Between the Pages

This 1954 musical tells the story of the Donahues – a family who perform in vaudeville shows.  There’s the mother Molly (Ethel Merman), the father Terence (Dan Dailey) and their three children Steven (Johnnie Ray), Katy (Mitzi Gaynor) and Tim (Donald O’Connor).  Problems arise when Steven reveals his plans for a surprising career change, and Tim falls for aspiring singer Vicky (Marilyn Monroe).

The storyline is entertaining enough, but it’s really just a vehicle to showcase some fantastic songs (Irving Berlin wrote the songs) and some terrific and humorous dancing.  However, the film is no less enjoyable for all that.  Ethel Merman very nearly steals the show as Molly.  Marilyn looks stunning and totally sizzles when she’s singing, particularly in the ‘Heatwave’ number (goodness knows how that got past the censors in the 1950s).  Equally gorgeous is Mitzi Gaynor, who does some brilliant dancing.  Donald O’Connor is funny and sweet, and his dancing, as seen two years earlier in Singin’ In The Rain, is great.  He has a very enjoyable solo number A Man Chases A Girl (Until She Catches Him).  I also particularly liked the aforementioned Heatwave, and the whole Alexander’s Ragtime Band Sequence, which involved numerous dancers, several outfit changes, and the chance for each family member to shine.

The only weak spot in the film was Johnnie Ray, who quite frankly could not act his way out of a paper bag.  I can only assume that he was picked for the role for his singing ability (he was after all a singer, not an actor), but he was badly miscast, to the point where it almost felt embarrassing watching him on screen.  It’s fortunate that he had only a relatively small part, so it didn’t take anything away from the enjoyment of the film as a whole.

The film was not without it’s off-screen problems.  Donald O’Connor had recently separated from his wife of 10 years when he filmed this – and his estranged wife was dating Dan Dailey, who played the father of the Donahue family (Dailey subsequently married her).  Marilyn did not actually want to do the film, and was only persuaded to do so when she was told that she could have the lead in The Seven Year Itch, if she did this film.

For all it’s off-screen problems though, it’s a very entertaining and colourful film (much of it is performed on a stage setting with eye catching costumes); some might even say gaudy.  It’s over the top in places, and the storyline is fairly thin.  But – none of that matters, because it’s also a feel-good movie, with plenty of laughs, and  some hugely enjoyable songs and dances.  Definitely worth catching if you’re a fan of musicals, or of any of the actors.

Year of release: 1954

Director: Walter Lang

Writers: Phoebe Ephron, Henry Ephron, Lamar Trotti

Main cast: Ethel Merman, Marilyn Monroe, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, Dan Dailey