The Dolly Sisters (1945)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Irving Cummings

Writers:

John Larkin (writer)
Marian Spitzer (writer)

Release Date:

7 October 1946 (Sweden)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Musical | Romance

Plot:

Two sisters from Hungary become famous entertainers in the early 1900s. Fictionalized biography with lots of songs.

Plot Keywords:

Uncle | Vaudeville | Entertainer | New York | Soldier

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Betty Grable	...	Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly
John Payne	...	Harry Fox
June Haver	...	Roszika 'Rosie' Dolly
S.Z. Sakall	...	Uncle Latsie Dolly
Reginald Gardiner	...	Tony, Duke of Breck
Frank Latimore	...	Irving Netcher
Gene Sheldon	...	Professor Winnup, seal trainer
Sig Ruman	...	Ignatz Tsimmis
Trudy Marshall	...	Lenora Baldwin

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Betty Grable, using the pseudonym Ruth Haag (which combined her middle name with that of her husband Harry James), performed as vocalist for Harry James and His Music Makers on the best-selling commercial disc, released by Columbia Records, of the movie's Oscar-nominated ballad, 'I Can't Begin to Tell You' (music by James V. Monaco, lyrics by Mack Gordon).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Vamp

I'm always chasing rainbows....

This colorful musical directed with great style by Irving Cummings is a delightful way to spend some happy moments. This 1945 Fox film presents the life of two sisters that became a sensation in America at the beginning of the last century. The music is the best excuse to watch this happy movie.

We first meet the young Dolly Sisters, Jenny and Rose, as they arrive in America from their native Hungary. The girls are talented and soon, they are delighting the vaudeville circuit with their charm and talent. Their career soared after Harry Fox, who later became Jenny's husband, introduces them to the great Oscar Hammerstein, who sees in the women, an amazing capacity to entertain the public of the era.

As played by Betty Grable and June Haver, the Dolly Sisters are irresistible! The real sisters were not blond, but who could fault the stars with the disarming way they act in the musical? Ms. Grable and Ms. Haver are a sight for sore eyes!

As the man in Jennie's life, John Payne plays Harry Fox convincingly. Mr. Payne projects a virile figure and he is perfect opposite the gorgeous Betty Grable. His composition in the movie, "I'm Always Chasing Rainbow" was written by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy whose inspiration is the Chopin's Fantasy and Impromptu in C Minor and it blends perfectly in the composition and in the subtext of the film. There are also appearances by that charming character actor, S. Z. Sakall, who plays the girl's uncle. Also Reginald Gardiner does good work as the Duke of Breck.

This is a fine musical that will delight fans of the genre.