There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

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.

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Phoebe Ephron (screenplay), Henry Ephron (screenplay)

Stars:

Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe, Donald O'Connor

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ethel Merman	...	Molly Donahue
Donald O'Connor	...	Tim Donahue
Marilyn Monroe	...	Vicky Parker
Dan Dailey	...	Terrance Donahue
Johnnie Ray	...	Steve Donahue
Mitzi Gaynor	...	Katy Donahue
Richard Eastham	...	Lew Harris
Hugh O'Brian	...	Charles Gibbs
Frank McHugh	...	Eddie Dugan
Rhys Williams	...	Father Dineen
Lee Patrick	...	Marge
Eve Miller	...	Hatcheck Girl
Robin Raymond	...	Lillian Sawyer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Oliver	...	Bandleader (as Eddie Oliver)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

younger version of character | male male relationship | homosexual subtext | catholic priest | hippodrome theatre | 

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Taglines:

With Love and Kisses from 20th Century-Fox...Straight from the Shoulder, Right from the Heart Comes...The Musicavalcade and the Personal Story of the Greatest Business on Earth!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1955 (Uruguay)

Also Known As:

Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business

Filming Locations:

Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$5,103,000, 31 December 1954

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Irving Berlin loved Ethel Merman, having first worked with her in a previous cavalcade of his songs, Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938). After that film, Berlin told her that he was so impressed with her talent that he promised to work with her again. He kept that promise and wrote two Broadway shows especially for her: "Annie Get Your Gun" in 1946 and "Call Me Madam" in 1950, the latter of which also starred Merman in the film adaptation: Call Me Madam (1953). The song "There's No Business Like Show Business" is from "Annie Get Your Gun".

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Goofs

Molly sings "There's No Business Like Show Business" at the show commemorating the closing of the New York Hippodrome. The theater closed in 1939. The song was introduced by [Ethel Merman] in 1946 when she debuted the role of [Annie Oakley] in "Annie Get Your Gun" on Broadway.

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Quotes

Molly Donahue: You've gotta stop 'em, Terry!
Terrance Donahue: Me?
Molly Donahue: Certainly. You run this act.
Terrance Donahue: Ha, all of a sudden, when something goes wrong, I run the act.
Molly Donahue: Don't raise your voice to me!
Terrance Donahue: Who do you think *you* are, Whispering Jack Smith?

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Connections

References Annie Get Your Gun (1950)

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Soundtracks

If You Believe
(uncredited)
Written by Irving Berlin
Performed by Johnnie Ray

User Reviews

Classic musical drama!

The first time you watch this movie, you'll think it's long, boring, and stupid. The second time you watch this movie, you'll love it. I can't begin to tell you why, but it's the truth. (I had the chance to show this film to an audience during a Donald O'Connor film festival. People came up to me weeks later to say that they had caught it again on cable, and loved it the second time through.)

Marilyn is definately "ehh". This movie was filmed during her worst years of personal abuses, and it shows all over her face and her work, lending a shadowy sadness to her character for modern audiences. Donald O'Connor's character also takes on a new depth for modern viewers familiar with his own life's history, oftentimes with a sharp poignance that helps him grab control of so many scenes, and turn his character's story into the strongest sub-plot of the film.

Merman is BRILLIANT as the real head of this family, giving us a wonderfully unique character. Her role as the strong, smart, powerful, and loving mother is truly a standout for the 50's in general, and musicals in particular.