In Panama Lady (1939) starring Lucile Ball, broke and stranded in Panama. Fired by an unscrupulous boyfriend, she tries to find a way home …
Panama Lady (1939) starring Lucile Ball, Alan Lane, Donald Briggs
Lucy: You know what I always say?
McTeague: No.
Lucy: That’s right.
Synopsis
Panama Lady (1939) is a romantic drama starring Lucille Ball in one of her early leading roles. And the first time she received top billing, playing a character conveniently named “Lucy.”
The filmis a cleaned-up remake of the 1932 pre-Code movie Panama Flo. It follows Lucy, a weary cabaret dancer and nightclub hostess. She’s stranded and destitute in Panama after her unscrupulous ex-lover, gun-runner Roy Harmon (Donald Briggs) betrays and abandons her.
Desperate and broke, Lucy becomes involved in a shady scheme at a seedy saloon run by the tough Lenore (Evelyn Brent). When rough-and-tumble oil driller Dennis McTeague (Allan Lane) is drugged and robbed, Lucy is implicated in the setup. He then confronts her. Rather than face jail time, Lucy agrees to accompany McTeague to his remote jungle oil camp as his housekeeper. There, she’ll work off the debt through honest labor.
Initially suspicious of his intentions, Lucy gradually discovers that McTeague is an honorable (if gruff) man. He just wants repayment. As the two spend time together in the rugged tropical setting, a romance develops between them. Complications arise, however, when Lucy’s deceitful ex-lover Roy reappears, threatening to disrupt their newfound connection.
A modest B-picture from RKO, Panama Lady blends elements of adventure, romance, and light drama. Lucy delivers a serious (pre-comedy queen) performance as a hard-luck woman finding redemption far from the bright lights. The film runs about 65 minutes and offers a glimpse of Ball in a more dramatic, pre-I Love Lucy role.
Product Description
Who is that sultry, sexy Panama Lady?
Rita Hayworth? Lauren Bacall? Would you believe America’s queen of comedy, Lucille Ball!! Well, you’ll love Lucy again in this classic romantic adventure that is pure entertainment. for the whole family!
Broke and stranded in Panama after being fired from her job as a chorus girl, our heroine’s troubles multiply galore. First she is spurned by her fiance, whom she accidentally discovers is into dirty dealings smuggling ammunition. Then a desperate scheme to steal some money from a vacationing oilman backfires. Caught red- handed, she agrees to serve time as the gentleman’s housemaid rather than go to jail. It’s there, on his island off South America, where the plots and perils thicken as the lovely Lucy is faced with murder and mayhem-and a life-and-death decision that could permanently mar her virtue!
If old-fashioned fun is your cup of tea, this film, featuring a rare and intriguing performance by Lucille Ball, is for you!
Cast of characters
- Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) as Lucy
- Allan Lane (Mister Ed) as McTeague
- Steffi Duna (Anthony Adverse) as Cheema
- Donald Briggs (The Lucy Show) as Roy Harmon
- Evelyn Brent (High Pressure) as Lenore
- Bernadene Hayes (Rhythm Romance) as Pearl
Songs
- Wishing (Will Make It So) (1939)
- Music and Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva
- Played in Joe’s cafe before and after the flashback
- Bridal Chorus (Here Comes the Bride)(1850)
- from “Lohengrin”
- Written by Richard Wagner
- Sung a cappella by the showgirls teasing Lucy
- There’s No Place Like Home (Home, Sweet Home) (1823)
- Music partly composed, and arranged by H.R. Bishop from a Sicilian air
- Lyrics by John Howard Payne (1823)
- Lyrics partially spoken by Abner Biberman