The Dolly Sisters (1945)

The Dolly Sisters is a 1945 20th Century-Fox musical starring Betty Grable.

The movie is based, very loosely, on the career of the real-life Dolly Sisters, a very successful musical comedy act.

It begins in 1904. Uncle Latsie S.Z. Sakall (S.Z. Sakall) has just arrived in New York with his two nieces, identical twins Jenny and Rosie. (As adults Jenny is played by Betty Grable and Rosie is played by June Haver). After many vicissitudes they establish themselves on the vaudeville circuit.

They encounter a struggling singer-songwriter, Harry Fox (John Payne). Harry and Jenny fall in love but while the Dolly Sisters are going from success to success Harry’s career is going nowhere. Harry won’t marry her until he has become a success himself.

The sisters are soon the toast not just of Broadway but of Paris.

Harry’s career seems set to take off but then comes the war and he enlists.

The romance between Jenny and Harry just keeps on encountering obstacles.

A major obstacle is that Jenny has to choose between her career and marriage. Of course today’s audience would be outraged that this is even presented as a serious choice - what woman would choose family, a home, love and happiness when she could have a career?

It’s actually a bit more complicated than that. If she gives up her career then Jenny will be ruining Rosie’s career as well. As Uncle Latsie keeps saying, you can’t have a sister act without sisters. And the sisters are very loyal to each other.

That choice keeps coming up again and again for Jenny.

I’m not a fan of biopics. This one loses a bit of steam halfway through with too much focus on the never-ending romantic complications. Their courtship takes years and years and years. There’s not enough focus on the singing and dancing which is what musicals are all about.

There’s just a slight touch of self-pity to Harry which grated on me a little.

With their hair done the same way and wearing identical clothes Betty Grable and June Haver really are convincing as twin sisters. I liked their performances.

There is one truly superb musical number - the Makeup Kit number. Very clever, very witty and very cute.

The movie’s biggest asset is Orry-Kelly’s stupendously amazing costumes.

Fox spent big money on this production, shot in Technicolor. It paid off. It was a major hit.

I’ve only recently started to delve into the world of 1940 Hollywood musicals and this one is not destined to be counted among my favourites. This is only my second Betty Grable movie and I have to say that I enjoyed Pin Up Girl (1944) more but The Dolly Sisters is reasonably enjoyable and it’s worth a look.

As far as I know this film has not had a Blu-Ray release. The old DVD release is now a bit hard to find.