Pajama Game (1957)

Alone and happy?

One of John Raitt's only big screen appearances.......

:bump:

I'm about to watch it now, for the first time. I'm 4 minutes in and there've been at least three musical numbers. So far, it seems like a musical version of The Desk Set.

And I searched for an existing thread before starting a new one.

Jealous, bitches?

Doris Day stole my part, but I've outlived her!

I'm trying to look for the gay subtext, but it's much more dom than sub.

The girl who plays the flirty secretary was Bob Fosse’s choreography assistant and dance captain for years, and died young from alcoholism.

Enjoy!

I broke Carol's ankle to get my big break!

R6 The Fosse moves appear out of place in the context of the setting, costumes and plot; but they create a striking contrast/conflict and convey a sense of being on the verge of a new era and the fading of an old one.

[quote]One of John Raitt's only big screen appearances.......

Doesn't "only" indicate just the one, dear?

Once a Year Day is one of the greatest dance numbers on film.

I thought the movie was a ton of fun. The first time I watched, I had no idea so many hit songs came of this... made me wish that Doris had done "South Pacific" instead of Mitzi... Here's my review...

[quote]R8 The Fosse moves appear out of place

I recently watched a PBS taping of the 2003 revival of KISS ME KATE.

That. Show. Is. So. Awful.

The numbers are good, of course. But the script is an unfunny mess. I actually kind of hate it. Why is it chopped into that terrible show within a show format?? Just do one or the other. Hate h8 h8 it!

#KissMeHate

Shirley MacLaine was Carol Haney ‘ s understudy in The Pajama Game on Broadway MacLaine went on one night for an injured Haney. The rest, as they say, is history.

Well how nice for Shirley.

Worth watching for Reta Shaw in her teddy number.

Some (alleged) events from that evening:

When she walked into the theater that night, twenty minutes late from a stalled subway, MacLaine had a two week notice in her pocket ready to turn in. She planned to quit the show to do CAN-CAN.

Carol Haney’s costumes fit fine but the shoes were tiny so MacLaine wore her own tennis shoes, thinking, “If they’re looking at my feet I’m in trouble anyway.”

John Raitt sang her character’s song “Hernando’s Hideaway” in order to take one number off her shoulders.

Didn't she also drop the hat in Steam Heat and said Shit and the audience laughed?

So she says. But she also said she’d never had a rehearsal and I don’t see how she could do that number without one.

Can dancers pick up intricate dance routines just by watching them?

This film contains one of Doris Day's best musical performances on film. It is a great film to watch- just rewatched it myself a few ago. Doris at her prime. Raitt at his prime. Eddie Foy and Reta Shaw's dance number is so great I could watch it all day. Stanley Donen directed it well, and the songs are just excellent, especially " Hey There"- which is one of my favorite songs of all time. The story goes that if Sinatra had done the film Paige would have done her original part . But she and Doris were great friends no matter. It is also a pro-union film- rare in this day.

Big miss on a line of Pajama Game Sleepwear.

Yes, an overlooked gem.

R15 & R19 I didn’t realize how talented Reta Shaw was until I saw this film. I had seen her previously only in non-musical parts. She danced and sang delightfully. No wonder she’s such a favorite at Bea Benederet’s New Year’s parties.

[quote]John Raitt sang her character’s song “Hernando’s Hideaway” in order to take one number off her shoulders.

Thanks, I had never heard or read about that.