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Showing posts from December, 2008

There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

This movie was directed by Walter Lang. The story is not the main thing here, it only serves as the launching point for the musical numbers. This movie was 20th Century Fox's answer to the MGM's dominance in the musical genre of the era and all stops were pulled to make this as big as possible—some of the big revue numbers are just eye-popping extravaganzas! The music of Irving Berlin, is the heart of the film and makes for great nostalgia of a simpler America. Marilyn Monroe and an all-star cast are featured in Irving Berlin's tuneful depiction of the trials and triumphs of a veteran vaudeville family. The talented Donahue family has plenty of love to get them through the hard times - that is, until they cross paths with a rising starlet (Monroe) whose own ambitions may make or break them. Co-Starring Ethel Merman and Donald O'Connor, this delightful classic delivers dazzling production numbers and masterful show tunes!

River of No Return (1954)

River of No Return is a 1954 western film made by 20th Century Fox in CinemaScope and directed by Otto Preminger. The film stars Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe with Rory Calhoun. The film is particularly notable for its brisk pace, achieved by the editing of Louis R. Loeffler, with very quick cuts between scenes. Mitchum and Monroe performed many of their own stunts and Monroe badly twisted her ankle during production. River of No Return featured the majestic scenery of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada. Both Preminger and Monroe were forced to do the film against their will, due to contractual obligations. They both expressed their frustration over the script which they considered below par. However, the film was a box office hit upon its release and remains a popular classic western.