Rating: 
Summary: Not A Great Musical But Definitely Worth Watching
Review: There's No Business Like Show Business is not up there with the ranks of Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris, or My Fair Lady. Although the songs are excellent Irving Berlin songs, it seems obvious that the story was built around the songs and not the other way around (This worked for Singin' in the Rain but did not for There's No Business Like Show Business.) Despite a story that is only mildly interesting, there are several reasons to watch this movie.First, more interesting than the movie itself is what went on behind the scenes of the filming of the movie. The relationships between the actors and actresses were strained and that comes through in the movie. At the time of filming, Dan Dailey was dating Donald O'Connor's wife, whom he was separated from at the time. Marilyn Monroe was difficult for all the cast to work with because she required her own costumer and choreographer and was always late. She thought Donald O'Connor looked too young to play her love interest despite the fact that Mr. O'Connor was nine months older than Ms. Monroe (Watch their kiss in the movie, and see if you pick up on a lack of chemistry.). At the time of filming, Ms. Monroe thought that her then husband, Joe Dimaggio, was having her followed. Second, watch There's No Business Like Show Business for the wonderful musical numbers performed by Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor. The best number from the entire musical is Donald O'Connor's "A Man Chases a Girl." The number shows off Mr. O'Connor's singing ability as well as his incredible dancing ability. I could not help but be reminded of the "Moses" number from Singin' in the Rain (in my opinion, the best tap dance number ever). Mitzi Gaynor, one of the most underrated dancers of the musical era, is exceptional when she performs with Mr. O'Connor, singing "Alabam," (Her Ethel Merman impersonation is right on.) and "Lazy," and later with Ms. Merman, singing "Tatooed." It is Mr. O'Connor's and Ms. Gaynor's numbers that really make the musical worth watching. Finally, watch the movie for Ms. Monroe's sultry "After You Get What You Want" and "Heat Wave" numbers. I am not a Marilyn fan, but I can understand why so many people were then and why so many people are today as well. She definitely knew how to sell a song as well as herself.
Rating: 
Summary: One hell of a good show !
Review: They don't make 'em like this any more ! Of course, some will say "Thank Goodness" ! Still , it's a pleasant enough musical yarn and worth a look if only for the production numbers which are some of the best ever filmed .. not so much "Spectacular" or expansive as in your Busby Berkley /Ester Williams variety but just very "Classy" with a "Rich" and sumptusous look about them. Johnnie Ray's performance of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is an absolute knock out. I've never been a huge fan of Marilyn's but you can't take anything away from her in regard to her contribution to this movie. She did her "Bit" with alot of panache and turned in one of her best performances. I really , honestly believe that this is a much under rated picture. "Sunset Boulevard" it AIN'T but it's one hell of a good show . It remains a wonderful piece of 1950s Hollywood smaltz and I love it !
Rating:
Summary: Marilyn sings & shines...
Review: This film is a must see for any devoted MM fan. Although this isn't one of her better films, it showcases her singing abilities with a few musicals numbers: After you get what u want you don't want it, Heatwave, and Lazy. She was fun to watch, even though, from what I have read, she wasn't having too much fun on the set. Her presence onscreen is like watching a star shining brightly in the sky. The story is good. It does have a few slow momments, but it entertains. I also thought that Donald O'Conner and Johnny Ray were very good too. O'Connor was a good dancer and shows his stuff in this film. I recommend this film for your Marilyn collection, if you like watching her sing, dance, and act in glitzy musical comedies. This movie is worth seeing to see Marilyn and Johnny Ray belt out some tunes and watch O'connor step in time.
Rating:
Summary: Johnnie Ray In His Only Film Role, Don't Pass On This
Review: This is a typical musical of it's time, fairly formula with the exception of giving us the opportunity to see Johnnie Ray in an acting capacity along with seeing him perform. To me, his being there saved the movie from being just another mediocre musical. He was electric and it was worth while sitting through the movie just to see him, missed him during the scenes (most) without him. This, sadly, was his only film role although he did some stage work. Don't pass up a chance to have Johnnie on film, unexpected treatment of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and Johnnie's "If You Believe" dynamic.
Rating:
Summary: Something for Everyone
Review: This movie has something for everyone. Watched it for the first time today, then read reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere on internet. Marilyn fans think she is the best thing in the film. Ethel Merman fans rave about her performance. Hollywood musical fans rave about the extravagant production numbers. Johnny Ray fans rave about his only film appearance. Technical reviews(of DVD version) rave about the sharpness of the image, color rendition, sound reproduction and restoration process. Of course, Pseudo-Intellectual-Sophisticates like Tom Reynolds panned this film ... but pay no attention to the naysayers. This is a really fun film to watch, a gem, a blast from the past, non-stop singing and dancing from the Golden Era.
Rating:
Summary: Something for Everyone
Review: This movie has something for everyone. Watched it for the first time today, then read reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere on internet. Marilyn fans think she is the best thing in the film. Ethel Merman fans rave about her performance. Hollywood musical fans rave about the extravagant production numbers. Johnny Ray fans rave about his only film appearance. Technical reviews(of DVD version) rave about the sharpness of the image, color rendition, sound reproduction and restoration process. Of course, Pseudo-Intellectual-Sophisticates like Tom Reynolds panned this film ... but pay no attention to the naysayers. This is a really fun film to watch, a gem, a blast from the past, non-stop singing and dancing from the Golden Era.
Rating:
Summary: LAST OF THE GREATS
Review: This movie so really underated. Sure it's hokum, but great hokum. Splashy and vibent in it's color and style. Wonderful Berlin songs mixed with entertaining plot line of show business family in the 30-40's era. Monroe is sensational. She more than holds her own with Merman, Daily and O'Conner. Mitzi Gaynor is too cutesy and Johnnie Ray is stiff, but it all works. The ending is great stuff. No, they don't make them like they used to. A pity
Rating:
Summary: If you like musicals then you'll love this one!
Review: This movie stars Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey as vaudevillians Molly and Terry Donahue, who are trying to raise their three children(Steve, Katie, and Tim)as normally as they can. Molly and Terry narrate throughout the story, so the movie actually spans 20 years of their lives. The film starts out with a little song and dance number, and the introduction of Donahue kid #1, then it moves through #2 and #3 and their childhoods with some great comic scenes between Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey. Finally, with the kids all grown up, the family becomes an act called the Five Donahues. The first time you get to see the grown up Donahue children is in a big number called "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in which all the family members get to spotlight their individual talents. That night, after the show of course, Steve (the oldest) gets his true calling and Vicky Parker (Marilyn Monroe)enters as Tim's (Donald O'Connor)love interest, both events conspiring to break the act up. This film is filled with plenty of song and dance numbers, almost all of which were written specifically for the movie by Irving Berlin, plenty of talent, and plenty of fun. Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, and Donald O'Connor are great comedic talents who deliver quite a few laughs throughout, as well as doing a great job with the singing and dancing. I highly recommend this movie to everyone out there who needs a good laugh! If you find that you like this one, try "Singing in the Rain," also co-starring Donald O'Connor, "Wonder Man," and "The Court Jester," starring Danny Kaye.
Rating:
Summary: Let me tell you, this is awesome!
Review: To start off, I love older movies and this is my second favorite in the entire world! To find this soundtrack is amazing! I love it!
Rating:
Summary: Nobody like Johnny Ray
Review: What a phenominal addition to this album. Johnny's energy must be from heaven above. He makes a believer of me! This has always been one of my favorite movies to view but the icing on the cake is the album. I will enjoy listening to it again and again!Wow, a winner for sure!
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