Customer Reviews

The Pajama Game

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I can't understand why this DVD doesn't rate a total 5 stars here! It's one of the best DVDs I have because it looks absolutely dazzling, the songs are great, the plot is silly - but so what?, the love story is great, the chemistry between John Raitt and Doris Day is out of this world, the "extra" on the DVD is superb (an outtake from the film of Doris singing a song that was dropped from the film!)...I can't get enough of this DVD! It should win awards for picture quality! If I wanted to sell someone on DVDs in general, I'd pick this DVD as evidence of their superiority over videos. And whatta FUN film!!

Labor relations in a pajama factory. This is the world into which songwriters Adler and Ross managed to weave a string of Broadway standards ("Hey There", "Hernando's Hideaway") in the musical "The Pajama Game".

In 1955 it opened on Broadway with legendary director George Abbot at the helm and newcomer Bob Fosse making his debut as choreographer. John Raitt (the original Billy Bigalow in "Carousel"), Eddie Foy Jr., and Retta Shaw all earned praise for their work and Carol Haney delivered a career-making performance in a supporting role. (A week after the show opened, Carol Haney was ill so her understudy, chorus girl Shirley McLaine, went on in the part with no rehearsal. She was a great success, especially to film producer Hal Ashby who was in the audience to see Haney. He brought McLaine to Hollywood to star in his upcoming Hitchcock film, which started Shirley's career.)

In 1957 Warner Brothers brought the entire cast and production team from New York to do the film version. All, that is, but one. Janice Paige was replaced by Doris Day as Babe Williams, the feisty union garment worker opposite John Raitt's suave role as Pajama Factory manager, Sid Sorokin.

Doris Day comes across with a bit more grit in both her acting and her voice than many may be expecting. But she makes a great Babe - whether belting "I'm Not At All in Love" or cooing the romantic ballad "Hey There". John Raitt is equally adept as Sid and does so well with his tough guy good looks, that you wonder why Hollywood failed to cast him in any of his previous stage hits. But it's that full baritone voice that knocks you over. A voice of such lush timbre that contemporaries like Frank Sinatra and Gordon McRae pale in comparison.

Carol Haney is a hoot as the zany (and at one point hilariously drunk) bookkeeper, Gladys. And Eddy Foy Jr, a veteran vaudeville clown shows off as her insanely jealous boyfriend. (Ever hear of Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foy's? That's where Eddie Jr. got his start with his father and siblings.) The script also allows small chorus parts like Barbara Nichols as the dopey blond Poopsie, Thelma Pelish as the zaftig Mae, and Jack Straw as the nebbish Prez to shine in their roles and even gives them some of the best lines. (Mae: I like a man with spunk. Poopsie: You like a man, period!)

Broadway's George Abbot teamed with Stanley Donen ("Singing in the Rain") as director. But the other breakout talent here was Bob Fosse ("Cabaret" and "All That Jazz"), doing his first (credited) choreography for film. He stages the star turns (Day's "Not at All in Love" and Raitt's "Small Talk", for example) like a pro. But he shines in the chorus numbers. Once a Year Day" explodes in athletic dances reminiscent of Michael Kidd ("Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Hello Dolly"). And the mysterious "Hernando's Hideaway" is done in total darkness with the singers lit only when they strike a match.

But the number that shows us what Fosse would become is undeniably "Steam Heat". What would normally have been a throw-away number (a little amateur entertainment for a union rally) is infused with the slinky, inverted style that would become his trademark. No one had ever seen anything like it in 1957, and it "stops the show", so to speak, were that possible in film.

For all the music and comic shenanigans, the film never looses the flavor of working class people in a small factory town. "Pajama Game" may not top its contemporaries like "Gigi" and "Singing in the Rain" - but it's not trying to. It's just a slice of middle America filled with some fine song and dance numbers and some of the top Broadway stars of the day.

"The Pajama Game" is a terrific musical and I'm sorry more people don't know about it. The movie was so successfully "opened up" from its Broadway origins that it's hard to believe it actually once was a stage play. Credit Midwestern location shooting, fluid direction and camera work, and Bob Fosse's incredible choreography. His "Once a Year Day" production number is a standout, as he gets the cast to dance on a lumpy grass hillside doing steps that would be difficult for most troupes to perform on the flat wooden boards of 42nd Street.

The central conflict in the work is between "Babe" the union representative (Doris Day) and the new superintendant (John Raitt, Bonnie's father, a well-known Broadway actor at this time but almost unknown to film). Secondary leads/comic relief are provided by Eddie Foy Jr. and the incomparable Carol Haney (who was also a marvelous specialty dancer and died tragically young in the Sixties). Best-known hits from the show are probably "Hey There," and "Hernando's Hideway," which is performed almost entirely by matchlight--or at least that's the illusion it gives.

