The Pajama Game
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Movie Reviews of The Pajama Game
Movie Review: Two Can Sleep As Cheap As One: A 1950s Musical Knock Out
Summary: 5 Stars
Many viewers approach the THE PAJAMA GAME as a Doris Day musical--and then walk away disappointed, for the film was not designed to be a Day vehicle but a somewhat tweaked film version of one of Broadway's most popular plays. Sid (John Raitt), a new supervisor at the Sleep-Tite pajama factory, both falls in love with and runs afoul of Babe (Day), a union leader in a work force preparing to strike over a seven and a half cent hourly wage. Both Raitt and Day give excellent performances, with this one of Raitt's very few screen performances. Even so, it is not really Raitt and Day who make THE PAJAMA GAME a knock out. It's the ensemble cast and a young choreographer who puts a fresh spin on the dance numbers: Bob Fosse.
Carol Haney was a major figure in Gene Kelly's artistic support staff at MGM, but although she appeared as a dancer in several MGM films she never attracted serious attention until she appeared as Gladys, a nutty secretary, in the Broadway production of PAJAMA GAME. A perfect dancer for Fosse's gradually emerging style, she led two of the play's most memorable song and dance numbers, "Steam Heat" and "Hernando's Hideaway," both of which transfer to film with tremendous flair. Haney's career would be short; she would never make another film and died about a decade later. Even so, as long as film rolls she will be praised for her work here, which is truly magnificient.
Other notables in the cast include Eddie Foy Jr., Haney's knife-throwing and jealous boyfriend; Reta Shaw, a secretary who teams with Foy for a truly hilarious "I'll Never Be Jealous Again;" and a dozen or so more cameo and bit players, dancers and singers who attack the material with amazing zest. The sets are perfect; the lighting flawless; and every detail is exceptional, with the highly mobile camera more of a co-star than photographic device. Fosse's choreography is sharp, powerful, and stylish, with "Steam Heat" a harbinger of things to come. THE PAJAMA GAME is a musical comedy that really is both musical and comedy, sharp, zippy, and lots of fun. Strongly recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Movie Review: Lovely and lively musical
Summary: 5 Stars
Kate "Babe "Williams (Doris Day at her most radiant)works in a pajama factory whose workers want a raise-to be precise a 7.5 cents raise .The management refuses and Babe heads up a grievance committee and takes the complaint to the shop superintendant Sid Sorokin (John Raitt).Things start to get complicated when the two fall in love.
I am very much of the view that this is the ideal way to make a movie from a Broadway musical .For one thing the camera movement is brilliantly fluid and inventive ;the camera dances along with the performers .The camera even becomes a dance partner during a comic tango sequence performed -brilliantly by Carol Haney .The camera movement is splendid ,the pans and tracking shots are innovative and sparkling .It helps make this the liveliest of Broadway musical to movie transitions I know of.
Bob Fosse's choreography is energetic and inventive ,the score is bright anf memorable.It includes much loved numbers such as Hey There ,There Once Was a Man ( fun Day-Raitt duet),Once a Year Day and I'm Not At All In love .Kudos to George Abbott and Richard Bissell for this .
Day is enchanting and she manages to look utterly captivating even when unflatteringly clad in pajamas .There is good support from Haney ,Eddie Foy Junior and Barbara Nichols while Raitt is in good voice throughout.
This a movie that moves and is a celebration of the Broadway musical and the art of dance .Not to be missed .It is simply enormous fun ;go enjoy!
Movie Review: "Tunes Of Glory"
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is an excellent example of HOW to adapt a Broadway show to the screen. First of all, it's lean and mean, clocking in at little more than 90 minutes. At the same time, all the principal musical numbers have been kept, and all save one of the key members of the stage cast, whatever their limitations in physical beauty, have been retained. Still, the movie is anything but a filmed stage play. Instead, it's been freshly re-imagined as a movie. This means, most importantly, that the camera moves a lot, and the visual becomes a co-partner with the verbal and musical. The most telling example of this is the "Once A Year Day" sequence, filmed in an actual park, and requiring fresh Fosse choreography, given the expanded possibilities available when performing in a natural setting.
The new cast member, adding star power, is Doris Day, but she's been adroitly chosen, having singing and acting credentials matching her Broadway predecessor's. Hollywood, unfortunately, doesn't always exercise such care in recasting.
All in all, this is a wonderful film, capturing the Broadway musical at its tuneful peak, just before the start of the deadly reign of the sometimes witty, but largely unmelodic, Sondheim.
Movie Review: A Classic for Everyone Involved
Summary: 5 Stars
This musical makes me feel good every time I see it. Its energy and charm have not diminished in 50+ years. Yes, the idea of a union asking for a raise of only seven and a half cents an hour is dated. And the big number "Steam Heat", which was a huge popular hit at the time (along with "Hey There" and "Hernando's Hideaway"), strikes me as monotonous today. But every other song is golden, and the choreography by Bob Fosse is wonderful. You're looking at the original Broadway cast (except for Janis Paige, who was replaced by Doris Day), and the supporting performances are at that level that comes from doing the stage version for years. I think you will especially enjoy Eddie Foy, Jr. and Reta Shaw, whose duet "I'll Never Be Jealous Again" is a delight. While I wish Janis Paige had made the movie, I have to say that Doris Day is quite good and is well-suited to the role. Also watch for "Once-a-Year Day" where the chorus gets to do Fosse's steps in a park-like location of real grass and dirt and concrete walkways. Superb!Movie Review: A Funny, Fast-Paced Musical
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a first-rate film because the producer was wise enough to transfer the stage version directly into the motion picture. Too many Broadway musicals are ruined by a movie producer's tinkering, but not Pajama Game. He even used many of the Broadway cast in the film, and it shows in the energy and skill of the actors. The story opens in a pajama factory with "Racing with the Clock" while Hines (Eddie Foy, Jr.), the time-study man, urges the workers to toil ever-faster. We meet Sid Sorokin (John Raitt), the new superintendent, who immediately clashes with Babe Williams (Doris Day), head of the union grievance committee. But in the song, "Hey There," we see that they are attracted to each other. The attraction grows during the union's fight for a seven and one half cent pay increase, and it blossoms into love as they sing, "I Don't Want to Talk Small Talk." Everything ends happily after memorable songs and magnificent choreography by Bob Fosse. This is the sort of movie that you can enjoy many times.