The Pajama Game (1957)

An Iowa pajama factory worker falls in love with an affable superintendent who had been hired by the factory's boss to help oppose the workers' demand for a pay rise.

Directors:

George Abbott, Stanley Donen

Writers:

George Abbott (screenplay), Richard Bissell (screenplay)

Stars:

Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Doris Day	...	Babe Williams
John Raitt	...	Sid Sorokin
Carol Haney	...	Gladys Hotchkiss
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Vernon Hines
Reta Shaw	...	Mabel
Barbara Nichols	...	Poopsie
Thelma Pelish	...	Mae
Jack Straw	...	Prez
Ralph Dunn	...	Myron Hasler
Owen Martin	...	Max
Jackie Kelk	...	First Helper
Ralph W. Chambers	...	Charlie (as Ralph Chambers)
Mary Stanton	...	Brenda
Buzz Miller	...	Dancer
Kenneth LeRoy	...	Dancer

Storyline

Employees of the Sleeptite Pajama Factory are looking for a whopping seven-and-a-half cent an hour increase and they won't take no for an answer. Babe Williams is their feisty employee representative but she may have found her match in shop superintendent Sid Sorokin. When the two get together they wind up discussing a whole lot more than job actions!

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Plot Keywords:

factory | based on stage musical | clothing industry | based on novel | pajamas | 

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Taglines:

Heinzie...the slacker who lost his slacks!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 December 1957 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Il gioco del pigiama

Filming Locations:

Hollenbeck Park - 415 S. St. Louis Street, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (WarnerColor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the only film in which Carol Haney had a speaking part. In all her other films she was strictly a dancer.

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Goofs

Pepsi-Cola machine next to stairway in factory changes: In earlier scene, it is large unobstructed dispenser with lit sign on side; a few days later, when Babe and co-workers are lunching nearby, it is much smaller, with no side lighting and racks for empty bottles on side.

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Quotes

Mae: We ain't giving up nothing!
Katie 'Babe' Williams, Grievance Committee: Wait a minute, don't you see? We've won!

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Connections

Referenced in Dancer in the Dark (2000)

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Soundtracks

Once-A-Year-Day!
Written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Performed by Doris Day, John Raitt and Ensemble

User Reviews

Very good translation

While not the best musical ever, it is certainly entertaining. Lots and lots of songs (more than dialog it seems) with a frail story line to keep the songs going. Too bad they had to sanitize some of the songs, but because of severe censorship in the 50's it had to be done. Even in the 7 1/2 CENTS number, the had to change "hell-of-a lot_ to "heck-of-a lot". Seems silly. I'LL NEVER BE JEALOUS AGAIN was changed even more...to bad. Other lyrics as well were changed, but at least they made it into the final cut, unlike other musicals that take out almost everything and add new numbers. Only three numbers were cut from the stage version and it's too bad A NEW TOWN IS A BLUE TOWN wasn't included.

The performances are all top notch. A perfect vehicle for DORIS DAY, although JANIS PAIGE who did the stage version would have worked as well but she wasn't a big NAME. Ironic that JANIS had first billing and the lead in DORIS' first movie ROMANCE ON THE HIGHT SEAS, and about 8 years later DORIS takes over from JANIS. Oh well, that's show biz.

For a fun way to spend and hour and 41 minutes, do see PAJAMA GAME. A bit stagy but after all it was a stage play.