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Rating:  - Holy Cow! Over-extravaganza!
This is one of those films in which one overlooks the title's literalism before they watch it, and then say 'duh' afterwards. There is truly nothing else in this film but "show business", one show after another after another...Aside from the entertaining animosity that Ethel Merman and Dan Dailey generate from each other, the only redeeming part of this film was Marilyn. From the first scene at the coat check-in counter, she lights up the film (incidentally, that is the best line in the movie when she says "I am temporarily between jobs...six-months temporarily" where only Marilyn could enunciate the word temporarily with a stress on each syllable). She also sings a few solos which are also fantastic, especially the first one "After you get what you want...". The rest of the film is filled with annoying, pointless musicals and vaudeville acts, which leaves you with the question, "which did I hate more, the actors or the music itself?" Johnnie Ray is particularly ridiculous in the film
This movie is strictly for Marilyn fans only, and in that respect it is a must see! I would be very satisfied with a redacted version of the film that contained only the scenes with her in it.
Rating:  - Dazzling Production and Masterful Show Tunes Make This A Favorite
I love musicals and this one has been a favorite since it first came out in 1954. I was thrilled to receive the DVD and even more thrilled to find that the songs and dances were still as wonderful as I remembered, the production numbers still as splendid, and the total show as remarkable as ever.
Dan Dailey and Ethel Merman are Terry and Molly Donahue, vaudeville performers circa 1919 when the movie opens. They quickly add children Steve (Johnnie Ray) Katy (Mitzi Gaynor) and Tim (Donald O'Connor) to the act as each child is old enough to wobble on stage. They become the successful act known as The Five Donahues and tour constantly even as vaudeville dies away. When their paths cross with an ambitious blonde named Vicky (Marilyn Monroe) things are never the same. She breaks Tim's heart and he spirals downward into an alcoholic haze, son Steve leaves the act when he decides to become a priest, and Broadway replaces vaudeville as the elder Donahues spend less time on stage and more time in their New Jersey home. The ending always leaves me dissolved in tears, but it is the lavish production numbers that make this a favorite. From the catchy opening of Merman and Dailey performing "When That Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" (later reprised by Gaynor and O'Connor) to the lavish staging of "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and the uplifting closing of the title song, this movie is a feast for fans of music and dance. Even though Marilyn Monroe shines in her sexy "Heat Wave" number, the long-legged Dailey makes dancing an effortless joy throughout and Merman's voice is uncommonly rich, it is Donald O'Connor and Mitzi Gaynor who enthusiastically dance their way into your heart and steal every scene they are in.
Rating: - Awesome music
You cannot beat this album even with a stick. Music at its best. Performances at their very best. This is what movie and/or Broadway music is susposed to be. We don't have wonderful talent like this anymore and we are all the poorer for it. So buy this album and share these songs with every generation around you and they will thank you for it.
Rating:  - A Near-Classic
While "There's No Business Like Show Business" is not one of Hollywood's top musicals it's still worth watching. The story is simple and entertaining. Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor, Dan Dailey and Mitzi Gaynor are, as usual, entertaining and fun. Though Johnnie Ray tries very hard he shows that he is a singer rather than an actor. Marilyn Monroe is, at best, adequate. While she has never been one of my favorite performers she usually does a better job than she does in his movie.
Rating: - Superior in all ways.
They certainly don't make 'em like them used to, and this film is a fine example. Excellent songs, actors, story line, costumes, etc. Superb all the way.
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