Pajama Game

100%

Snappy, catchy tunes, songs and brilliantly choreographed dance sequences in musical comedy mode. A labour relations operetta about the interdependence of management & workers and their generalised failure to work together as efficiently and as effectively as they could, given enough goodwill on both sides. Management refuses to pay promised wage raises; staff throw spanners in the works: A lesson for all would be capitalists.

The sexual chemistry between John RAITT and Doris DAY is effective as their dramatic conflict stems from the fact that he superintends a clothing company at which she is (to all intents & purposes) the Grievance Committee. And DAY is very believable as a workers' activist on the sweatshop production line on which she also works since she can act as well as she can sing. This inevitable conflict of interest drives the drama forward; while successfully mirroring the ups and downs of their sexual relationship and proving the internecine nature of such combats. Thus, their relationship successfully mirrors the industrial conflict shown; allowing us to personally identify with the drama and its characters.

This movie shows that there can be no compromise in sexual ethics – only in sexual politics. That personal relationships involve sharing while business relationships require give and take.


Article copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved. Frank TALKER is also the author of Sweaty Socks: A Treatise on the Inevitability of Toe Jam in Hot Weather (East Cheam Press: Groper Books, 1997) and is University of Bullshit Professor Emeritus of Madeupology.