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From Amazon.co.uk
The 1954 dinosaur There's No Business Like Show Business brought together two giants of Broadway, Ethel Merman and Irving Berlin, just as their moment was passing forever, to create one last hurrah: a celebration of the glories that were vaudeville. Still, it's hard to imagine Broadway--or nightclub entertaining, for that matter--ever being quite this lavish and satisfying. The story centres on a married couple, the Donahues (Dan Dailey and Merman), who live on the road as vaudeville entertainers and, as they have children, begin incorporating the kids into the act. Eventually, the kids grow up to be Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnny Ray--and they begin having interests of their own. Donald's is an ambitious showgirl (Marilyn Monroe), whose stand-offish response to his romantic overtures drives him to drink. The film is best remembered for its lavish, splashy production numbers built around some of the best of the Berlin songbook, including the title tune and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" among others. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Product Description
Irving Berlin provides the score for this musical, which follows the fortunes of two generations of a vaudevillian family. The parents are music hall partners, while their children pursue their own dreams: one deliberates whether to join the priesthood, while another is engaged in more secular activities, attempting to woo a hatcheck girl cum singer, played by Marilyn Monroe.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By C. smith
Format:DVD
.
It's vibrant,showy and over the top,corny and American musical filming at it's best. There is no-one to compare to Ethel Merman at belting out a song and grabbing at the heart strings.
.The cast may not all be the greatest of singers but,boy they can sell a song.The tale does not hold any surprises but it carries you along just the same.Love this film,just the thing for a rainy afternoon !
It's vibrant,showy and over the top,corny and American musical filming at it's best. There is no-one to compare to Ethel Merman at belting out a song and grabbing at the heart strings.
.The cast may not all be the greatest of singers but,boy they can sell a song.The tale does not hold any surprises but it carries you along just the same.Love this film,just the thing for a rainy afternoon !
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Amy Black
Format:DVD
I've missed this movie. I watched it when I was about 13, and I loved it. Been searching for it on DVD in stores, and finally got it for my 17th birthday party this year. :]
It's great for anybody into musicals, and I just love the dramatic scenes!
I bit my lip many-a time, especially when Donald O'Connor's character was drunk, or got a slap in the face. :] It's all harmless fun though, don't get the wrong idea.
Fun and entertaining. BUY IT! :P
It's great for anybody into musicals, and I just love the dramatic scenes!
I bit my lip many-a time, especially when Donald O'Connor's character was drunk, or got a slap in the face. :] It's all harmless fun though, don't get the wrong idea.
Fun and entertaining. BUY IT! :P
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Dr. H. A. Jones
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
There's no business like show business
With a host of stars and a score by Irving Berlin, we're off to a good start for this 1954 film from Twentieth Century Fox. Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey play a couple of vaudeville stars, the Donahues. Their offspring join them in the act when young, but the film is about what happens when they grow up and start out on careers of their own. Johnny Ray, in his only film role, decides to go into the priesthood, which is a bit of a shock for mum and dad. Donald O'Connor has a bit of a battle with alcohol but still manages to dance up a storm in `A man chases a girl'. His paramour is a showgirl played by Marilyn Monroe, who gives a scorching version of `Heat wave', proving that she can both sing and dance as well as look sexy. In `Lazy' she is joined by O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor, who is the least troubled or troublesome of the Donahue children. Other Berlin numbers, besides the title song, include `A pretty girl is like a melody' (the Donahue parents), `Alexander's ragtime band' and `When the midnight choo-choo leaves for Alabam' (sung by the whole family), `If you believe' (Johnny Ray's solo piece), `Remember' and other numbers. A veritable feast of entertainment for nearly 120 minutes.
