There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

Regisseur:

Walter Lang

Drehbuchautoren:

Phoebe Ephron (screenplay) and
Henry Ephron (screenplay) ...

Premierendatum:

16. Dezember 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romanze

Plot:

Molly and Terry Donahue, plus their three children, are The Five Donahues. Son Tim meets hat-check girl Vicky and the family act begins to fall apart.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | WWII | Womanizer | New Jersey | Theatrical Agent

Filmpreise:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Nutzerkommentare:

That extra bow!

Besetzung

Ethel Merman	...	Molly Donahue
Donald O'Connor	...	Tim Donahue
Marilyn Monroe	...	Vicky Hoffman / Vicky Parker
Dan Dailey	...	Terence Donahue
Johnnie Ray	...	Steve Donahue
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Katy Donahue
Richard Eastham	...	Lew Harris
Hugh O'Brian	...	Charles Biggs
Frank McHugh	...	Eddie Dugan, Vicky's Agent
Rhys Williams	...	Father Dineen
Lee Patrick	...	Marge
Eve Miller	...	Hat check girl
Robin Raymond	...	Lillian Sawyer

Alternativ:

Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
Rhythmus im Blut (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

117 Min

Produktionsland:

USA

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Farbe

Seitenverhältnis:

2.55 : 1

Tonverfahren:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (magnetic prints) | Mono (optical prints)

Altersfreigabe:

Australia:PG | Canada:G (video rating) | Iceland:L | Finland:S | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #17074) | West Germany:12

Firma:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Dies und das:

Donald O'Connor had separated from his wife of ten years. She and Dan Dailey, who played O'Connor's father, were dating during the shooting of the film. After filming wrapped, the O'Connors divorced and shortly thereafter Gwen and Dailey married.

Pannen:

Verschiedenes: In the "Heatwave" number, Marilyn Monroe actually accidentally pokes her finger in a dancer's eye, something you can see on the DVD on slow motion. The dancer is seen trying to hide behind the tree with his hand over his eye, but is enough of a trouper to continue with the number. Right after Marilyn pokes the dancer in the eye she performs a twirl, pokes her head between the branches of the fake tree and gives the dancer a kiss as an apology (it's quick but definitely a peck on the cheek to make up for the eye poke).

Dialogzitate:

Molly Donahue: You start worrying about your kids the day they're born, and you never stop. Even after they bury you, I bet you never stop worrying.

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Ausschnittsweise enthalten in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Alexander's Ragtime Band

That extra bow!

20th Century Fox was no match for MGM when it came to musicals. Daryl F. Zanuk decided to gamble with this film where the talents of a Broadway star, Ethel Merman, would be showcased. Ms. Merman in spite of being the toast of Broadway, never made it big in Hollywood. After all, she was not a radiant beauty, but oh, could she belt a song that could be heard at the top of the balcony! Phoebe and Henry Ephron were brought on board to write the screen treatment and Walter Lang directed.

The musical was also blessed in that Irving Berlin's music is heard throughout in all its glory. Ms. Merman was the perfect actress to interpret the songs written by Mr. Berlin. They made a perfect duo, even though, for some viewers not used to Ethel Merman's singing style, it might prove an uneasy combination.

The story is simple enough. It follows the Donahues from the early days of vaudeville through some glittering years after. Molly and Terence Donahue had two sons, Tim and Steve, and a daughter, Katy. As the children grow up, the parents' popularity began to recede. The film deals with Tim, as a young man, as he falls for Vicky Parker, a beautiful singer who makes it big on her own. Vickie, who is more interested in her own career neglects Tim. As a result, Tim goes on his own to find himself, away from his family and Vickie.

The best thing in the film is Ethel Merman. She was a legendary figure and as Molly Donahue, she is at her best. Dan Dailey was the perfect partner for Ms. Merman. Donald O'Connor is also seen doing some fine dancing. Marilyn Monroe was a lovely woman to look at. As a singer, she had a small voice, but she used it well making the songs her own. Mitzi Gaynor plays Katy. Johnnie Ray, a popular singer of that period is terribly miscast. His Steve is the worst thing in the movie.

Although predictable, this film has some great things going for it. Some of the musical numbers are well staged and will not disappoint. On the whole as the camaraderie expressed by the title of the film is evident in the musical.