Studio-wise, this Warner Bros. confection is truly the kind of flick they don't make anymore, yet somehow "The Pajama Game," despite its struggle over a seven-and-a-half-cent raise, remains fresh to me. Possibly that's because the show is so exuberant and the tunes so universal in popularity ("Hernando's Hideaway," for example, is a tango), that this movie is much more watchable than more "sophisticated" films from the late 1950s. For D.Day fans, this is a must, as it is for lovers of musicals; I think people who like good movies in general will probably be pleased if they take a chance on this sterling production.

Doris Day, without a doubt, was the greatest female musical/comedy star Hollywood ever produced. I know that Judy Garland fans will disagree, but, I like Doris better.

When "Pajama Game" was brought to the screen, Doris Day was given sole star billing, of course, with Raitt, Carol Haney and Eddie Foy, Jr. getting secondary rankings. Mr.Raitt had top billing on Broadway, but this was Hollywood.

Miss Day was fascinating as Babe Williams, head of the grievance committee at the Sleep Tite Pajama Factory. She falls in love with the new forman, played by Raitt. A 7 1/2 cent raise is at stake for the workers, with management playing dirty tricks.

The musical score is great. Doris Day was in wonderful voice which was clear and poinant as she reprised that marvelous standard, "Hey There". "I'm Not at All in Love" was very entertaining with Day really showing us how a musical number should be done.

With Raitt, she does the standout "There Once Was A Man", and they both perform to perfection. What a great number!

The songs that were omitted from the original Broadway cast, were not missed here. I would love for Doris to have had another ballad, perhaps they could have written something special for the film version.

Carol Haney was fun as Gladys and danced up a storm with Bob Fosey's signature choreography in two highlights of the film, "Once a Year Day" and "Steam Heat.

Eddie Foy, Jr., Barbara Nichols, Rita Shaw and Thelma Pelish, all holdovers from the stage version added much to the proceedings.

Stanley Donen's direction was deft. This is one of his best pictures, but he never mentions it in documentaries on him. I don't understand why he consentrates on "Funny Face". This is a much better film.

"The Pajama Game" is a meticulous rendering of the Broadway smash hit of the mid 1950's. Co-directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott, it assembles most of the original Broadway cast, adds Doris Day, in a sizzling performance, and the result is just about as good as it can get.

Doris Day returned to musicals after a brief hiatus in which she starred in Hitchcock's classic, "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and MGM's thriller, "Julie". She also returned to the Warners lot, after a three year absence, to create one of her finest musical portrayals. As Babe Williams, head of the Grievance Committee at a pajama factory. she is tough and determined but also very, very feminine and sexy. When she meets John Raitt, father of singer Bonnie, she falls head over heels in love, and it's easy to understand why. This was Raitt's only on-screen musical lead, depite a dazzling stage career that spanned more than forty years. In another time and place he'd have repeated that success on the screen. Fortunately this film remains as a lasting reminder of how good he is.

Doris Day, playing the role created by Janis Paige on stage, is incredible. Whether singing the exuberant "I'm Not At All in Love", or stopping the show with Raitt while duetting "There Once Was A Man", she is truly a dazzler. It makes one wish that she had lent her talents to the screen version of "South Pacific" in 1958. She'd have made Nellie the legendary screen heroine she should have been and is not, due to the somewhat pallid performance of Mitzi Gaynor. Day is especially poignant singing a reprise of the show's big hit, "Hey There". The number was recorded live, which was highly unusual since most musical numbers are pre-recorded.

Bob Fosse stages the musical numbers with style and the supporting players including Carol Haney, Reta Shaw and Eddie Foy, Jr., are wonderful. Harry Stradling photographs the lovely sets with his customary brilliance.

"The Pajama Game" should be required viewing, once a year, by all afficianados of musical theatre. It's a near perfect presentation of a lively and loving romp, from an era gone by but that deserves to be remembered.

The workers at Sleeptite pajama factory want a 7 1/2 cent an hour raise.Doris Day is on hand and shines brightly in her prime.She plays "Babe",the head of the union grievance committee.John Raitt co-stars as the foreman she inevitably falls in love with.This bubbly and bouncy musical was adapted from the "tony"winning Broadway hit by George Abbott and Stanley Donen in 1957.Most of the original Broadway cast and choreographer Bob Fosse make this a must see classic.The "steam heat"number with Carol Haney is a showstopper.The great 50's ballad "hey there" and the wacky "Fernando's hideaway" are featured.This movie gem is visually superb on Dvd.It is a fine,wholesome, film that does justice to the original broadway show.George Liguori.

