Playmates

1941
Approved
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

For the sake of a lucrative radio contract, John Barrymore agrees to turn bandleader Kay Kyser into a Shakespearian actor.For the sake of a lucrative radio contract, John Barrymore agrees to turn bandleader Kay Kyser into a Shakespearian actor.For the sake of a lucrative radio contract, John Barrymore agrees to turn bandleader Kay Kyser into a Shakespearian actor.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.5/10

365

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos6

Top cast42

Edit

Kay Kyser

Kay Kyser

John Barrymore

John Barrymore

Lupe Velez

Carmen del Toro

Ginny Simms

Ginny Simms

May Robson

Grandma Kyser

Patsy Kelly

Lulu Monahan

Peter Lind Hayes

Peter Lindsay

Kay Kyser Band

Kay Kyser's Band
(as Kay Kyser's Band)

Harry Babbitt

Harry Babbitt

M.A. Bogue

Ish Kabibble
(as Ish Kabibble)

Sully Mason

Sully Mason

Dorothy Babb

Autograph Girl
(uncredited)

Leon Belasco

Prince Maharoohu
(uncredited)

Joseph E. Bernard

Thomas
(uncredited)

William Brandt

Member The Guardsmen
(uncredited)

Jack Carr

Pee Wee
(uncredited)

Bill Cartledge

Page Boy
(uncredited)

Hobart Cavanaugh

Philip Tremble
(uncredited)

More like this

6.1

7.4

6.7

7.1

6.4

6.8

Third Finger, Left Hand

6.5

Hold Back Tomorrow

5.7

The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes

6.2

Miracle on Main Street

6.5

World Premiere

5.8

The Saint's Vacation

5.6

My Favorite Spy

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
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...
Nelson Pennypacker: Not Vitamin L, Vitamin A!
Lulu Monahan: Well, they taste like L to me. Ha ha ha! Some joke, huh?

Crazy credits
The letters in the credits appear to be done in ribbon, and director David Butler's name is formed by a live-action of the film being reversed as the ribbon is pulled away.

Connections
References Twentieth Century (1934)

Soundtracks
How Long Did I Dream
(uncredited)
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Ginny Simms with the Kay Kyser Band

User reviews19

Review

Featured review

7/10

Enjoyed it!

I have to agree with akroyal's review above, and say that I really enjoyed this movie and laughed out loud many times! Although I did know that Barrymore was a great and respected actor when I watched the movie, I wasn't all that familiar with his life story, so his scenes didn't have a pathos or pain for me. I didn't feel pity for him: I believe he was having fun with a silly, over-the-top role, and was giving it his all.

I'm not a fan of Kay Kyser, and find him rather silly, but he was okay in this movie. Can't say the same for the members of his band, though, whose dopey dialogue and antics got tiresome fast.

I am a big fan of Patsy Kelly, and she gets lots to do here, which adds to the merriment.

All in all, a really fun comedy!