Ladies of the Chorus (1948)

(On Cable TV, November 2021) If you ever wonder what happens to a film when one of its secondary actors strikes it big, then Ladies of the Chorus is one of the exhibits for your edification. A rather ordinary showbiz romantic comedy musical, it just so happened to feature Marilyn Monroe in a supporting role as a burlesque dancer. The original top billing went to Adele Jergens (now a Classic Hollywood footnote at best), but when Monroe struck it big, the film was re-issued with revised opening credits, putting Monroe above the title, which remains the definitive edition of the film. (Just so we’re clear: Monroe’s role is significant here — it’s not a case of trying to hype a two-scene supporting appearance.) This kind of thing is not uncommon (especially in the direct-to-video, now streaming world where metadata reigns supreme) but it’s still an amusing anecdote about a film that, frankly, wouldn’t otherwise warrant much discussion. Ladies of the Chorus is, Monroe aside, a pleasant and familiar film of its genre: it’s got a few musical numbers, a few romances, a look at the thrills (and the backstage) of live performance, and goes about delivering a happy conclusion for everyone. There are at least a dozen very similar films… but only one of them features Monroe in her singing-and-dancing debut.