There’s No Business Like Showbusiness Review

The Donahues are an all singing, all dancing, all drinking Irish family of Catholics who rise to fame on the theatre circuit between World War I and World War II.

by William Thomas |
Published on
Running Time:

117 minutes

Certificate:

U

Original Title:

There’s No Business Like Showbusiness

Brassy backstage musical shlock about a vaudeville family is, however, packed with orginal Irving Berlin numbers and treats us to duelling versions of We’re Having A Heat Wave — along with other notalbe tracks "Play a SImply Melody" and "Rememer" - Ethel Merman’s bombast losing to Monroe’s undulations. Marilyn and peppy but puny Donald O’Connor make a decidedly odd couple.

Directed in plush style by Walter Lang, "There's No Business Like Show Business" was nominated for three Oscars in 1955, for Costume, Score and Writing, but it's no surprise that the film missed out on nods for the major gongs.

Some great musical numbers but a completely uninspiring tale
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