YMMV / Lady of Burlesque

• Awesome Moments: After Lolita has just been hit by her boyfriend, she's screaming her head off backstage. Dixie, Biff and Pinky jump into a rendition of "Play It on the G-String" in an attempt to cover up the noise. The routine is pretty great - Barbara Stanwyck showing off her dance training and pulling off some great moves. The routine is good enough that it covers up Lolita's tantrum, and gets a standing ovation from the crowd.
• Best Known for the Fanservice: Barbara Stanwyck dancing around in as skimpy a costume as the 1940s censors would allow. The scene that gets the most attention is her first dance, which it so happens has her in the skimpiest costume.
• Funny Moments:
  • After Dixie's first routine, Hank tells her she makes him want to leave his wife. Dixie says all he needs to do is send her over for a couple of lessons.
  • When Dolly and Lolita's Cat Fight is over, the latter worries that her voice is damaged forever and then sings a little aria just to check. She's all good.
  • Alice Angel's idea of helping the police with the murder investigation - she was by herself at the water cooler, meaning anyone could have gone up. The detective reminds her that this means she has no alibi either, getting a worried squeal out of her.
  • Biff tries to joke that he was Dixie's mystery strangler in the dark. She knows it wasn't him because the neck "isn't where you'd grab me."
• Harsher in Hindsight:
  • This film about a fading entertainment form starred several actresses whose careers would decline by the end of the 40s.
  • The film features two sudden and horrific murders. Gloria Dickinson who played Dolly would die only two years later in a fire.
• Just Here for Godzilla: Some say the movie is worth watching for Barbara Stanwyck playing the Deadpan Snarker to perfection.
• Narm: Lolita's body being discovered has the drama of the moment ruined by Bill making a wisecrack that the G-string "isn't just for decoration".
• Narm Charm: Stephanie Bachelor's hammy performance as the Princess Nirvena still manages to work for the type of character she's playing.
• Nightmare Fuel: During the police raid, someone comes up behind Dixie and tries to choke her. She ends up getting away but it's an alarming situation to see unfold.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Pinky Lee would later get his own children's show in the 1950s.
  • Fans of The Three Stooges will recognise Alice Angel (actress Marion Martin) as cowgirl Gladys in Merry Mavericks.
• Testosterone Brigade: Many males happily admit to watching it to drool over Barbara Stanwyck and the numerous other pretty ladies in flattering burlesque costumes.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Lolita getting hit is meant to be a humanising moment for her, but she ends up throwing a massive tantrum that is so loud they can hear it from the crowd. And she keeps shouting during a performance, meaning you feel more sorry for the people whose act she's ruining.
• Values Dissonance: The fact that police can freely raid the theatre and arrest any performer they catch is a bit startling to modern viewers. Burlesque was being targeted by the New York City mayor during the 40s, meaning that the police were free to detain whoever they wanted.