The Pajama Game (1957)

Directors:

George Abbott
Stanley Donen

Writers:

George Abbott (screenplay) and
Richard Bissell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 January 1958 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Based on the hit Broadway musical, featuring the choreography of Bob Fosse.

Plot:

Employees of the Sleeptite Pajama Factory are looking for a whopping seven-and-a-half cent an hour increase and they won't take no for an answer...

Plot Keywords:

Young Love | Pajamas | Workplace | Union | Picnic

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Doris Day	...	Katherine 'Babe' Williams
John Raitt	...	Sid Sorokin
Carol Haney	...	Gladys Hotchkiss
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Vernon 'Hinesie' Hines
Reta Shaw	...	Mabel
Barbara Nichols	...	Poopsie
Thelma Pelish	...	Mae
Jack Straw	...	Prez
Ralph Dunn	...	Myron Hasler
Owen Martin	...	Max
Jackie Kelk	...	First Helper
Ralph W. Chambers	...	Charlie (as Ralph Chambers)
Mary Stanton	...	Brenda
Buzz Miller	...	Dancer
Kenneth LeRoy	...	Dancer

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Warnercolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:G (video rating) | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #18393) | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The soundtrack LP, released by Columbia Records, vaulted to ninth position among "Billboard"'s popular albums.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Hines and Mabel are dancing their soft shoe shuffle in the factory during "I'll Never Be Jealous Again", they drop a rag in the aisle between the machines. When they return to the aisle a few moments later, the rag is gone.

Quotes:

Mae: We ain't giving up nothing!
Katie 'Babe' Williams, Grievance Committee: Wait a minute, don't you see? We've won!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: Pilot (#1.1)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Steam Heat

Just knock three times and whisper low... that you and I were sent by Joe...

When I purchased "The Pajama Game", I felt confident that the same team that brought me my all-time FAVORITE musical, "Damn Yankees", would not let me down. I was right. The dynamic team of George Abbot & Stanley Donen, Bob Fosse's oustandingly quirky choreography, and the wonderfully superb music and lyrics provided by Adler & Ross bring me more satisfaction than the 7 1/2 cents raise when it was given to the Sleep-Tite employees. Doris Day is charmingly witty and All-American in the role of Babe Williams... a role that allows her to radiate that eternal sunshine that seems to constantly course through her veins. Watch her vitality in numbers like "7 1/2 Cents" and "I'm Not At All In Love," her energy and vivacity in "There Once Was a Man", and the romance in her "Hey There" reprise. But let's keep in mind that Doris is also the only cast member not imported from the original Broadway show. (Much as I love Doris... what the heck was wrong with Janis Paige? Rent the film Silk Stockings... I think she would have been perfectly darling!) The show cast is an ensemble of sheer perfection! Reta Shaw is terrific as Mabel, Barbara Nichols and Thelma Pelish are riots as Poopsie and Mae, Jack Straw is superb as Prez, and Ralph Dunn is sublime as Mr. Hasler ("Now that isn't nice!"). John Raitt is great in reprising his role of Sid Sorokin... the man with stars in his eyes and a company to run. Whatta voice! And how about that Eddie Foy, Jr.? As Vernon Hines (aka "Hiiiiinesy"), he's an absolute TRIP! What's better than a drunken knife thrower who is having a hard time trusting his girlfriend? AND he sings and dances. Such an ADORABLE guy with a bundle of talent! However, my PERSONAL favorite is none other than that smashing, electrifying dancer with the absolute LONGEST limbs ever... Carol Haney, as Gladys Hotchkiss.. She is not only BRILLIANT but gives an absolutely FLAWLESS performance, in my opinion. Her dancing is not to be reckoned with... just look at her go in "Steam Heat" (breath-taking choreography and dancing!), and even "Hernando's Hideaway", as well as "Once-A-Year Day." Her comedic timing is uncanny, and with that grainy voice and pixie hair cut, she absolutely STEALS every scene she's in. It's most unfortunate that she died so young and was unable to pursue a further career in movies or on Broadway. All in all, this is a WONDERFUL piece of musical cinema, and I definitely recommend it!