| Ladies' Day | |
| Director: | Leslie Goodwins |
| Producer: | Bert Gilroy |
| Screenplay: | Dane Lussier Charles E. Roberts |
| Starring: | Lupe Vélez Eddie Albert Patsy Kelly Max Baer Jerome Cowan |
| Music: | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography: | Jack MacKenzie |
| Editing: | Harry Marker |
| Studio: | RKO Pictures |
| Distributor: | RKO Pictures |
| Runtime: | 62 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
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.[1] [2] [3]
Wives and girlfriends sit together at a Sox game to watch Wacky Waters (Eddie Albert) pitch. He's a fun-loving guy who is delighted to learn that Hollywood star Pepita Zorita (Lupe Velez) is at today's game, selling kisses for charity. Wacky promptly borrows money from team publicity man Updyke (Jerome Cowan) to buy $300 worth.
In the grandstand, catcher Hippo (Max Baer) Jones's wife Hazel (Patsy Kelly) 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 against her will. Wacky eventually wins the World Series for the Sox, but this time, it's only because the woman he loves is there.
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."[4]