MovieChat Forums > There's No Business Like Show Business (1955) Discussion > plot hole

plot hole

posted 15 years ago by miriamwebster
6 replies | jump to latest

How the heck was anyone supposed to believe that Ethel Merman would become permanent cast member in Broadway show subbing for her 20-some years younger *son*? Sort of worked in the sailor number (when she was teamed with daughter Mitzi Gaynor, also playing a man) but sure wouldn't have made any sense in context of the "Lazy" number, seen earlier in rehearsal with Donald O'Connor and Mitzi kissing and so forth. What kind of Broadway show doesn't have understudy for top-billed leading man? Realize this is a musical that doesn't bear much close scrutiny but idea that a male actor who presumably had some sort of male/female numbers with Marilyn Monroe's character could be replaced with middle-aged woman is just plain ludicrous.

[–] kathleencurley1 15 years ago

There WAS an understudy for Tim but everyone agreed that he couldn't do justice to the "Tatoo" sketch - it was supposed to be Katie's best number. No doubt he was OK for "Lazy" etc.

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

Yes. The understudy, the person who has practiced and whose job it was to fill in would not do it justice. But momma will do a great job. Really have to suspend disbelief for that one, but the plot really wasn't the strong suit here anyway.

[–] riverstyxdriad 13 years ago

I believe that the show is vaudeville; different acts strung together. So I doubt there was any continuity between numbers. I'm sure they brought on another man to take over the "love" numbers... But wasn't what they were discussing just the Old Salt number anyway?

High summer holds the earth
On this shining night

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] miriamwebster 11 years ago

"Suspend" disbelief???

How about lynch it???

[–] dollvalley 10 years ago

Why would Merman not have been ok doing DOC's Lazy part? I don't remember if the part called for some quite athletic moves jumping on or off the couch in some weird way, but they could have easily left that out. As for dancing, Merman was very good throughout the movie. And all those people were real pro's, they would have have no problem whinging a change of the kind.