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IMDbPro

Playmates

  • 19411941
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
302
YOUR RATING
John Barrymore, Kay Kyser, Ginny Simms, and Lupe Velez in Playmates (1941)
ComedyMusic
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 (K... Read allLulu 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... Read allLulu 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... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
302
YOUR RATING
    • David Butler
    • James V. Kern(story)
    • M.M. Musselman(story)
    • Arthur Phillips(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Kay Kyser
    • John Barrymore
    • Lupe Velez
    • David Butler
    • James V. Kern(story)
    • M.M. Musselman(story)
    • Arthur Phillips(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Kay Kyser
    • John Barrymore
    • Lupe Velez
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    John Barrymore, Peter Lind Hayes, Patsy Kelly, Kay Kyser, Ginny Simms, and Lupe Velez in Playmates (1941)
    John Barrymore and Kay Kyser in Playmates (1941)
    John Barrymore, Kay Kyser, Ginny Simms, and Lupe Velez in Playmates (1941)
    John Barrymore, Patsy Kelly, Kay Kyser, Ginny Simms, and Lupe Velez in Playmates (1941)
    Kay Kyser and Lupe Velez in Playmates (1941)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kay Kyser
    Kay Kyser
    • Kay Kyser
    John Barrymore
    John Barrymore
    • John Barrymore
    Lupe Velez
    Lupe Velez
    • Carmen del Toro
    Ginny Simms
    Ginny Simms
    • Ginny Simms - Band Singer
    May Robson
    May Robson
    • Grandma Kyser
    Patsy Kelly
    Patsy Kelly
    • Lulu Monahan
    Peter Lind Hayes
    Peter Lind Hayes
    • Peter Lindsay
    Kay Kyser Band
    Kay Kyser Band
    • Kay Kyser's Band
    Harry Babbitt
    Harry Babbitt
    • Harry Babbitt - Band Member
    M.A. Bogue
    M.A. Bogue
    • Ish Kabibble
    • (as Ish Kabibble)
    Sully Mason
    Sully Mason
    • Sully Mason - Band Member
    Dorothy Babb
    Dorothy Babb
    • Autograph Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Leon Belasco
    Leon Belasco
    • Prince Maharoohu
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph E. Bernard
    Joseph E. Bernard
    • Thomas
    • (uncredited)
    William Brandt
    • Member The Guardsmen
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Carr
    • Pee Wee
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Cartledge
    • Page Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    Hobart Cavanaugh
    • Philip Tremble
    • (uncredited)
      • David Butler
      • James V. Kern(story) (screenplay)
      • M.M. Musselman(story)
      • Arthur Phillips(additional dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film contains the only screen footage of John Barrymore reciting Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Nelson Pennypacker: I agree with you. Barrymore's a great actor.

      Lulu Monahan: Oh, you can say that again. And when he's on the air for you, he'll sell more of your Vitamin L tablets...

      Mr. Nelson Pennypacker: Not Vitamin L, Vitamin A!

      Lulu Monahan: Well, they taste like L to me. Ha ha ha! Some joke, huh?

    • Connections
      References Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)
    • Soundtracks
      How Long Did I Dream
      (1941)

      Music by Jimmy Van Heusen (as James Van Husen)

      Lyrics by Johnny Burke

      Sung by Ginny Simms with the Kay Kyser Band

    User reviews16

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    An inglorious end
    John Barrymore's career came to an ingloroious end when he was top billed by Kay Kyser and was acting basically as a stooge for Kyser and the rest of the cast of Playmates. Most especially Patsy Kelly who plays agent to an actor named John Barrymore.

    Peter Lind Hayes is Kyser's agent and the two of them cook up a plot to help the both of them. For his radio show with studio audience Kyser is to be taught Shakespeare by one of the Bard's most noted exponents.

    Kay Kyser was a very big name on radio and in record sales for the whole decade of the Forties. Occasionally he did a film like Playmates and he never played anything more than Kay Kyser which is what the movie-going public wanted from him.

    The music is fine, it's always nice to hear Harry Babbitt and Ginny Simms sing. Poor Barrymore though. This was what he was reduced to at the end. At the same time he was doing this in his final career engagement he was also being a stooge for Rudy Vallee on his radio show The Fleischman hour.

    There's another Hollywood tragedy here as well. Lupe Velez plays a female bullfighter not too much different from her Mexican Spitfire character. In two years she would be dead by suicide. Lupe was a major star at the beginning of sound, but she liked to party hearty and she ended in B films.

    Playmates is good for fans of Kay Kyser, but poignantly sad for those who like John Barrymore and Lupe Velez.
    helpful•3
    2
    • bkoganbing
    • Jan 21, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 26, 1941 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 36 minutes
      • Black and White

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