BB.5
(out of 5)
The life of a show business family is the subject of this shallow musical. Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey are the parents, while Donald O’Connor and Mitzi Gaynor are the kids, both of whom engage in romantic affairs between splashy numbers. Marilyn Monroe appears as one of O’Connor’s distractions, and sings the film’s best songs, including ‘You’d Be Surprised’ and ‘Heat Wave’. There are funny situations and great, colourful costumes, but the whole thing is very episodic and not overly impressive.
USA, 1954
Directed by Walter Lang
Story by Lamar Trotti, Screenplay by Phoebe Ephron, Henry Ephron
Cinematography by Leon Shamroy
Produced by Sol C. Siegel
Music by Earle Hagen, Bernard Mayers, Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman, Hal Schaefer, Herbert W. Spencer
Production Design by John DeCuir, Lyle R. Wheeler
Costume Design by Travilla, Miles White
Film Editing by Robert L. Simpson
Academy Award Nominations
Best Costume Design (Colour) (Charles LeMaire, Travilla, Miles White)
Best Music (Music Score of a Musical Picture) (Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman)
Best Writing (Motion Picture Story) (Lamar Trotti)
