Marilyn Monroe: “I just want to be loved.”

A sprawling, heartfelt saga of a vaudeville family that endures showbiz highs and personal lows, held together by the indomitable spirit of Molly Donahue. This Cinemascope musical extravaganza from 20th Century Fox is powered by a treasure trove of Irving Berlin classics and unforgettable performances from stage legend Ethel Merman and a show-stopping Marilyn Monroe. --- 📖 STORY The film chronicles the epic journey of the Donahue family, a husband-and-wife vaudeville act who grow into "The Five Donahues" with their three children. Spanning from 1919 through the Great Depression and World War II, the story captures the joys and struggles of life on the road. The family's harmony is tested as the children mature. The eldest son, Steve, shocks his father by deciding to leave the act to become a priest. Meanwhile, the talented youngest son, Tim, becomes infatuated with an ambitious and glamorous hat-check girl turned singer, Vicky Parker (Marilyn Monroe). His relationship with Vicky and her different approach to performance—relying on sex appeal rather than traditional family-friendly talent—threatens to pull him away from the family act and leads to personal turmoil. Through financial ruin, personal separations, and changing times, the film asks whether the bonds of family and their shared love of performance can survive. --- ⭐ HIGHLIGHTS · Irving Berlin's Ultimate Songbook: Features over a dozen iconic Berlin numbers, including "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," and the legendary title anthem, originally introduced on Broadway by Ethel Merman. · Marilyn Monroe's Sizzling Numbers: Monroe delivers two of her most memorable musical performances: the sultry "Heat Wave" and the sly, playful "After You Get What You Want, You Don't Want It". · A Spectacle of Its Era: The film was 20th Century Fox's first musical shot in Cinemascope and DeLuxe Color, designed as a visual feast to combat the rise of television. The production numbers are massive, colorful, and filled with elaborate sets and hundreds of dancers. · Ethel Merman's Commanding Presence: The Broadway legend is the film's powerful center, belting out classics with unmatched energy and portraying the matriarch who holds her theatrical family together through thick and thin. · Donald O'Connor's Dazzling Dance: Fresh off Singin' in the Rain, O'Connor showcases his incredible athleticism and comic timing in a virtuoso solo dance number. --- 🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS · Genre: Musical, Comedy, Drama. · Director: Walter Lang. · Screenplay: Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron, based on a story by Lamar Trotti. · Music & Lyrics: Irving Berlin. · Runtime: 117 minutes. · Release Date: December 1954 (USA). · Studio/Distributor: 20th Century Fox. · Award Nominations: Received three Academy Award nominations for Best Costume Design (Color), Best Music Scoring of a Musical Picture, and Best Motion Picture Story. Starring Cast: · Ethel Merman as Molly Donahue · Donald O'Connor as Tim Donahue · Marilyn Monroe as Vicky Parker · Dan Dailey as Terence "Terry" Donahue · Johnnie Ray as Steve Donahue · Mitzi Gaynor as Katy Donahue --- 💎 BEHIND THE SCENES · Monroe's Reluctant Role: Marilyn Monroe initially refused the part. She only agreed after the studio promised her the lead in The Seven Year Itch as her next project. She also demanded and received a significant pay raise. · On-Set Tensions: Monroe's chronic lateness and reliance on her acting coach frustrated director Walter Lang and co-star Ethel Merman. However, Merman was reportedly philosophical, acknowledging Monroe's star power was needed "to sell the picture". · The Lost Number: A production number featuring "Anything You Can Do" from Annie Get Your Gun was filmed with Merman and Dailey but cut from the final release. · A Family Affair Off-Screen: During filming, Donald O'Connor separated from his wife, Gwen Carter. Shortly after, Carter began dating and later married co-star Dan Dailey. --- 🏛️ CULTURAL LEGACY While a box office success, the film received mixed reviews upon release. Critics and audiences of the time felt its old-fashioned, sentimental vaudeville heart clashed with the brash, new cinematic style of Cinemascope spectacle. Today, it is celebrated as a prime example of the grandiose Hollywood musicals of the 1950s—exuberant, excessive, and packed with talent. It marked the final original film score by Irving Berlin and endures as a vibrant, nostalgic tribute to the bygone era of vaudeville and the unstoppable force of show business. --- 💬 DISCUSSION · Does the film's sentimental family drama work effectively with its massive, spectacular production numbers, or do the two elements feel disconnected? · Marilyn Monroe's Vicky represents a new, more sensual kind of performer. How does the film view her character—as a threat to traditional values or a natural evolution of show business? · With its huge cast and numerous songs, does the film give its talented ensemble (particularly Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O'Connor) enough room to shine, or is it ultimately "The Ethel and Marilyn Show"? · How does viewing this as a historical artifact—a studio's lavish attempt to lure audiences away from TV—change your experience of the film? --- 🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into the iconic musicals and classic films of Hollywood's Golden Age! 👉 Did this film capture the heart of show business for you? Like if you're still humming "Heat Wave," and comment below: who stole the show—Merman's powerhouse vocals or Monroe's magnetic performance? #TheresNoBusinessLikeShowBusiness #MarilynMonroe #EthelMerman #IrvingBerlin #ClassicMusical #GoldenAgeHollywood #1950sFilm #Vaudeville #CinemaScope #Technicolor #DonaldOConnor #MitziGaynor #DanDailey #20thCenturyFox

