Rating: 
Summary: Good Broadway Becomes Great Hollywood!
Review: "The Pajama Game" had been a tremendous hit on Broadway starring John Raitt and former co-star of Doris Day's, Janis Paige.When Warner Brothers bought the rights to the musical, they had singer, Patti Page in mind to play Babe Williams, the chairman of the grievance committee for the Sleeptite Pajama Factory. When the lavish musical arrived on the screen, however, it was Doris Day who received sole star billing in "The Pajama Game" and it was greeted with unanimous rave reviews which it deserved. The story centers around a dispute at the factory over a seven and a half cent raise. The workers are clammoring for it while management is fighting against it. A new superintendant, Sid Sorokin arrives at Sleeptite and promises to run the organization with an iron hand. This brings him in direct conflict with the grievance committe's lovely leader, Babe. Babe is certainly smitten with Sid, but holds to her convictions concerning the worker's union. Her heart is vulnerable, however, and she falls in love with Sid. Many say that "Pajama Game" looks like a filmed Broadway show. I say, who cares? It's a great entertainment with wonderful, memorable songs like "Hey There" which Sid sings when he can't seem to get to first base with Babe. She later reprises the song during a tender interlude. Other highlights are Day's "I'm Not at All in Love" which she belts when the girls accuse her of having a weak spot for the new superintendant. The classic hit "Hernando's Hideaway," "Steam Heat" where Carol Haney shines with Buzz Miller and Kenneth LeRoy and the showstopping "There Once Was a Man" with Day and Raitt tearing up the screen with energy and topflight singing. After this, I was surprised that John Raitt didn't have a movie career. He was handsome and had a nice presence on the screen. Doris Day was perfect as Babe and I wonder why she wasn't the first choice all along. The other characters, all hold over from the stage production were first rate. Barbara Nichols as Poopsie, Reta Shaw as Mabel, Eddie Foy, Jr. as Hines and Thelma Pelish as Mae were in rare form. The song that was written especially for this movie version, "The Man Who Invented Love," was axed so that Doris could sing the reprise of "Hey There" (probably for historial purposes). This was unwise, for "...Invented Love" is a great ballad and was beautifully sung and performed by Miss Day and would have added much to to picture. I'm pleased that Day performed "Hey There" for posterity, this was a wise decision. But Doris, the leading lady, was without her own ballad, an element which has always been a staple for the star of any musical. The deleted song would have added only a couple of minutes to the length of the film. Bob Fosse's choreography was exciting and different and Stanley Donen and George Abbott's direction, deft. "The Pajama Game" is one of the BEST musicals Hollywood has ever produced. You shouldn't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent film adaptation!
Review: "The Pajama Game" is an exuberant musical...a real gem. Doris Day is wonderful as Babe. She's gutsy yet tender when she needs to be. The star belts out the songs. And what songs they are: "I'm Not At All In Love," "There Once Was a Man," "Hey, There," among others. Mention should be made as well of John Raitt in his first and only starring role, and Carol Haney, who reprised her role from the Broadway show. Haney actually performs the two most famous numbers, "Hernando's Hideaway" and "Steam Heat." Bob Fosse did the choreography, and it's a joy to watch. Rent or buy this one. It's great!
Rating: 
Summary: Doris is the reason to watch
Review: Despite having most the players from the Tony-winning Broadway musical intact, the reason to watch the movie-version of "The Pajama Game" is Doris Day. With her no-nonsense bob and freckly-sunniness, she lights up this stale plot about trouble within a pajama factory. Bob Fosse helped with the dance numbers, but his distinct talents are in evidence on only one number("Steam Heat", which is great but looks a little out of place in these old-fashioned surroundings). Movie doesn't pop or sizzle, it could use more movement and jazzy interaction, but when it does contain these elements, it feels very fresh and featherweight. And, as always, Doris makes the most of it. B-
Rating:
Summary: Doris Day & John Raitt, Wonderful in "The Pajama Game"
Review: Doris Day, without a doubt, was the greatest female musical/comedy star Hollywood ever produced. I know that Judy Garland fans will disagree, but, I like Doris better. When "Pajama Game" was brought to the screen, Doris Day was given sole star billing, of course, with Raitt, Carol Haney and Eddie Foy, Jr. getting secondary rankings. Mr.Raitt had top billing on Broadway, but this was Hollywood. Miss Day was fascinating as Babe Williams, head of the grievance committee at the Sleep Tite Pajama Factory. She falls in love with the new forman, played by Raitt. A 7 1/2 cent raise is at stake for the workers, with management playing dirty tricks. The musical score is great. Doris Day was in wonderful voice which was clear and poinant as she reprised that marvelous standard, "Hey There". "I'm Not at All in Love" was very entertaining with Day really showing us how a musical number should be done. With Raitt, she does the standout "There Once Was A Man", and they both perform to perfection. What a great number! The songs that were omitted from the original Broadway cast, were not missed here. I would love for Doris to have had another ballad, perhaps they could have written something special for the film version. Carol Haney was fun as Gladys and danced up a storm with Bob Fosey's signature choreography in two highlights of the film, "Once a Year Day" and "Steam Heat. Eddie Foy, Jr., Barbara Nichols, Rita Shaw and Thelma Pelish, all holdovers from the stage version added much to the proceedings. Stanley Donen's direction was deft. This is one of his best pictures, but he never mentions it in documentaries on him. I don't understand why he consentrates on "Funny Face". This is a much better film.
