There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
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- Approved
- 1h 57min
- Comedy, Drama
- 06 Jan 1955 (Uruguay)
- Movie
Molly and Terry Donahue, plus their three children, are The Five Donahues. Son Tim meets hat-check girl Vicky and the family act begins to fall apart.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ethel Merman | ... |
Molly Donahue
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| Donald O'Connor | ... |
Tim Donahue
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| Marilyn Monroe | ... |
Vicky Parker
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| Dan Dailey | ... |
Terry Donahue
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Johnnie Ray | ... |
Steve Donahue
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| Mitzi Gaynor | ... |
Katy Donahue
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| Richard Eastham | ... |
Lew Harris
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| Hugh O'Brian | ... |
Charles Gibbs
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| Frank McHugh | ... |
Eddie Dugan
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| Rhys Williams | ... |
Father Dineen
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| Lee Patrick | ... |
Marge
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| Eve Miller | ... |
Hatcheck Girl
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| Robin Raymond | ... |
Lillian Sawyer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dorothy Abbott | ... |
Showgirl (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Adams | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Robert Adler | ... |
Night Watchman (uncredited)
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Aladdin | ... |
Orchestra Violinist (uncredited)
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| Fred Aldrich | ... |
Private Detective (uncredited)
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| Charlotte Austin | ... |
Lorna (uncredited)
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Jimmy Baird | ... |
Steve - Age 6 (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Tex Brodus | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Ralph Brooks | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| George Chakiris | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Chick Chandler | ... |
Harry (uncredited)
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| Billy Chapin | ... |
Steve - Age 10 (uncredited)
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Jack Chefe | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Beulah Christian | ... |
Woman in Church (uncredited)
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Les Clark | ... |
Member of Greenwich Village Trio (uncredited)
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Carmen Clifford | ... |
(uncredited)
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James Conaty | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Alan S. Craig | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Paul Cristo | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Drusilla Davis | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| John Doucette | ... |
Stage Manager (uncredited)
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| Elaine DuPont | ... |
(uncredited)
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Isabelle Dwan | ... |
Sophie Tucker (uncredited)
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Ward Ellis | ... |
Member of Greenwich Village Trio (uncredited)
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Ernie Flatt | ... |
Member of Greenwich Village Trio (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Dominic Frontiere | ... |
Musician (uncredited)
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Donald Gamble | ... |
Young Tim (uncredited)
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Kenneth Gibson | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Mimi Gibson | ... |
Katy - Age 4 (uncredited)
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Paul Glass | ... |
Trombonist (uncredited)
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| James Gonzalez | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Gavin Gordon | ... |
Geoffrey (uncredited)
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Alex Goudovitch | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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Stanley Hall | ... |
Dancer with Vicky (uncredited)
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| Stuart Hall | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Chuck Hamilton | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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| Jimmie Horan | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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| Kenner G. Kemp | ... |
Man Talking to Sophie (uncredited)
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Doris Kemper | ... |
Lottie (uncredited)
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| Colin Kenny | ... |
Priest on Altar (uncredited)
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Donald Kerr | ... |
Bobby Clark (uncredited)
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Linda Lowell | ... |
Katy - Age 8 (uncredited)
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| Wilbur Mack | ... |
Booking Agent (uncredited)
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Jimmie Maddin | ... |
Bandleader (uncredited)
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| Alan Marston | ... |
Radio Station Clerk (uncredited)
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Thomas Martin | ... |
Gallagher's Roof Waiter (uncredited)
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| Matt Mattox | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| George Melford | ... |
Kelly (uncredited)
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Buzz Miller | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Harold Miller | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Alvy Moore | ... |
Katy's Date (uncredited)
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Duke Morgan | ... |
Musician (uncredited)
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| Barry Norton | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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| Ron Nyman | ... |
Tattooed Sailor (uncredited)
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Eddie Oliver | ... |
Bandleader (uncredited)
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Howard Parker | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Jack Perrin | ... |
Private Detective (uncredited)
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Murray Pollack | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Paul Power | ... |
Man in Church (uncredited)
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| Louis Quinn | ... |
Cabbie (uncredited)
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| Fred Rapport | ... |
Gallagher's Roof Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Leoda Richards | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Dick Ryan | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Bernard Sell | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Henry Slate | ... |
Dance Director (uncredited)
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| Sandra Spence | ... |
Girl at Railroad Station (uncredited)
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| Mary Stewart | ... |
Funhouse Witch (uncredited)
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Hal Taggart | ... |
