The Pajama Game (1957)

TOMATOMETER

91%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

65%

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Movie Info

The Broadway musical Pajama Game was based on Seven and a Half Cents. a comic novel about labor relations written by Richard Bissell. Doris Day stars as an employee at a pajama factory who becomes the spokesperson for her fellow workers when management refuses to give them a 7 1/2 cent raise. Complicating matters is the fact that Management is represented by handsome John Raitt, who happens to be in love with Day. A subplot involves Day's freewheeling co-worker Carol Haney and her insanely jealous boyfriend, factory-manager Eddie Foy Jr. Many of the cast members from the original Broadway production (Raitt, Haney, Foy, Reta Shaw, Peter Gennaro etc.) are retained for the film version, as are most of the Richard Adler/Jerry Ross songs: highlights include "Hey There", "Steam Heat", "Hernando's Hideaway", "There Once Was a Man". and the title song. The choreography is in the capable hands (and feet) of Bob Fosse. Pajama Game performed so well at the box-office that Warners immediately went to work on the filmization of the second (and last) Adler/Ross Broadway collaboration, Damn Yankees.

Cast

John Raitt
as Sid Sorokin
Carol Haney
as Gladys Hotchkiss
Eddie Foy Jr.
as Vernon Hines
Reta Shaw
as Mabel
Barbara Nichols
as Poopsie
Thelma Pelish
as Mae
Jack Straw
as Prez
Ralph Dunn
as Hasler
Owen Martin
as Max
Jackie Kelk
as 1st Helper
Ralph Chambers
as Charlie
Mary Stanton
as Brenda
Buzz Miller
as Featured Dancer
Kenneth LeRoy
as Featured Dancer
Jack Waldron
as Salesman
Barry Bernard
as Anderson
Ralph Volkie
as 2nd Helper
Franklin Fox
as Pop Williams
William A. Forester
as Joe
Ellie Kent
as Carol
Peter Gennaro
as Dancer
Elmore Henderson
as Waiter
Mara McAfee
as Sabrina
Fred Villani
as Tony the Headwaiter
Bek Nelson
as Lola
Betty Utey
as Patsy
Kathy Marlowe
as Holly
Otis Griffith
as Otis
Lynn Bernay
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Critic Reviews for The Pajama Game

All Critics (11)

This is a delicious, bright and cheerful film.

Nov 24, 2014
At the Movies (Australia)

It may not be especially distinguished filmmaking, but historically, it's a treasure trove.

Mar 14, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

As the two leads' flowering romance begins to grow further apart, the strain is conveyed through the mechanized perfectionism of the choreography.

May 4, 2005 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Slant Magazine

Day particularly overdoes her schtick and sends the movie too often into self-parody

May 4, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Filmcritic.com

The Pajama Game may not be the greatest musical of all time..., but it's got some memorable songs and dances. And that's enough to carry the day.

Apr 25, 2005 | Rating: 7/10 | Full Review…
Movie Metropolis

Underappreciated musical gem. One of Day's best, and oh, the "Steam Heat" number!

Apr 4, 2003 | Rating: 5/5
Movie Mom
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Audience Reviews for The Pajama Game

½

good music good actors but something is missing

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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The Pajama Game Quotes

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