Rating:
Summary: THE COLOR IS SPECTACULAR!!!
Review: I can't understand why this DVD doesn't rate a total 5 stars here! It's one of the best DVDs I have because it looks absolutely dazzling, the songs are great, the plot is silly - but so what?, the love story is great, the chemistry between John Raitt and Doris Day is out of this world, the "extra" on the DVD is superb (an outtake from the film of Doris singing a song that was dropped from the film!)...I can't get enough of this DVD! It should win awards for picture quality! If I wanted to sell someone on DVDs in general, I'd pick this DVD as evidence of their superiority over videos. And whatta FUN film!!
Rating: 
Summary: Local 343 Amalgamated Shirt & Pajama
Review: Labor relations in a pajama factory. This is the world into which songwriters Adler and Ross managed to weave a string of Broadway standards ("Hey There", "Hernando's Hideaway") in the musical "The Pajama Game". In 1955 it opened on Broadway with legendary director George Abbot at the helm and newcomer Bob Fosse making his debut as choreographer. John Raitt (the original Billy Bigalow in "Carousel"), Eddie Foy Jr., and Retta Shaw all earned praise for their work and Carol Haney delivered a career-making performance in a supporting role. (A week after the show opened, Carol Haney was ill so her understudy, chorus girl Shirley McLaine, went on in the part with no rehearsal. She was a great success, especially to film producer Hal Ashby who was in the audience to see Haney. He brought McLaine to Hollywood to star in his upcoming Hitchcock film, which started Shirley's career.) In 1957 Warner Brothers brought the entire cast and production team from New York to do the film version. All, that is, but one. Janice Paige was replaced by Doris Day as Babe Williams, the feisty union garment worker opposite John Raitt's suave role as Pajama Factory manager, Sid Sorokin. Doris Day comes across with a bit more grit in both her acting and her voice than many may be expecting. But she makes a great Babe - whether belting "I'm Not At All in Love" or cooing the romantic ballad "Hey There". John Raitt is equally adept as Sid and does so well with his tough guy good looks, that you wonder why Hollywood failed to cast him in any of his previous stage hits. But it's that full baritone voice that knocks you over. A voice of such lush timbre that contemporaries like Frank Sinatra and Gordon McRae pale in comparison. Carol Haney is a hoot as the zany (and at one point hilariously drunk) bookkeeper, Gladys. And Eddy Foy Jr, a veteran vaudeville clown shows off as her insanely jealous boyfriend. (Ever hear of Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foy's? That's where Eddie Jr. got his start with his father and siblings.) The script also allows small chorus parts like Barbara Nichols as the dopey blond Poopsie, Thelma Pelish as the zaftig Mae, and Jack Straw as the nebbish Prez to shine in their roles and even gives them some of the best lines. (Mae: I like a man with spunk. Poopsie: You like a man, period!) Broadway's George Abbot teamed with Stanley Donen ("Singing in the Rain") as director. But the other breakout talent here was Bob Fosse ("Cabaret" and "All That Jazz"), doing his first (credited) choreography for film. He stages the star turns (Day's "Not at All in Love" and Raitt's "Small Talk", for example) like a pro. But he shines in the chorus numbers. Once a Year Day" explodes in athletic dances reminiscent of Michael Kidd ("Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Hello Dolly"). And the mysterious "Hernando's Hideaway" is done in total darkness with the singers lit only when they strike a match. But the number that shows us what Fosse would become is undeniably "Steam Heat". What would normally have been a throw-away number (a little amateur entertainment for a union rally) is infused with the slinky, inverted style that would become his trademark. No one had ever seen anything like it in 1957, and it "stops the show", so to speak, were that possible in film. For all the music and comic shenanigans, the film never looses the flavor of working class people in a small factory town. "Pajama Game" may not top its contemporaries like "Gigi" and "Singing in the Rain" - but it's not trying to. It's just a slice of middle America filled with some fine song and dance numbers and some of the top Broadway stars of the day.