A postwar New York couple buys a dilapidated brownstone. Between chaotic tenants, endless repairs, and romantic misunderstandings with their charming neighbor Marilyn Monroe, domestic bliss proves harder than expected. --- 📖 STORY WWII veteran Jim Scott returns to New York expecting peaceful family life, but his wife Connie has purchased a rundown apartment building. Instead of writing his novel, he faces troublesome tenants, constant repairs, and complicated romantic entanglements - including their attractive new neighbor played by Marilyn Monroe. --- ⭐ HIGHLIGHTS • Marilyn Monroe's rising star performance in early career role •Script by I.A.L. Diamond, future collaborator of Billy Wilder •Perfect blend of romantic comedy and postwar domestic drama •Authentic 1950s New York atmosphere and setting •Charming chemistry between June Haver and William Lundigan --- 🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS • Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama •Director: Joseph M. Newman •Runtime: 85 minutes •Cast: June Haver, William Lundigan, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Fay •Studio: 20th Century Fox --- 🎪 BEHIND THE SCENES • Marilyn Monroe was transitioning from bit parts to featured roles •Film captures America's postwar housing challenges and optimism •June Haver was one of Fox's most promising musical comedy stars •Production design recreates authentic New York brownstone life •Represents the popular domestic comedy genre of the 1950s --- 💬 DISCUSSION How does the chemistry between the leads work? Can you see Marilyn Monroe's star potential? Does the film balance comedy and postwar realism effectively? --- 🔔 Subscribe to Retro Cinema Wood for more classic films! 👉 Like and comment to share your thoughts! --- #LoveNest #MarilynMonroe #JuneHaver #ClassicComedy #1951Film #RomanticComedy #OldHollywood #VintageFilm #PostWarComedy

A gritty post-war drama that delves into the world of juvenile delinquency, focusing on a group of teenagers who fall under the sway of a hoodlum and the legal system that tries to determine their fate. --- 📖 STORY After being brought to court for a manslaughter charge,a group of teenagers faces a judge who tries to understand the roots of their criminal behavior. The story unfolds of how a young man, Danny Jones, fell under the influence of a vicious gangster and led his friends into a robbery that ended in tragedy. The film explores the social causes of crime and the question of who is truly responsible: the teens themselves or the society that failed them. --- ⭐ HIGHLIGHTS •The iconic screen debut of Marilyn Monroe in a tiny role as a waitress named Evie •William Halop, star of the "Dead End Kids" series, in the lead role •A stark, cautionary tale typical of the era •An early example of post-war anxiety about "wayward youth" •Exploration of juvenile crime and rehabilitation --- 🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS •Genre: Drama, Crime, Juvenile Delinquency •Director: Arthur Pierson •Screenplay: Arnold Belgard •Runtime: 62 minutes •Cast: William Halop, Scotty Beckett, Richard Gaines, Ann E. Todd, Jerome Cowan, Anabel Shaw, Marilyn Monroe •Country: United States •Studio: 20th Century Fox --- 🎪 BEHIND THE SCENES •One of 20th Century Fox's first post-war films to tackle the issue of teenage crime. •Shot quickly and on a low budget. •For Marilyn Monroe (then still Norma Jeane Dougherty), this was one of her very first, almost uncredited contract jobs for the studio. Her name does not appear in the opening credits. •Considered a standard example of the "message picture" of its time. --- 🏛️ CULTURAL LEGACY Today,"Dangerous Years" (1947) is primarily known and noteworthy for featuring the cinematic debut of Marilyn Monroe. The film stands as a fascinating artifact of its era, reflecting the social fears of post-war America and a cinematic trend of exploiting the juvenile delinquency theme. It serves as the starting point for Monroe's legendary career and an example of the later roles of the "Dead End Kids" actors. --- 💬 DISCUSSION How does this film reflect the post-war mood in America?How effective is its "cautionary tale" message? What is the irony that a film warning about bad influence is now remembered only because of a tiny role by a future icon? --- 🔔 Subscribe to Retro Cinema Wood for more deep dives into classic films! 👉Like and comment if you're fascinated by these early cinematic curiosities! --- #DangerousYears #1947 #ClassicFilm #MarilynMonroe #WilliamHalop #DeadEndKids #JuvenileDelinquency #VintageCinema #AmericanDrama #FilmHistory #RetroCinema