Les reines du music-hall

Like most folks I tuned in to catch Monroe in her first featured role. Being a Columbia quickie (filmed in 10-days), I wasn't expecting much outside of the luscious blonde. So I was rather happily surprised that the 60-minutes turned out better than I expected. The first part features nicely staged burlesque bits, along with good snappy backstage dialog. The second part has Monroe and fiancé (Brooks) having to confront his family's apparent uptown snobbery. After all, Monroe does play a burly-que queen, not exactly the Manhattan Social Register. I like the way the ending's surprisingly finessed.

It's a fine cast with scrappy Jergens doing well considering she has to play Monroe's mother, of all things. Kudos too to Bryant as Brooks's uptown mom, though actor Brooks seems pretty colorless which maybe he was supposed to be. Anyway, the famously skittish Monroe appears utterly relaxed and glowing in her role. Musical numbers, I think, always brought out the best in her. Also, this is before super- stardom began to weigh her down. Should also note that director Karlson shows his versatility here since his specialty otherwise was tough, tight crime dramas.

All in all, the little flick can be enjoyed on its own merits or as an early peek at perhaps Hollywood's most legendary actress.

Today many people think that MM began her career at the bottom as a small part player, the blonde bimbo in many films like ASPHALT JUNGLE and ALL ABOUT EVE, who in time slowly rose to stardom. In fact, thanks to her sponsorship by her lover, the top-agent Johnny Hyde, very earlier in her career, 1948 to be exact, MM was cast in a major co-starring role as Adele Jurgen's daughter in this 60+ minute Columbia Pictures B movie. It was not a success and her contract at Harry Cohn's studio was dropped. MM then moved on to a Fox contract.

Given this film's feeble script and the twenty day shooting schedule, she can't do more than a competent job as a burlesque queen's daughter in a movie that avoids any suggestion of that tawdry world and the striptease. The dances and songs shown here are all mediocre, as is Phil Karlson's direction. In the beginning, MM was professional; she worked hard with was she's been given to play. She does her best in the few mother/daughter scenes with Jurgens who looks much too young to be believable as her mommy. Neither was MM helped by Columbia's casting of her leading man, Rand Brooks (Scarlett O'Hara's first husband in GWTW), who is particularly wooden and unattractive as the love interest.

A few years later, Marilyn did some rhinoplasty to fix nose and chin, but even in this minor effort she is still very beautiful and appealing. MM was determined to become a star, and when her moment came she was ready. She had paid her dues as this minor effort proves.

Back in her earlier days in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe did what most aspiring actresses did...she played bit parts and supporting roles. While "Ladies of the Chorus" offers her a bit more, she's not the lead nor was she ever intended to be. After all, it was 1948 and she was still a couple years from stardom. However, the studio did what I've seen many times with Monroe....after she become famous, they re-cut the movie (adding a title screen that shows Monroe in the lead) and re-released it! I watched this version. I've also seen many DVDs of Monroe and her bit roles with covers blazoned with her face....as if she was the star...so this re-issuing isn't any surprise to me.

The actual star of this film is Adele Jurgens, a gorgeous blonde who did quite a bit of television in the 50s. Sadly, her career worked out but not nearly enough to offer her many more starring roles. On the positive side, she lived a very long and full life aside from acting.

As far as Jurgens, despite being the star, the casting of Monroe as her daughter (despite only being nine years older) must have been painful to her. Jurgens plays Mae Martin, a chorus girl who works with her daughter, Peggy (Monroe). But when Peggy falls in love and the man asks her to marry her, Mae is worried. After all, Mae's husband came from a good family, just like this man, and she is worried that love won't be enough to keep Peggy's marriage going strong. After all, 'good families' don't want ex-chorus girls marrying into their family...and Mae's husband just couldn't cut it. What will come of Peggy and her new man?

In addition to this plot, there is lots of singing and dancing...especially by Jurgens and Monroe. Considering the film is made by Lippert Studios, it's surprisingly good...as I usually expect very little from their productions. The best part is how all this worked out in the film....something that makes it all worth seeing.

The plot explores the idea of being accepted as a chorus girl. Will the upper class set acknowledge such a lowlife species? The story is trivial but holds an interest as Marilyn Monroe (Peggy) carries herself well in one of her early entries. Thankfully, we see her deliver her lines without that irritating baby-talk that became her trademark. She talks properly in this film! So, it's a treasure if only for that.

There is a good segment where Adele Jurgens (Mae) shows off some dance moves – probably the best moment of the film. The music is OK, Marilyn Monroe sings a couple of songs, but nothing too special.

The flimsy story wraps itself up over the course of an hour, but we watch it for Marilyn Monroe.

A very young Marilyn Monroe in her first lead role made an impression on critics with her performance in this light film about a young burlesque queen whose mother disapproves of her engagement to a wealthy man.

Monroe's sweet singing voice is showcased for the first time in this film, and it is a real treat. She had not yet adopted the "Marilyn Monroe" persona, but even without the breathy baby-doll voice she is the image of innocent seduction.

Although the plot is rather formulaic and simplistic, this film does offer something of a twist at the end. All in all a cute film and opportunity to see Monroe as a young fresh-faced beauty who, as always, lights up the screen.