With a host of stars and a score by Irving Berlin, we're off to a good start for this 1954 film from Twentieth Century Fox. Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey play a couple of vaudeville stars, the Donahues. Their offspring join them in the act when young, but the film is about what happens when they grow up and start out on careers of their own. Johnny Ray, in his only film role, decides to go into the priesthood, which is a bit of a shock for mum and dad. Donald O'Connor has a bit of a battle with alcohol but still manages to dance up a storm in `A man chases a girl'. His paramour is a showgirl played by Marilyn Monroe, who gives a scorching version of `Heat wave', proving that she can both sing and dance as well as look sexy. In `Lazy' she is joined by O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor, who is the least troubled or troublesome of the Donahue children. Other Berlin numbers, besides the title song, include `A pretty girl is like a melody' (the Donahue parents), `Alexander's ragtime band' and `When the midnight choo-choo leaves for Alabam' (sung by the whole family), `If you believe' (Johnny Ray's solo piece), `Remember' and other numbers. A veritable feast of entertainment for nearly 120 minutes.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. Reynolds
Format:DVD
Despite having been made in 1954 the quality was excellent with virtually no speckling or washing out of colours etc. I use a player that upscales the video lines to 1080p on my 42 inch TV and the result is a marvellous experience coupled with good sound if played through an AV Amp.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a classic musical fanatic I really enjoyed seeing There's no Business like Show Business Again after many many years. It's the old saying They dont make them like this anymore. The singing of Ethel Merman and Johnnie Ray was great as was the dancing of Dan Dailey and Donald OConnor. Myself, I think he was always underated after Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire but his talent was as good as theirs. Marilyn Munroe was of course at her best Another underated actress. What a beautiful woman she was.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
What's not to like in this film - great story, super cast and lots of songs. And any film with Ethel Merman singing is bound to be a classic: the title song alone is worth buying the DVD for!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By lycidas
Format:DVD
If you like the music of Irving Berlin, this film is a must. Alexander's Ragtime Band, Annie Get Your Gun, Easter Parade, Call Me Madam, Blue Skies, This is the Army, all these films are based on Irving Berlin's music. The plot of this film is somewhat bland, but who cares about plots in musicals. Of the five main characters only Marilyn Monroe is a non-musical star, and it shows. Introduced as a glamorous novelty she does her best, but fails. Her oft-cited 'Heatwave' sequence may have its admirers today, but compare it with the boogie-woogie version of Fred Astaire in 'Blue Skies'. No contest. Ethel Merman, who was always closely involved in Irving Berlin musicals (see her stage version as Annie Oakley), belts out her numbers with the usual gusto, but she tends to overact and fluff her lines. Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor are dynamic as the youngsters of the family. Dan Dailey isn't given the scope to show his range of dancing abilities, so brilliantly manifested a year later in MGM's 'It's Always Fair Weather'. The person who really lit up the screen for me was Johnny Ray, the 'baby' of the family. Forget his unassuming demeanour and inane role as the would-be priest and simply listen to his number 'If you believe that there's a heaven'. Ray (together with Frankie Lane) was the flavour of 1954 and was introduced to attract the teenagers of the day. Most people today think that Berlin is simply a city in Germany. What a shame that this great composer is recognised and appreciated by so few. I hope that this film will bring his music back to the light of day. But I'm not holding my breath.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By S. James
Format:DVD
From an era when they made excellent musicals and no expense spared, good old songs, beautiful costumes and great acting pure talent. Reminds me of when me and my Dad would relax on saturday afternoons and watch a good old musical.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
fantastic
probably the best musical ever . It had warmth,pathos and a great script.The magnificent 20th century fox orchestra makes other studio orchestras sound very ordinary. Read more
Published 10 days ago by joe D
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Brightly Coloured Blu Ray Curate's Egg
A good solid blu ray transfer with excellent audio provides as good a version, of this rather strange film, as you will probably ever see. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Adrian Drew
2.0 out of 5 stars
theres no business like show business
how dissapointing the transfer to blue ray was no better than the previous dvd release of some time ago
the picture quality was fuzzy such a let down considering the sound... Read more
the picture quality was fuzzy such a let down considering the sound... Read more
Published 3 months ago by ralph stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank goodness I enjoy good, clean movies
Excellent musical with lots of my favourite songs and actors. A real feel good movie from the good old days
Published 4 months ago by Bongol
5.0 out of 5 stars
They just don't make films like this anymore! A Classic
This sumptuous musical features a rare one-off film debut for crooner Johnny Ray amongst an all-star cast of big screen musical giants. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sharon Leicester.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks For the Memory
A wonderful example of the golden Hollywood days of the Musicals, and an era that sadly will never be repeated...........
Published 5 months ago by C G Robins
5.0 out of 5 stars
toytown
i have seen this movie many times before. i havent actually viewed this dvd yet but hopefully it will be as good as the movie on tv
Published 5 months ago by toytown
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worthwhile..but only just...
Was very much looking forward to this on Bluray, but have to say overall quite disappointed. Colours are fine, but the general transfer, for a full restoration, leaves a lot to be... Read more
Published 6 months ago by G. Feldwick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nostalgia
Great to see old movies again and again. Really enjoyed seeing all the stars of yesterday on my own screen
Published 6 months ago by Teeen
5.0 out of 5 stars
show business on blu ray dvd
this amazed me as the package arrived from the us after 12 days of ordering and postage cost was £1:26pence,the bus fare to town (5 Miles) is £4!! Read more
Published 6 months ago by eumig
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