THE DOLLY SISTERS
US, 1945, 114 minutes, Colour.
Betty Grable, June Have, John Payne, S.Z. Sakall, Reginald Gardiner, Frank Latimore, Gene Sheldon, Sig Rumann.
Directed by Irving Cummings.
The Dolly Sisters is a fictionalised biography of two Hungarian sisters who succeeded in vaudeville in the early part of the 20th century. The film is one of the many Betty Grable vehicles so popular at 20th Century Fox in this time. The producers lavished costumes and decor on this film, making it an attractive '40s musical.
Betty Grable and June Haver are quite effective (presence and singing and dancing rather than acting) as the sisters. John Payne appeared in many of the Fox musicals and is adequate enough in the central role as Harry Fox. S.Z. Sakall enjoys himself in his perpetual uncle role.
There are many of the old songs like 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows'. The Oscar-nominated song is 'I Can't Begin to Tell You'. Though the film has a dated 20th Century Fox's '40s look, it is still an enjoyable example of Fox musicals.
1. Enjoyment of the musical? The old songs? The show business story? The American dream? The days of vaudeville?
2. Colour photography, costumes and decor, staging of the songs, choreography? The importance of the musical score? The songs? Their thematic use for the plot?
3. The focus on the Dolly Sisters, their Hungarian background, coming to America, their opportunities, taking chances, going into vaudeville, the success with Oscar Hammerstein, going into theatres, the choices, going to Europe, Paris? The benefit at the end? The glamour of their career?
4. The sketching of the characters of the sisters - Jenny and Rose and their rapport with each other, singing and dancing, their lives with their uncle, seeing opportunities, on the train as little girls, the meeting with Harry Fox, outperforming him, friendships, the audition for Oscar Hammerstein? Jenny falling in love with Harry? The choices, the marriage? The war and the separation? Letters? Her yearning for him? Opportunities in Europe and her separating from Harry? Tony and his attentions, the rash decision to marry? The build-up to the accident? The benefit and the reuniting with Harry? Rose and her attraction towards Irving, her career, worried about telling Jenny of the marriage? The benefit?
5. S.Z. Sakall and his comic style as the uncle?
6. Irving and his wealth, attentions to Rose, marriage? Tony and his wealth, in Europe, attentions to Jenny? The possibility of marriage?
7. Harry Fox, ambitious, boasting, performance, attraction towards Jenny, marriage, the war, active service, prisoner, release, reunited with Jenny? The crisis and her decisions, waiting at the train? His return and success? his fiancee, the preparation for marriage? her understanding him? Graciously bowing out to Jenny?
8. The staging of the songs, the glamour, the dancing? The venues? American, international? The final benefit? The final song?
9. The '40s and the perspective on vaudeville, the stage? The American tradition of the 20th century popular songs?
