Rating: 
Summary: Stanwyck Brassy Fun in Burlesque Mystery
Review: "Lady of Burlesque" is a must for any movie-lover's library and certainly for mystery or Barbara Stanwyck fans. The DVD quality is reasonably clear, aside from that tinny sound quality at times that makes dialogue difficult to hear -- not a major impediment, however, only a problem on occasion, but the film itself is an absolute delight. First of all, in spite of censorship that presumably sanitized the "stripping" sequences, it still presents a wonderful window into a vanished world -- the world of burlesque and vaudeville -- which was once a huge part of American entertainment. It's fascinating to glimpse a fabulous vaudeville theater (betcha it is no longer standing), the backstage antics and squabbles, the corny comedy bits that probably are atypical and the costumes.
Additionally, there is an absolutely wonderful cast, headed by the incomparable Barbara Stanwyck as Deborah Hoople a.k.a. "Dixie Daisy." I'd agree that Stanwyck never gave a bad performance, even if she appeared in a bad film, and she's certainly in rare form here. She's a sassy showgirl with rapidfire retorts and attitude, reminiscent of Glenda Farrell, with true old Brooklyn accent. Love that little snarl she gives every once in a while. Equally wonderful is the supporting cast including Marion Martin and Iris Adrian as Stanwyck's saucy fellow showgirls, "Alice Angel" and "Gee Gee Graham." They have the kind of showbizzy personalities that you can only find nowadays in theater productions -- tough-talkin', gum-chewin', sugar-and-vinegar dames.
I would disagree with those who say the mystery takes a back seat. Not only does this film entertain and amuse with the onstage and backstage interactions, but there is a fine whodunnit puzzle. One of the strippers is found strangled -- with Stanwyck's g-string -- and there are a number of shady suspects! Enough interpersonal dramas are going on to keep you guessing.
There are also a few song-and-dance sequences that seem to have an oldstyle flavor of real vaudeville/variety shows. Given that this story is based on a book by famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee (The G-String Murders), I have no doubt that it captures the genuine feeling of old burlesque.
Fun viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Stanwyck Never Gives a Bad Performance!
Review: Although even "budget" videos are no longer cheap, "Lady of Burlesque," to my mind, is a must for any movie-lover's library and certainly for mystery or Barbara Stanwyck fans. The DVD quality is reasonably clear, aside from that tinny sound quality at times that makes dialogue difficult to hear -- certainly not a major impediment, however, only a problem on occasion, but the film itself is an absolute delight. First of all, in spite of censorship that presumably sanitized the "stripping" sequences so that they are perhaps not quite an authentic reflection of what really took place-- it still presents a wonderful window into a vanished world -- the world of burlesque and vaudeville -- which was once a huge part of American entertainment. Certainly vaudeville and variety ruled at the turn of and early part of the 20th Century and in various forms, continued through variety shows into the 60's and 70's. So the wonderful peek into this world -- the glamorous theater (betcha this fabulous theater is no longer standing), the backstage antics and squabbles, the typical corny comedy bits and the costumes is nothing less than fascinating. Additionally, there is an absolutely wonderful cast, headed by the incomparable Barbara Stanwyck. I'd agree that Barbara Stanwyck never gave a bad performance, even if she appeared in a bad film, and she's certainly in rare form here. She's delicious -- a sassy showgirl with rapidfire retorts and an attitude, pure old Brooklyn reminiscent of Glenda Farrell. Love that little snarl she gives every once in a while. Stanwyck was truly one of the greats and excelled at everything -- be it drama, soap suds, comedy, etc. Equally wonderful is the supporting cast including Marion Martin and Iris Adrian as Stanwyck's saucy fellow showgirls. All have great "stripper" names and the kind of showbizzy personalities that you can only find nowadays in theater productions -- tough-talkin', gum-chewin', wide-eyed, sugar-and-vinegar, been-around-the-block-twice showgirls. I would disagree with those who say the mystery takes a back seat. Not only does this film entertain and amuse with the onstage and backstage interactions, but the mystery is equally fun. I certainly didn't guess whodunnit. The mystery begins when one of the strippers is found strangled -- with Babs Stanwyck's g-string! There is a lot of nice intrigue developed, along with the humor, with different characters being given enough shadiness to qualify as suspects and enough interpersonal dramas going on to keep you guessing and keep things mysterious. Also fascinating are the great song-and-dance sequences. I really do feel they captured the oldstyle flavor of real vaudeville/variety shows and given that this story is based on a book by famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee (The G-String Murders), I have no reason to doubt that aspects of it genuinely represent the types of people in and feeling of old burlesque. In any case, it was an absolutely delicious surprise and a true keeper, in my book. I will watch it again and again. Reminds me of "The Women" crossed with "42nd Street" with an old-fashioned whodunnit thrown in. Great entertainment with a master at the helm (Stanwyck) and a terrific ensemble.
Rating:
Summary: Stanwyck Never Gives a Bad Performance!
