Ladies' Day is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Charles E. Roberts and Dane Lussier, adapted from the play of the same name. The film stars Lupe Vélez, Eddie Albert, Patsy Kelly, Max Baer and Jerome Cowan. It was released on April 9, 1943, by RKO Pictures.
Contents
Plot
Wives and girlfriends sit together at a Sox game to watch Wacky Waters pitch. He's a fun-loving guy who is delighted to learn that Hollywood star Pepita Zorita is at today's game, selling kisses for charity. Wacky promptly borrows money from team publicity man Updyke to buy $300 worth.
In the grandstand, catcher Hippo Jones's wife Hazel and the other women are concerned. Wacky is the best pitcher in baseball when he concentrates on what he's doing, but whenever a pretty girl turns his head, a distracted Wacky suddenly can't throw the ball over the plate. The wives want the Sox to be in the World Series so their husbands will receive bonus money.
Sure enough, Wacky's infatuation with Pepita begins a run of bad luck for him and the Sox at the ballpark. On the train, the wives protest until Wacky discloses that he and Pepita secretly ran off to get married. While they are happy for the couple, Hazel schemes to have a Hollywood producer require Pepita's presence to shoot a movie there. This could keep Wacky focused on baseball until the World Series.
Pepita finishes the film faster than expected. She hurries to Kansas City to see Wacky and the Sox, so the wives take matters into their own hands, tying up Pepita in a hotel room. Wacky eventually wins the World Series for the Sox, but this time, it's only because the woman he loves is there.
Cast
Lupe Vélez as Pepita Zorita
Eddie Albert as Wacky Waters
Patsy Kelly as Hazel Jones
Max Baer as Hippo Jones
Jerome Cowan as Updyke
Iris Adrian as Kitty McClouen
Joan Barclay as Joan Samuels
Cliff Clark as Dan Hannigan
Carmen Morales as Marianna D'Angelo
George Cleveland as Doc
Jack Briggs as Marty Samuels
Russ Clark as Smokey Lee
Nedrick Young as Tony D'Angelo
Eddie Dew as Spike McClouen
Tom Kennedy as Dugan
Ralph Sanford as First Umpire
Reception
Variety said "Despite the usual 'Mexican Spitfire' series continues on with Lupe Velcez, but in this one there is no reference to the old 'Spitfire' tag. 'Ladies Day' represents considerable improvement over the old formula. It has more capable people, more action and more comedy. Film is a 'B Special' and should do well when coupled with a strong entry on twinners."