Ladies of the Chorus

Monroe delivers a luminous performance in her first major role, in this long‑forgotten B‑movie musical.

  • Director

    Phil Karlson

  • With

    Marilyn Monroe, Adele Jergens, Rand Brooks

  • USA 1948. 60min

  • 35mm

  • Certificate

    U

Peggy and her overprotective mother Mae work as chorus girls in a burlesque troupe. When the star of their show quits, Mae hatches a plan for Peggy to take the top spot. In her first major screen role, Monroe elevates a low-budget, uneven b-movie musical. It’s fascinating to see the then 22-year-old performing with her natural voice and building the foundations of her future star persona. It showcases both her gift for comedy and her musicality, culminating in the catchy, if somewhat questionable, sugar-baby anthem Every Baby Needs a Da-Da-Daddy.

Tickets £6.50.

The screening of Ladies of the Chorus on Sunday 12 July will be introduced by season curator Kimberley Sheehan.

Film on Film