As musicals go, this one is pretty typical of its time: the musical numbers are claustrophobic and badly spaced. All of the good songs come near the beginning. Dolly is terrific, Burt adequate. Most of the rest of the cast are OK. The movie suffers most, however, from its plot. The problem is intrinsic, too, since the story is based on reality. And the problem is.....the entire thing is downhill. There's no rising action, climax, and denouément. Even those unfamiliar with the true story can tell that the ending will be a downer--it's pretty much revealed in the prologue narration. I was also annoyed by the tacky, tawdry displays of sexuality throughout. While I'm well aware of what goes on in a whorehouse, the ubiquitous lingerie and spread legs of the "girls" belie the lyrics of the songs and the dialogue as they describe "Miss Mona's." I don't know if the director felt compelled to titillate, or if he was afraid the audience might be fooled into thinking the place was a music school if the women didn't look and act slutty enough.