Rating:
Summary: perfect except for doris
Review: The pajama factory setting is a little awkward and it doesn't really jive with the spirited song and dance numbers, which are constatly splendid. When the whole factory goes on a company picnic, you know this Broadway musical longs to be as big as "Oklahoma!", but is constrained by the very little framework of a labor dispute in a clothing factory. Still, you may be surprised to find the host of wonderful recognizable songs that originated from this musical, the cast is exceptional, and if you like Doris Day, well, you may find yourself in 'que-sera-sera' heaven.
Rating:
Summary: PAJAMA GAME GENERATES PLENTY OF "STEAM HEAT" ON THE SCREEN!
Review: THE PAJAMA GAME is a landmark motion picture transfer of a Broadway musical in that, with one glorious exception, the entire original stage cast, songs, and story made it to the screen virtually intact. The Pajama Game is also notable for the one and only film appearance by legendary Broadway star, John Raitt, preserving one of his greatest stage triumphs for posterity. The one exception noted earlier is Doris Day (replacing Janis Paige from the stage production), who scores one of her greatest successes in the role of Babe. The sexual chemistry between Day and co-star Raitt ignites the screen in all their scenes together, giving The Pajama Game, to paraphrase one of its famous songs, plenty of "Steam Heat" and earthy energy. The Pajama Game's story line is the last thing you would expect for a musical, a labor dispute in a mid-west garment factory. Doris Day is the union representative and John Raitt represents management. How they manage to resolve these issues and keep at bay their obvious attraction for each other unfolds with a charming frankness and humor. Woven perfectly into the plot are some of the most popular tunes of the 1950's, magnificently performed by the entire cast. The brassy Warner Bros. studio orchestra, under the capable direction of the legendary Ray Heindorf, deserves special mention. Heindorf's orchestration of the score is a vast improvement over the Broadway original and the orchestra plays this music with an energy and verve that has to be heard to be believed. This DVD presents The Pajama Game for the first time in a Technicolor restoration that probably looks better than the inferior Warnercolor theatrical original and the crisp, clear, vibrant mono sound matches the perfectly saturated image throughout. Extras on the disc include a complete performance by Doris Day of a new song composed for the film but never used in the final cut.
Rating:
Summary: "7 1/2 cents"
Review: The workers at Sleeptite pajama factory want a 7 1/2 cent an hour raise.Doris Day is on hand and shines brightly in her prime.She plays "Babe",the head of the union grievance committee.John Raitt co-stars as the foreman she inevitably falls in love with.This bubbly and bouncy musical was adapted from the "tony"winning Broadway hit by George Abbott and Stanley Donen in 1957.Most of the original Broadway cast and choreographer Bob Fosse make this a must see classic.The "steam heat"number with Carol Haney is a showstopper.The great 50's ballad "hey there" and the wacky "Fernando's hideaway" are featured.This movie gem is visually superb on Dvd.It is a fine,wholesome, film that does justice to the original broadway show.George Liguori.
Rating:
Summary: The Pajama Game Is The Game Were In
Review: This is a great classic Warner Brothers Hit. It is based on the Broadway Hit Pajama Game. When Warner Brothers bought the rights to the story, they used almost all of the origional cast, except that they included Doris Day is put in as the role of Kate"Babe" Williams. This is a great movie full of laughs, and and gags. John Raitt, Eddie Foy Jr., and Reta Shaw lead the cast. And you have a special treat in store. This song also has a lot of great songs such as Hernandos Hideaway, Steam Heat, and many more. If you want a good movie for the whole family. Pajama Game is the movie for you. This is a great clean movie that you can show to the whole family. So if you havn't alreaddy seen Rent or Buy The Pajama Game today.
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