Ladies' Day

RKO came out with this innocuous baseball comedy that had a few laughs in it Ladies' Day. So named because its the baseball wives who decide to take matters into their own hands.

Eddie Albert plays the lovestruck star pitcher who when he gets involved with a woman his head just isn't in the game. And he's got himself really involved with a moviestar this time, Lupe Velez. Now she's enough to take anyone's mind off the athletic contest. It's driving manager Cliff Clark to distraction.

But the wives of the other players led by Patsy Kelly and Iris Adrian want that World Series money real bad and that won't happen if Albert isn't pitching his best. They conspire in a series of Lucy Ricardo like maneuvers to keep Eddie and Lupe apart.

Although Velez and Albert have the top billing, Patsy Kelly and her cronies steal this film totally from the stars. These dizzy dames pull off some interesting schemes and it doesn't let up for a minute.

Also look for Jerome Cowan who is a banker whose bank owns the team now and he's the bean counter sent to manage the money. The fact his bank also has Velez's studio in receivership makes him think he can combine both his jobs and that leads to some interesting situations.

RKO was a second line studio and this is clearly a B picture for them which is different than a B film for Paramount or MGM. Still Ladies' Day is not bad at all and baseball fans and fans of any of the cast members will get more than a few laughs.

Eddie Albert is the star -- and seemingly only -- pitcher of a baseball team. He has the unfortunate glitch of going to pieces on the field when he's in love. So when he and Hollywood star Lupe Velez get married, it becomes necessary to keep them apart.

I don't believe that premise any more than you do. Still, what this calls for is expert mugging, and that's what you've got in the ladies' credits. Not only Miss Velez, by Patsy Kelly, Iris Adrian, and Joan Barclay. The boys aren't too bad in that department either, but even though this is the srt of dull and lightweight comedy feature that RKO was turning out during the war -- basically one or two shorts glued together -- it's nice to see the comediennes demonstrate their timing.

Lupe Velez was a wonderful Latin version of Lucille Ball. She must have been a riot to direct. For early baseball buffs this B movie would be fun. A nice blend in the cast of two stars (Velez and Albert) and an assortment of skilled character actors.

Eddie Arnold plays Wacky Waters, a talented but extremely selfish baseball player. Again and again, he gets involved with women and soon his play on the field is horrible. His exasperated coach asks him to promise to stop chasing women and Wacky promises...and within minutes begins chasing yet another woman. This time it's the actress Pepita (Lupe Valez) and they go from dating to married almost instantly. Not surprisingly, his teammates are annoyed and Pepita doesn't exactly inspire confidence in anyone, as she's pretty obnoxious. So the players' wives come up with a plan to kidnap Pepita in order to keep her and her negative influence away from Wacky.

This film is anything but subtle. In fact, the word shrill comes to mind--especially when you combine Patsy Kelly, Lupe Valez and Iris Adrian starring in the film as the baseball wives! All three are loud, brash and intense...and together they are a bit hard to take.

The bottom line is that this film is seldom seen on TV...and I can see why. Despite some good ideas, the movie is cursed with an unlikable couple and brashness that borders on obnoxiousness. A misfire that could have been much much better given a bit of subtlety and style.

Made during the war. Some really fun actors. The awesome patsy kelly and lupé velez added fun and zany shenanigans to any film. A young eddie albert (better known as oliver in green acres!) in a pretty early role. Max baer senior, who really was an athlete. And was also jethro's (hillbillies) actual dad. The story is pretty goofy: wacky and pepita must keep their marriage secret for some silly reason; something like people won't buy as many war bonds if they know she's married. And they are worried the headlines would interfere with wacky's baseball skill. Okay... i guess. Lots of jokes at patsy kelly's expense, but she made a living out of it! It's all pretty lightweight fun, with some war time drama thrown in. Directed by les goodwins. Max baer died young at 50. Lupé only made a couple more films after this one before offing herself at age 36. She had been such a huge name in the mexican spitfire films but went downhill from there. Eddie albert was nominated for heartbreak kid and roman holiday.