There's No Business Like Show Business

There's No Business Like Show Business
(aka "Irving Berlin's There's No Business Like Show Business")
20th Century-Fox, 1954, Color, 117 minutes, ***
Released December, 1954

And there's no musical like this grand salute to the songs of Irving Berlin. Classic Berlin tunes like the title song, "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody" and "You'd Be Surprised" are woven around the story of a close-knit vaudeville family. Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Marilyn Monroe star.


Produced by: Sol C. Siegel
Directed by: Walter Lang
Screen Play by: Phoebe and Henry Ephron
From a Story by Lamar Trotti
Lyrics and Music by: Irving Berlin
Music Supervised and Conducted by: Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman
Dances and Musical Numbers Staged by: Robert Alton
Vocal Supervision: Ken Darby
Orchestration: Bernard Mayers, Herbert Spencer, Edward B. Powell, Earle Hagen
Vocal Arrangements: Ken Darby, Hal Schaefer
Art Direction: Lyle Wheeler, John De Cuir
Set Decorations: Walter M. Scott, Stuart Reiss
Wardrobe Direction: Charles Le Maire
Costumes Designed by: Miles White, Travilla
Makeup Artist: Ben Nye
Hair Styling by: Helen Turpin
Sound: E. Clayton Ward, Murray Spivack
Director of Photography: Leon Shamroy
Special Photographic Effects: Ray Kellogg
Filmed in CinemaScope, Color by De Luxe
Color Consultant: Leonard Doss
Film Editor: Robert Simpson

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Score - Musical (Alfred Newman and Lionel Newman), Best Motion Picture Story (Lamar Trotti) and Best Costume Design - Color

Cast: Ethel Merman [Molly Donahue], Donald O'Connor [Tim Donahue], Marilyn Monroe [Vicky], Dan Dailey [Terrance Donahue], Johnnie Ray [Steve Donahue], Mitzi Gaynor [Katy Donahue], Richard Eastham [Lew Harris], Hugh O'Brian [Charles Gibbs], Frank McHugh [Eddie Duggan], Rhys Williams [Father Dineen], Lee Patrick [Marge], Eve Miller [Hatcheck Girl], Robin Raymond [Lillian Sawyer], Additional Cast: Chick Chandler [Harry], Lyle Talbot [Stage Manager], George Melford [Stage Doorman], Alvy Moore [Katy's Boy Friend], Henry Slate [Dance Director], Gavin Gordon [Geoffrey], Nolan Leary [Archbishop], Charlotte Austin [Lorna], John Doucette [Stage Manager], Isabelle Dwan [Sophie Tucker], Donald Kerr [Bobby Clark], Mimi Gibson [Katy, age 4], Linda Lowell [Katy, age 8], John Potter [Steve, age 2], Jimmy Baird [Steve, age 6], Billy Chapin [Steve, age 10], Neal McCaskill [Tim, age 2], Donald Gamble [Tim, age 6]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles, includes choral vocal of "There's No Business Like Show Business"); [0:02] When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam (sung by Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey); [0:03] Play a Simple Melody (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey); [0:09] A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody (sung by Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey); [0:16] You'd Be Surprised (excerpt sung by Dan Dailey, danced by Dan Dailey and Chorus Girls); [0:16] Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee (excerpt sung by Ethel Merman); [0:17] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung and danced by Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray); [0:18] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung by Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey, danced by and Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey and Chorus in Swiss attire); [0:19] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung by Donald O'Connor, danced by Donald O'Connor and Mens Chorus in Scottish attire); [0:21] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung by Mitzi Gaynor, danced by Mitzi Gaynor and Chorus in French attire); [0:23] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung by Johnnie Ray at the piano); [0:25] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung and danced by Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray and Chorus); [0:28] Puttin' on the Ritz (played by Orchestra, danced by club patrons); [0:33] After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It (sung by Marilyn Monroe); [0:47] Remember (sung by party guests); [0:49] When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam (sung by Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O'Connor); [0:51] If You Believe (sung by Johnnie Ray); [0:59] Heat Wave (sung and danced by Marilyn Monroe and Chorus); [1:06] A Man Chases a Girl Until She Catches Him (sung and danced by Donald O'Connor); [1:15] Lazy (sung by Mitzi Gaynor, Donald O'Connor and Marilyn Monroe; danced by Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O'Connor); [1:32] A Sailor's Not a Sailor (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Mitzi Gaynor with Chorus); [1:40] Marie (excerpt sung and danced by male trio); [1:50] There's No Business Like Show Business (sung by Ethel Merman); [1:54] Alexander's Ragtime Band (sung by Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray) / There's No Business Like Show Business sung by Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O'Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Mitzi Gaynor, Johnnie Ray and Chorus)