Mother Wore Tights (1947)
In this chronicle of a vaudeville family, Myrtle McKinley (class of 1900) goes to San Francisco to attend business school, but ends up in a chorus line. Soon, star Frank Burt notices her talent, hires her for a "two-act", then marries her. Incidents of the marriage and the growing pains of eldest daughter Miriam are followed, interspersed with nostalgic musical numbers.
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Better than most people think
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
This is a good, sentimental, family film of 1947. It's a rather idealized viewpoint of how vaudeville was, with none of the downsides that we often see in such films. It's all sweetness.The production standards here were very high, and the color is luscious.Somehow, after all these years of watching old movies, I had never seen one with Betty Grable. This is the second I've seen recently, and I have to admit that I don't get it. She's a satisfactory actress, satisfactory dancer, and satisfactory singer. Frankly, Dan Dailey is more a natural here. Grable is "fine". Dailey is smooth. There are nice performances by the supporting cast.This is almost too sweet to hold an audience today, but this film was very popular upon its theatrical release. It's worth a watch, but few will probably want it on their DVD shelf.
This is by far the most disappointing of all Betty Grable musicals I have seen. Shot in Fox's sumptuous Technicolor, "Mother Wore Tights" is not a bad viewing but it could have been better. It opens with Grable and her husband living in quiet senility. Then her voice-over enters the soundtrack and starts recalling the past, detailing her life and marriage with a fellow vaudevillean (Dan Dailey). The film proceeds in a glacial, disconcerting pace, and the songs are mainly excruciating and dull, the dance numbers & vaudeville acts overwrought. The only thing that kept me watching "Mother Wore Tights" was the gorgeous Technicolor.
A rollicking, cheerful musical about a vaudeville family and their adventures.A classic and must see. Ask TCM or AMC to bring this back. You'll be glad you did. It is guaranteed to bring smiles and thoughts of simpler, happier times. Happy New Year.
dan daily did such a good job of dancing and had the ability to make you feel the part. betty grable was her delightful self. loved the music. these were the days when movies were entertaining and you left the theater feeling good!!