Big budget 20th Century Fox musical is mainly remembered for Marilyn Monroe in a support role – although she does get to perform ‘Heatwave’. I remember some pre-puberty stirrings going on when I first saw this – a lightbulb going on as to Monroe’s appeal.
The film centres around a vaudeville family – Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey are the parents, the kids are Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor and Johnnie Ray. None of them are a full blown film star – support actors, singing stars, stage stars… but of the cast only Marilyn is the A ranking. She plays a showgirl who has a fling with O’Connor which ends badly. Apparently O’Connor wanted something more – hey listen O’Connor, look in the mirror, and be grateful you got her for a bit.
The bulk of the story concerns womanising O’Connor, his relationship with Monroe and clash with his father. They seem reluctant to stray too far from this – poor old Mitzi Gaynor is shoved to the side (she is given this obnoxious boyfriend who announces to his parents they’re going to get married without even asking Gaynor; I think we’re supposed to find this brashly charming but it’s cringe-inducing).
Every time Johnny Ray appears on screen I couldn’t help laughing, and Ethel Merman’s presence is also a bit camp – they’re both just, well, Johnny Ray and Ethel Merman. But you know, there’s so much talent on display, and the Irvin Berlin songs are so good, you do enjoy it – Marilyn flashing her legs, Ethel singing the title tune, the dancing of O’Connor and Gaynor.
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