CAROL BURNETT SHOW, THE {"THE DOLLY SISTERS" SPOOF} {FIFTH SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The fifth season finale in this series of comedy/variety programs starring Carol Burnett. Burnett opens the episode, which features a "mini-movie" parody of the 1945 Betty Grable/June Haver film "The Dolly Sisters," and introduces special guest Buzz Aldrin, present in the audience. Burnett then also bids farewell to head usher Larry, who has accepted another position.
The story begins in 1912 New York as Hungarian immigrant twins Rosie and Jenny are quickly hired by nightclub owner/songwriter Harry Handsome, and their hurriedly improvised performance of "Budapest, When You Get Home" is a hit with the audience. Harry, finding himself smitten with Jenny, creates a trio act for himself and the girls featuring his original song "Hey, Mr. Moon"; however, talent agent Bernie Bernie informs them that duets, not trios, are the hot items of the moment. Rosie panics at the idea of being separated from her sister, and Jenny declines when Harry impulsively proposes to her, causing him to storm off.
Jenny and Rosie become national hits as their tour the country with their somewhat dishonest "Two Natural Beauties" act, while a dejected Harry remains a largely unknown nightclub pianist. Returning to New York, Jenny is reunited with Harry and tells him that her newfound fame is nothing but "tinsel." He protests that they can't be together now that she is far more successful than he is. Jenny tries to arrange for Bernie to book Harry at the Palace, though Harry is embarrassed by the favor. Jenny finally decides that she'll give up her career to be "Mr. and Mrs. Nobody" with him — but their plan is interrupted when World War I breaks out.
In the trenches of France, Harry drives his fellow soldiers crazy with repeated performances of "Hey, Mr. Moon," but Jenny and Rosie soon arrive to lift the boys' spirits with patriotic songs. Harry declares that war has changed him and he now wishes to be with Jenny regardless of her fame. His ego takes another hit when the sisters are asked to lead the charge into battle with the enemy. After the war's end, Harry refuses to see the twins, and Jenny, sadly observing that Rosie and Bernie have fallen in love, sings "Happiness Belongs to My Friends." She accepts when a German count "demands" her hand in marriage, but a devastating car crash renders her an amnesiac, unable to recognize Rosie, Harry or even herself, though she guesses that "I've Seen That Face."
Later, Jenny wanders into a banquet thrown in Harry's honor and is mistaken for a waitress. Another whack on the head allows her to recognize Harry's old standard, "Hey, Mr. Moon," and the two are blissfully reunited. When Rosie again laments the idea of losing her sister, Jenny simply asks Harry to marry them both, and he agrees.
To close the show, Burnett, now dressed as her washerwoman character, performs an extended version of her goodnight song. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: March 29, 1972 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:44
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:58988
- GENRE: Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy/Variety; Music; Parody
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series 1967-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joe Hamilton … Executive Producer
- Arnie Rosen … Producer
- Robert Wright … Associate Producer
- Dave Powers … Director
- Stan Hart … Writer
- Don Hinkley … Writer
- Larry Siegel … Writer
- Woody Kling … Writer
- Roger Beatty … Writer
- Art Baer … Writer
- Ben Joelson … Writer
- Stan Burns … Writer
- Mike Marmer … Writer
- Artie Malvin … Music by
- Ken Welch … Music by
- Mitzie Welch … Music by
- Ernest Flatt … Choreographer
- Carol Burnett … Host, Cast
- Harvey Korman … Cast
- Vicki Lawrence … Cast
- Lyle Waggoner … Cast
- Buzz Aldrin
- Doily Sisters, The
- Betty Grable
- June Haver