The Guardsmen,
with the Kay Kyser Band at the Festival

User Reviews

Swing and Shakespeare; Kyser and Barrymore don't mix.

I would have had a much more positive view of this movie if I didn't know and admire John Barrymore.

On the surface of it, this is as good as any of the rest of Kay Kyser's ouevre. If you like him (he is, admittedly, an acquired taste), you will probably like this movie. Lupe Velez and Patsy Kelly add their talents to the usual mix of corn and Swing supplied by Kay, Harry Babbitt, and Ish Kabibble (the true inventor of the Beatle haircut).

What keeps me from truly enjoying this film is the presence of the great John Barrymore in a role more suited to Edgar Kennedy. In his last screen appearance, Barrymore grimaces and cavorts like a Stooge and is obviously reading his lines from cards because he can't remember them anymore. Whether or not the tears in his eyes and on his cheeks are real as he mumbles through Hamlet's soliloquy one last time, mine were real enough.

If you don't reverence Barrymore, and you are a student of the Kollege of Musical Knowledge, this will be your cup of tea. If either of the above isn't true, give it a miss.