Review: Although even "budget" videos are no longer cheap, "Lady of Burlesque," to my mind, is a must for any movie-lover's library and certainly for mystery or Barbara Stanwyck fans. The DVD quality is reasonably clear, aside from that tinny sound quality at times that makes dialogue difficult to hear -- certainly not a major impediment, however, only a problem on occasion, but the film itself is an absolute delight. First of all, in spite of censorship that presumably sanitized the "stripping" sequences so that they are perhaps not quite an authentic reflection of what really took place-- it still presents a wonderful window into a vanished world -- the world of burlesque and vaudeville -- which was once a huge part of American entertainment. Certainly vaudeville and variety ruled at the turn of and early part of the 20th Century and in various forms, continued through variety shows into the 60's and 70's. So the wonderful peek into this world -- the glamorous theater (betcha this fabulous theater is no longer standing), the backstage antics and squabbles, the typical corny comedy bits and the costumes is nothing less than fascinating. Additionally, there is an absolutely wonderful cast, headed by the incomparable Barbara Stanwyck. I'd agree that Barbara Stanwyck never gave a bad performance, even if she appeared in a bad film, and she's certainly in rare form here. She's delicious -- a sassy showgirl with rapidfire retorts and an attitude, pure old Brooklyn reminiscent of Glenda Farrell. Love that little snarl she gives every once in a while. Stanwyck was truly one of the greats and excelled at everything -- be it drama, soap suds, comedy, etc. Equally wonderful is the supporting cast including Marion Martin and Iris Adrian as Stanwyck's saucy fellow showgirls. All have great "stripper" names and the kind of showbizzy personalities that you can only find nowadays in theater productions -- tough-talkin', gum-chewin', wide-eyed, sugar-and-vinegar, been-around-the-block-twice showgirls. I would disagree with those who say the mystery takes a back seat. Not only does this film entertain and amuse with the onstage and backstage interactions, but the mystery is equally fun. I certainly didn't guess whodunnit. The mystery begins when one of the strippers is found strangled -- with Babs Stanwyck's g-string! There is a lot of nice intrigue developed, along with the humor, with different characters being given enough shadiness to qualify as suspects and enough interpersonal dramas going on to keep you guessing and keep things mysterious. Also fascinating are the great song-and-dance sequences. I really do feel they captured the oldstyle flavor of real vaudeville/variety shows and given that this story is based on a book by famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee (The G-String Murders), I have no reason to doubt that aspects of it genuinely represent the types of people in and feeling of old burlesque. In any case, it was an absolutely delicious surprise and a true keeper, in my book. I will watch it again and again. Reminds me of "The Women" crossed with "42nd Street" with an old-fashioned whodunnit thrown in. Great entertainment with a master at the helm (Stanwyck) and a terrific ensemble.
Rating:
Summary: One of Cinema's Forgotten Treasures
Review: Although Stanwyck gives an expert and charming performance in the role of a 1940s Burlesque Queen who must unmask a serial killer before she becomes his next victim, the real pleasure of "A Lady of Burlesque" is the hard-knocks supporting cast of actual burlesque performers as they screech, brawl, snap and jive through a witty and for its time rather racy script. With most of the action played backstage in a 1940s "grindhouse," the film offers a fascinating glimpse into the now largely-lost world of burlesque itself. It should lay ya in the aisles. But a word of warning: the film is often sold as a "bargain" title and I've found some quality issues on various tape releases.
Rating:
Summary: DIXIE DAISY WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY
Review: An unusual though entertaining Stanwyck vehicle based on Gypsy Rose Lee's novel entitled THE G-STRING MURDERS. Stanwyck is enjoying her first taste of success on the burlesque stage where murders eventually upset the merry atmosphere! Apparently, Stanwyck didn't forget her early Broadway hoofing as she excels in her role. She's great as Daisy (the Gypsy counterpart) in the movie and adds vitality and mirth to a very jazzy part. The cast of chorus cuties couldn't have been bettered: gum-chewing Iris Adrian; squeakie-voiced Marian Martin; gravel-voiced Gloria Dickson; imperious Victoria Faust; statuesque Stephanie Bachelor; sarcastic Claire Carlton; cutesy Janis Carter and all the rest. The only time the production slows down is during the murder investigations..... Michael O'Shea, a basically Broadway actor had great chemistry with Stanwyck and their scenes together fairly sizzle. Stanwyck surprised many with her rendition of TAKE IT OFF THE E-STRING, PLAY IT ON THE G STRING, complete with appropriate bumps and grinds! Arthur Lange was nominated for an AA for his scoring.
Rating:
Summary: Babs does burlesque
Review: Barbara Stanwyck, one of my favorite classic stars (love that elegant nose!) is in top form here in this little murder mystery based on Gypsy Rose Lee's novel "The G-String Murders". This being the 1940's, we certainly don't see her take it all off, but she dances a couple of hot numbers and carries her performance off with considerable verve, aided ably by a top-notch supporting cast.
Rating:
Summary: "Makes me want to leave the wife."
