Film Review of Ladies of The Chorus: An Attractive Mother Hesitant About Ostracism, a Beautiful Daughter Hopeful About Marriage, and a Handsome Heir Hopelessly in Love

Marilyn Monroe as a lucky chorus girl in “Ladies of the Chorus” (audrey_weisberg/Photobucket)

Ladies of the Chorus is a musical/drama film by writers Joseph Carole and Harry Sauber; producer Harry A. Romm; and director Phil Karlson. Responsibility for cinematography, editing, and music is by Frank Redman, Richard Fantl, and Mischa Bakaleinikoff. The filming location is Columbia’s Sunset-Gower Studios.   

The film lasts 61 minutes. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. According to Turner Classic Movies and Internet Movie Database, it was released on February 10, 1949.  

The film begins with Bubbles LaRue (Marjorie Hoshelle) quitting as a burlesque show star. Stage manager Joe (Frank J. Scannell) looks to chorus girl May Martin (Adele Jergens) to fill the void with a specialty routine. May turns the routine over to her chorus girl daughter Peggy (Marilyn Monroe).  

Peggy becomes Bubbles’ successor. She therefore performs the night that Randy (Rand Brooks) of the wealthy Cleveland-based Carroll family attends. Randy’s friends say that May opposes Peggy dating admirers. 

Randy has orchids delivered to Peggy every evening. He always leaves the card unsigned. Peggy finally goes to the florist’s shop. The florist says that the sender’s arrival is imminent.  

Peggy accepts Randy’s dinner invitation. But she first has him meet May. Randy invites May, who refuses to accompany the lovebirds. He proposes to Peggy.  

May hesitates in giving her consent. She indicates that her marriage was annulled because her husband Alan Wakely’s (Bill Edwards) wealthy Boston-based family despised her as a dancer. She requires Randy to reveal Peggy’s burlesque background to his family although Randy does not subsequently do so.  

Adele Carroll (Nana Bryant) invites May to the extravagant engagement party which she holds for Peggy and Randy. May is joined by friend and retired burlesque comic Billy Mackay (Eddie Garr). The party proceeds nicely until the hired musicians (The Bobby True Trio) recognize Peggy and ask her to join them in song.  

The guests do not consider Peggy worthy of their society. May and Peggy get their things together preparatory to leaving. But Adele has them witness her singing with Billy. Adele then tells her guests that she was a chorus girl before her marriage.  

The film ends with Adele then admitting to May and Peggy that she has no chorus girl past. But she wholeheartedly approves of Peggy as a daughter-in-law. She also encourages May to marry enamored, long-time friend Billy.  

Ladies of the Chorus is memorable in film history for Marilyn Monroe’s (1926-1962) performances of “Anyone Can See I Love You” and “Every Baby Needs a Da Da Daddy”.

Copyright: Thursday, August 16, 2012 by Derdriu