Doris Day replaced Janice Paige as Babe Williams the only non-Tony winning Broadway cast member to make the Warner Brothers film version of "The Pajama Game". Even Bob Fosse came along to ensure the films choregraph numbers were kept top knotch.

This award winning cast included the best of Broadway of 1956; John Raitt (only movie), Eddie Foy Jr., Reta Shaw and the dance talents of Carol Haney.

The toe tapping music, the Bob Fosse dance numbers, the color rich photograhed scenes and Doris Day's singing help make this a show stopping fun filled 90 minutes of musical magic.

The DVD has a widescreen color rich digital transfer. This is a period classic but can you remember; company picnics?, paying $1.00 for all the beer you can drink?, or a 7 1/2 cent raise?

In summary: The SleepTite Pajama Factory is about to have a Union strike for a 7 1/2 cent raise. Naturally management resists so the Union group plan a slow down strike. The floor manager (Raitt) falls in love with Union member (Day) and the fun begins with the wonderfully predictable happy ending.

"The Pajama Game" is one of the best sleeper musicals with Doris Day leading the incredible cast through their paces. Enjoy!!!!

In The Pajama Game, based on the Broadway musical written by George Abbot and Richard Bissell, Doris Day plays Babe Williams, the head of the union grievance committee who fancies sexy out-to-prove-himself John Raitt, playing Sid Sorokin, the new superintendent of the "Sleep-Tite Pajama Company. Despite their differences, they fall in love and the eternal battle between man and woman ensues in this delightful musical comedy, with added intrigue between Hines, (Eddie Foy, Jr) the over-jealous efficiency expert, and girlfriend Gladys, (Carol Haney) the boss's private secretary. Set against the backdrop of a long-standing union/management dispute, the company is soon boiling over with all sorts of passions. An unlikely scenario that is never-the-less great fun with plenty of hit songs and dance numbers that carry you along with its energy. Choreographed by Bob Fosse, the film features such musical numbers as "Hey There, You With the Stars in Your Eyes," "Once a Year Day", "Small Talk", "Steam Heat," and "I'm Not at All in Love." Verdict: The Pajama Game rivals "Calamity Jane" and "Love Me or Leave Me" as one of Doris's best musicals.

THE PAJAMA GAME is a landmark motion picture transfer of a Broadway musical in that, with one glorious exception, the entire original stage cast, songs, and story made it to the screen virtually intact. The Pajama Game is also notable for the one and only film appearance by legendary Broadway star, John Raitt, preserving one of his greatest stage triumphs for posterity.

The one exception noted earlier is Doris Day (replacing Janis Paige from the stage production), who scores one of her greatest successes in the role of Babe. The sexual chemistry between Day and co-star Raitt ignites the screen in all their scenes together, giving The Pajama Game, to paraphrase one of its famous songs, plenty of "Steam Heat" and earthy energy.

The Pajama Game's story line is the last thing you would expect for a musical, a labor dispute in a mid-west garment factory. Doris Day is the union representative and John Raitt represents management. How they manage to resolve these issues and keep at bay their obvious attraction for each other unfolds with a charming frankness and humor. Woven perfectly into the plot are some of the most popular tunes of the 1950's, magnificently performed by the entire cast. The brassy Warner Bros. studio orchestra, under the capable direction of the legendary Ray Heindorf, deserves special mention. Heindorf's orchestration of the score is a vast improvement over the Broadway original and the orchestra plays this music with an energy and verve that has to be heard to be believed.

This DVD presents The Pajama Game for the first time in a Technicolor restoration that probably looks better than the inferior Warnercolor theatrical original and the crisp, clear, vibrant mono sound matches the perfectly saturated image throughout. Extras on the disc include a complete performance by Doris Day of a new song composed for the film but never used in the final cut.

I'm a big Doris Day fan and I had been meaning to see The Pajama Game for a long time. I was under the impression that it would be mediocre at best; and I was pleasantly surprised. Now, it's not out-of-this-world like Calamity Jane or some of her others, but it is packed with exhuberant numbers choreographed by Bob Fosse, and the tunes are startlingly good! I especially enjoyed "There Once Was a Man" and "I'm Not at All in Love", in which Doris particularly shines with the energy and charm she brought to almost everything she did.
The plot is quite thin, but suffices in order to fill the time with what this movie is primarily concerned with - bringing five star entertainment to the screen in the form of musical numbers. You can see the Stanley Donen touch, and it is reminiscent of the exhuberance he brought to MGM musicals of the 40s and 50s.
Overall, if you don't like musicals, this is a definite miss, but if you do, it's a must-see; it's most definitely a musical and makes no excuse about that. At a time when musicals were falling out of favour, it's nice to see one that isn't afraid to go for the sugary, sincere, and charming formula once more and with tremendous effort.