Review: Dixie Daisy (Barbara Stanwyck) is the hot new number in a burlesque show. As Dixie, Barbara Stanwyck wears a see through sarong and performs the song "Take it off the E string, put it on the G string" to a packed house with an audience of middle-aged men who go crazy every time she wiggles her hips. Dixie's big problems are an amorous comic, Biff Brannigan (Michael O'Shea), battling burlesque dancers, and a rival with a fake Russian accent. But Dixie's problems become suddenly more serious when following a police raid, a showgirl shows up dead strangled by her very own lacy g-string. The murder investigation points to Dixie as a main suspect.
Based on the novel "The G-String Murders" written by Gypsy Rose Lee, "The Lady Of Burlesque" is an amusing glimpse at life both on and off the stage of a 'risque' burlesque show. The murders take place amidst the chaotic lives of the performers, and some of the very best scenes are in the dancers' changing rooms as the women reveal their ambitions, jealousies and viciousness. This is a very different sort of role for Stanwyck, and the film really is great fun to watch. Most of the burlesque employees see this stint on the burlesque stage as the prelude to making it to the big-time, so an air of amateurish hope reigns amongst the employees. This mood adds to the film's lighthearted approach, and some of the dancers wave to their boyfriends in the audience while others try to hog the stage. This Alpha DVD is passable quality. The black and white film is a bit grainy, but nothing that seriously interferes with enjoyment--displacedhuman
Rating: 
Summary: Stanwyck Bumps, Grinds and Gives a Lot of Attitude
Review: If no one has already, I'm sure some film studies student somewhere will eventually write a dissertation on sassy, wise-cracking broads as a sign of emerging class consciousness in the American cinema of the 30's and 40's. Or something like that. The abundance of B-movies from the era, with tough guys and hard-bitten dames suggested that a good segment of American society identified with (or at least were intrigued by) tough cookies from the wrong side of the tracks--and that as a group, this segment of society was beginning to assert itself. Where did they all go? By the 50's, there were still quite a few rough and tumble guys, but sassy, spirited broads were becoming increasingly rare. Oh sure, you had a few gold diggers around trying to marry millionaires, and that sort of thing. But worldly wise gals, of the kind one finds in abundance in this 1943 gem, were giving way to housewives and career gals. The emergence of a solid--if somewhat staid--middle class in post-War America seemed to spell doom for wise-cracking dames with a bit of a history. So LADY OF BURLESQUE is a peek at another era, both in cinema and society at large. Ironically, one of the movie's themes is actually a previous social and cultural change--the fall of opera houses of the early 20th century and their re-emergence as burlesque theaters. To elaborate much more on the topic risks spoiling the murder mystery that is not quite at the center of the film--the milieu itself is its real subject--but suffice to say that in this kind of investigation, it behooves you to look at suspects who are looking back at the past. The movie has a lot of spirit, a lively cast--and Barbara Stanwyck singing (OK), dancing (pretty good) and giving lots of attitude (no one better). Other reviewers below have quoted examples of the snappy banter that abounds in this movie. They're right. Long after you've guessed the identity of the murderer, you'll continue to stick around for the witty dialog--and of course those girls, girls, girls.
Rating: 
Summary: Barbara Stanwyck at her brassy best!
Review: LADY OF BURLESQUE isn't Barbara Stanwyck's finest hour on film (I'd reserve DOUBLE INDEMNITY for that honour) nevertheless she's a brassy delight as wisecracking burly-q headliner Dixie Daisy, in a film based on Gypsy Rose Lee's "G-String Murders".
Dixie Daisy is the headliner of the Old Opera House, now a burlesque establishment. The relative peace and normality of the lives of the performers and crew is disturbed when a series of murders take place. Both Lolita La Verne (Victoria Faust) and Princess Niverna (Stephanie Bachelor) are found dead, with their own g-strings wrapped around their necks.
This is camp entertainment at it's best. Barbara Stanwyck and the ladies of the cast shine like silver, spewing caustic remarks and insults like nobody's business!! A choice line is "I'm not staying around here to be strangled by my own beadwork!".
Iris Adrian (one of those sorely under-appreciated actresses who never got her big break) is hilarious as Dixie's smart-mouthed sidekick Gee Gee Graham. Michael O'Shea plays Biff Brannigan, a 'comic' with an eye for Dixie. Their scenes together are quite funny.
Barbara Stanwyck also displays her skills in musical comedy, performing the song "Take It Off the E-String (Play It On the G-String)", and dances very well.
Harmless, fluffy Saturday afternoon fare.
Rating:
Summary: Surprising, light-hearted comedy
Review: Nothing deep here, but that's good. A light-hearted comedy in the guise of a mystery. Don't expect to be mystified, the "mystery" only serves as a vehicle for the comedy and a rather believable romance. Barbara Stanwyck, though 36 years old, looks much younger. Her part was rather vivacious, risque, and revealing for a 1943 movie. The lady could act! The image on the DVD is generally very good, but there are several places where a few "frames" are missing, causing disquieting "jumps", but still, a good investment of time, if only to enjoy watching Miss Stanwyck smile and wiggle.
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