There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
61% of users liked it
(6,756 ratings)

Like Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), 20th Century-Fox's There's No Business Like Show Business is a "catalogue" film, its thinnish plot held together by an itinerary of Irving Berlin tunes. The story chronicles some twenty years in the lives of a showbiz family, headed by Dan Dailey and Ethel… More Like Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), 20th Century-Fox's There's No Business Like Show Business is a "catalogue" film, its thinnish plot held together by an itinerary of Irving Berlin tunes. The story chronicles some twenty years in the lives of a showbiz family, headed by Dan Dailey and Ethel Merman. Two of the couple's three grown children -- Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor -- carry on the family tradition, while the third, Johnny Ray, decides to become a priest. There are a few tense moments when O'Connor falls in love with ambitious chorine Marilyn Monroe and loses all sense of perspective, but the family reunites during a splashy production-number finale. Highlights include Dailey and Merman's Play a Simple Melody duet, O'Connor's A Man Chases a Girl solo, and Monroe's tempestuous rendition of Heat Wave (her delivery and stage presence both compensate for her unflattering bare-midriff costume). Of historical interest, There's No Business Like Show Business was Fox's first CinemaScope musical; as such, it is best viewed on TV in "letterbox" format. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Walter Lang
Written By: Henry Ephron, Phoebe Ephron
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1954 Wide
On DVD: May 14, 2002
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
The movie does not blend the magic of music, dance, and emotion in the way which the best musicals do.
Eric Lurio, Greenwich Village Gazette
The decline of the musical starts here. Faux Kelly just doesn't work.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Corny, loud, splashy, but it has Merman and solid cast
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Maybe if it didn't have Johnny Ray...
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Overstuffed and cornball, but some great Berlin musical numbers, especially Monroe's "Heat Wave."
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A horrible, sentimental wasteland.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Morgan S

I just love Donald O' Connor. She is so sweet and funny! The story itself wasnt all the great; Theater family is ripped apart for different reasons yada yda everyone is happy at the end. But thats ok know why? It a musical!!!and quite a good musical. The show numbers and dance… More
I just love Donald O' Connor. She is so sweet and funny! The story itself wasnt all the great; Theater family is ripped apart for different reasons yada yda everyone is happy at the end. But thats ok know why? It a musical!!!and quite a good musical. The show numbers and dance numbers are terrific! love them! See it for some fun!
Jennifer D

Flashly and splashy and exactly what 50s musicals are. Most numbers were visually appealing and catchy. Not all, but most. The story was pretty nice too even if a little dull and contrived at times.
jay n

glitzy, shallow, loud and a whole lot of fun except when johnnie ray is on screen.
Leigh R

It was great.
Anastasia B

enjoyable when it comes to Monroe, but tiring with the repeat of the vaudevillian Donohues... nice but not enough.

Cast

            Ethel Merman as Molly Donahue

            Donald O'Connor as Tim Donahue

            Marilyn Monroe as Vicky

            Dan Dailey as Terrance Donahue

            Johnnie Ray as Steve Donahue

            Mitzi Gaynor as Katy Donahue

            Richard Eastham as Lew Harris

            Hugh O'Brian as Charles Gibbs

            Frank McHugh as Eddie Duggen

            Rhys Williams as Father Dineen

            Lee Patrick as Marge

            Eve Miller as Hat check girl

            Robin Raymond as Lillian Sawyer

            Lyle Talbot as Stage manager

            Alvy Moore as Katy's Boyfriend

            Chick Chandler as Harry

            Henry Slate as Dance director

            Nolan Leary as Archbishop

            Gavin Gordon as Geoffrey

            Mimi Gibson as Katy at Age 4

            Linda Lowell as Katy at Age 8

            Jimmie Baird as Steve at Age 6

            Donald Gamble as Tim at Age 6

            Charlotte Austin as Lorna

            Billy Chapin as Steve at Age 10

            John Doucette as Stage Manager

            Donald Kerr as Bobby Clark

            George Melford as Stage Doorman

            Isabelle Dwan as Sophie Tucker

            Irving Berlin
            
See full cast