There's No Business Like Show Business

Year:

1954

Duration:

117 min

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

IMDB rate:

6.5

Director:

Walter Lang

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1954-12-16

Filming Locations: Stage 9, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

Marilyn Monroe

There's No Business Like Show Business

Mitzi Gaynor

There's No Business Like Show Business

Henry Slate

Ethel Merman

Molly Donahue

Donald O'Connor

Tim Donahue

Dan Dailey

Terence Donahue

Johnnie Ray

Steve Donahue

Richard Eastham

Lew Harris

Hugh O'Brian

Charles Gibbs

Frank McHugh

Eddie Dugan, Vicky's Agent

Rhys Williams

Father Dineen

Lee Patrick

Marge

Eve Miller

Helen - Hatcheck Girl

Robin Raymond

Lillian Sawyer

Ed Oliver

Bandleader (as Eddie Oliver)

Dorothy Abbott

Showgirl (uncredited)

Dorothy Adams

Nurse (uncredited)

Robert Adler

Night Watchman (uncredited)

Aladdin

Orchestra Violinist (uncredited)

Fred Aldrich

Private Detective (uncredited)

Charlotte Austin

Lorna

Jimmy Baird

Steve - Age 6 (uncredited)

Paul Bradley

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Ralph Brooks

Party Guest (uncredited)

George Chakiris

Dancer (uncredited)

Chick Chandler

Harry (uncredited)

Billy Chapin

Steve - Age 10 (uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Carmen Clifford

(uncredited)

James Conaty

Party Guest (uncredited)

Paul Cristo

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

John Doucette

Stage Manager (uncredited)

Elaine DuPont

(uncredited)

Isabelle Dwan

Sophie Tucker (uncredited)

Dominic Frontiere

Musician (uncredited)

Donald Gamble

Young Tim (uncredited)

Mimi Gibson

Katy - Age 4 (uncredited)

Paul Glass

Trombonist (uncredited)

Gavin Gordon

Geoffrey (uncredited)

Stanley Hall

Dancer with Vicky (uncredited)

Stuart Hall

Party Guest (uncredited)

Chuck Hamilton

Policeman (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Man Talking to Sophie (uncredited)

Doris Kemper

Lottie (uncredited)

Colin Kenny

Priest on Altar (uncredited)

Donald Kerr

Bobby Clark (uncredited)

Linda Lowell

Katy - Age 8 (uncredited)

Wilbur Mack

Booking Agent (uncredited)

Jimmie Maddin

Bandleader (uncredited)

Thomas Martin

Gallagher's Roof Waiter (uncredited)

Matt Mattox

Dancer (uncredited)

George Melford

Kelly (uncredited)

Buzz Miller

Dancer (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Party Guest (uncredited)

Alvy Moore

Katy's Date (uncredited)

Duke Morgan

Musician (uncredited)

Barry Norton

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Ron Nyman

Tattooed Sailor (uncredited)

Howard Parker

Dancer (uncredited)

Murray Pollack

Party Guest (uncredited)

Paul Power

Man in Church (uncredited)

Louis Quinn

Cabbie (uncredited)

Fred Rapport

Gallagher's Roof Headwaiter (uncredited)

Leoda Richards

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Bernard Sell

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

Sandra Spence

Girl at Railroad Station (uncredited)

Mary Stewart

Funhouse Witch (uncredited)

Hal Taggart

Booking Agent (uncredited)

Lyle Talbot

Stage Manager (uncredited)

Charles Tannen

EmCee / Orchestra Leader (voice) (uncredited)

Tommy Walker

(uncredited)

Walter Winchell

Walter Winchell (voice) (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Donald O'Connor had separated from his wife of ten years. She and Dan Dailey, who played O'Connor's father, were dating during the shooting of the film. After filming wrapped, the O'Connors divorced and shortly thereafter Gwen Carter and Dan Dailey married.

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During the making of the CD, it was discovered that half the "Play a Simple Melody" duet was deteriorated beyond repair, with the result that Ethel Merman is credited on the CD label with singing with a "temporary vocal double for Dan Dailey". However, the non-stereo version was intact and was added to the CD as well - they are tracks Fourteen and Fifteen.

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Marilyn Monroe's voice on the Decca soundtrack album "There's No Business Like Show Business" was replaced by singer Dolores Gray because Monroe's voice was under contract to another record company that would not release the rights for use on the album.

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Goofs

When Tim's father shows up at the hospital while the big show opens, Tim is wearing a gold ring on his left ring finger.

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When Vicky rehearses the "Heat Wave" number with the band the afternoon of her nightclub opening, it's an entirely different musical arrangement and vocal tempo than she uses in her act later just several hours later.

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In the "Heatwave" number, Marilyn Monroe actually accidentally pokes her finger in a dancer's eye, something you can see on the DVD on slow motion. The dancer is seen trying to hide behind the tree with his hand over his eye, but is enough of a trooper to continue with the number. Right after Marilyn pokes the dancer in the eye she performs a twirl, pokes her head between the branches of the fake tree and gives the dancer a kiss as an apology (it's quick but definitely a peck on the cheek to make up for the eye poke).

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Quotes

Molly Donahue: You start worrying about your kids the day they're born, and you never stop. Even after they bury you, I bet you never stop worrying.

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Molly Donahue: [speaking of their children] I want them to have an education... a real education. They have to learn arithmetic and spelling and geography.

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Molly Donahue: You've gotta stop 'em, Terry!

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