Packed with tunes by the incomparable Irving Berlin, this entertaining musical concerns the plight of the Five Donahues, a vaudeville act comprised of Molly and Terrence Donahue (Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey) and their children. Steve (Johnny Ray), the oldest child, who goes off to become
a priest, is the first of the brood to leave. Next brother Tim (Donald O'Connor) and sister Katy (Mitzi Gaynor) get antsy and decide to carry on the family tradition in New York. Katy's romance with songwriter Charles Gibbs (Hugh O'Brian) is no problem, but Tim's involvement with nightclub
hatcheck girl and aspiring singer Vicky (Marilyn Monroe) is another story. When he believes that Vicky is cheating on him, Tim gets drunk and ends up in an automobile accident. Ultimately, though, things work out for the best, as they have a way of doing in musicals, and all of the Donahues come
together for one more big number, the rousing title tune.
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS is packed with every vaudeville cliche the movies have ever conjured up, yet it is presented in a fresh, colorful, heartwarming manner. Merman is a standout, but the lively cast never allows the singer to dominate, and Monroe, in particular, adds much-needed
buoyancy to the somewhat flat story, turning up the temperature with her sexy rendition of "Heat Wave." leave a comment