Booking Agent (uncredited)
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| Lyle Talbot | ... |
Stage Manager (uncredited)
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| Charles Tannen | ... |
EmCee / Orchestra Leader (uncredited) (voice)
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Rodger Terry | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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Tommy Walker | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Walter Winchell | ... |
Walter Winchell (uncredited) (voice)
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Directed by
| Walter Lang | ||
Written by
| Phoebe Ephron | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Henry Ephron | ... | (screenplay) |
| Lamar Trotti | ... | (story) |
Produced by
| Sol C. Siegel | ... | producer |
| Darryl F. Zanuck | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Earle Hagen | ... | (uncredited) |
| Bernard Mayers | ... | (uncredited) |
| Alfred Newman | ... | (uncredited) |
| Lionel Newman | ... | (uncredited) |
| Hal Schaefer | ... | (uncredited) |
| Herbert W. Spencer | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Leon Shamroy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert L. Simpson | ... | (as Robert Simpson) |
Editorial Department
| Leonard Doss | ... | color consultant |
Art Direction by
| John DeCuir | ... | (as John De Cuir) |
| Lyle R. Wheeler | ... | (as Lyle Wheeler) |
Set Decoration by
| Stuart A. Reiss | ... | (as Stuart Reiss) |
| Walter M. Scott | ||
Costume Design by
| Travilla | ||
| Miles White | ||
Makeup Department
| Ben Nye | ... | makeup artist |
| Helen Turpin | ... | hair stylist |
| Allan Snyder | ... | makeup artist: Miss Monroe (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Gaston Glass | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ad Schaumer | ... | assistant director |
| Joseph E. Rickards | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Murray Spivack | ... | sound |
| E. Clayton Ward | ... | sound |
| Ray Bomba | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Etter D'Orazio | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Robert O'Brien | ... | sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Donald C. Rogers | ... | playback operator (uncredited) |
| Bob Weatherford | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Ray Kellogg | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Emmett Schoenbaum | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Clyde Taylor | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Charles Le Maire | ... | wardrobe director |
| Sam Benson | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Robert Alton | ... | dances and musical numbers staged by |
| Irving Berlin | ... | composer: theme music |
| Ken Darby | ... | music arranger: vocals / vocal supervisor |
| Earle Hagen | ... | orchestrator |
| Bernard Mayers | ... | orchestrator |
| Alfred Newman | ... | conductor / music supervisor |
| Lionel Newman | ... | conductor / music supervisor |
| Edward B. Powell | ... | orchestrator (as Edward Powell) |
| Hal Schaefer | ... | music arranger: vocals |
| Herbert W. Spencer | ... | orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Rose Steinberg | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Robert Alton | ... | choreographer |
| Joan Bayley | ... | associate choreographer |
| Darryl F. Zanuck | ... | presenter |
| Hal Bell | ... | assistant choreographer (uncredited) |
| Jerry Bryan | ... | dialogue director (uncredited) |
| Jack Cole | ... | choreographer (uncredited) |
| John Devlin | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
| Martha Manor | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Twentieth Century Fox (presents)
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1954) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Fox Films (1955) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century-Fox (1955) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Fox Films (1955) (Finland) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1961) (United States) (tv) (original airing) (pan/scan version)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (VHS) (pan/scan)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1980) (Australia) (video) (under the "Cine" label)
- CBS/Fox (1982) (United States) (VHS) (reissue)
- CBS/Fox (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Canal+ (1984) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- FS Film (2002) (Finland) (DVD) (11-disc Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection)
- FS Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
- Fox Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Fox Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Magnetic Video (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1970) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Bausch & Lomb (CinemaScope lenses)
- Western Electric (sound recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
The Donahues - husband and wife Terry and Molly, and their three offspring Steve, Katy and Tim - are a song and dance act. Their survival as a performing act of five and as a family collective is presented. Under their family name, Terry and Molly were a successful vaudeville act in the early 1920s, they who subsequently under the names the Three Donahues, the Four Donahues and the Five Donahues, trotted out Steve, then Steve and Katy, then Steve, Katy and Tim on stage as early as they being toddlers. Molly was able to convince Terry to give the kids a stable education at a boarding school as the two of them continued their on the road career in Molly wanting the kids to have a normal life. They were pleasantly surprised that the kids grew up not only to have musical performing talent, but wanted to perform as a family unit as the Five Donahues. That harmony on and off stage was threatened first by Steve contemplating following another calling - the threat not only in his thought of leaving the act, but in the nature of that calling - and second when Tim becomes infatuated with up and coming singer Vicky Parker, who unlike the naturally talented Donahues, has to tailor her act to showcase her assets. While Vicky is not a bad person per se despite Molly's thoughts to the contrary, Vicky's drive to become a star with Tim's addictive nature proves to be a potentially destructive combination. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | With Love and Kisses from 20th Century-Fox...Straight from the Shoulder, Right from the Heart Comes...The Musicavalcade and the Personal Story of the Greatest Business on Earth! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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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. See more » |
| Goofs | In the "Heatwave" number, Marilyn Monroe accidentally pokes her finger in the eye of a dancer standing between the branches of a prop tree. Its pretty obvious and more so on the DVD in slow motion. The dancer jerks his head and looks down, but otherwise stays in character and continues with the number. Then Marilyn performs a twirl, sticks her head between the branches of the tree and gives him a kiss. The kiss may have been part of the choreography because she kisses another dancer before this. But it's possible it was an impromptu apology on Marilyn's part to make up for the eye poke. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Marilyn (1963). See more » |
| Soundtracks | When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam' See more » |
| Quotes |
Molly Donahue:
"Don't worry." Hmm. That's a laugh. 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. See more » |