Betty Grable’s Greatest: ‘Mother Wore Tights’ 1947

Dan Dailey & Betty Grable shine as a showbiz couple in 1947's "Mother Wore Tights."

The musical comedy/drama Mother Wore Tights was of Betty Grable's greatest hits and the biggest movie for 20^th Century Fox in 1947, next to Forever Amber. The Betty Grable vehicle was a big break for Dan Dailey, whose mugging was perfect for this movie’s leading man character. Betty and Dan had such strong chemistry that they were re-teamed three more times.

"Mother Wore Tights" was the first of four pairings of Betty Grable & Dan Dailey.

Based on a popular memoir by Miriam Young, Mother Wore Tights had the same flavor as Cheaper by the Dozen, a look at opposites-attract parents, viewed through the eyes of their children. Fox star Anne Baxter narrated the film with her insinuating voice, as the adult version of the oldest daughter.

Betty Grable's genuine warmth comes through in the scenes with her movie "family"
 in 1947's "Mother Wore Tights." With Mona Freeman as her oldest daughter.

Grable is at her likable best in Mother Wore Tights, especially the scenes where she’s interacting with her movie family. As Myrtle McKinley Burt, Betty’s character is ambitious and enjoys her career, though she prefers home life. But husband Frank Burt, while he loves an audience, also enjoys his wife as an on-stage partner. The two extrovert personalities strike sparks and sometimes fireworks. But the Burts adore each other and their stage act. It’s fun to see a couple where the wife is the wise, practical one—and here, Dailey’s Frank seems like a big kid at times—though a loveable one.

Dan Dailey looks downright boyish as the hoofer with the hots for Betty Grable,
in 1947's "Mother Wore Tights." Dailey & Grable make a winning team!

Dan Dailey is a terrific hoofer and musical performer here. I usually find Dailey rather repellent in the vein of Jerry Lewis and Milton Berle, but Dan is still young and fresh here, and his character is written to be a ham, so it works. Dailey is excellent in both the comedic and serious scenes, and he and Grable make a most believable film couple. As with many golden era stars, I first saw Dan Dailey in his later years, when hard living made him look very rough. It was a bit of a jolt to see him as fit and those blue eyes clear and alive. Dailey is a very energetic dancer and Betty Grable gives her all, so their performing of nostalgic vaudeville numbers are highly entertaining.

A sweet scene in "Mother Wore Tights," when Grable's Myrt informs Dailey's Frank
 that their going to have an addition in their show biz family.

Mother Wore Tights boasts a great back up cast: William Frawley as the producer in the opening scenes; Veda Van Borg as the tough chorus girl pal of Grable; and Sara Allgood as Betty's no-nonsense grandmother. Lee Patrick shows up for an entertaining musical/comedy bit on the train, and Ruth Nelson, who played John Garfield’s mother so memorably in Humoresque, is the kindly school headmaster. These are just a few of the many familiar faces in this film.

The Burt girls are sometimes mortified by their extrovert parents in "Mother Wore Tights."

Mona Freeman and Connie Marshall are endearing as Iris and Mikie Burt, Myrtle and Frank’s daughters. While playing to the era’s “adorable” juvenile mold, they’re still quite good and you really care about them. Robert Arthur is utterly adorable as the young man in love with Iris. After his acting career, Arthur went on to become a gay activist, particularly for seniors.

Robert Arthur was a charmer as the Burts' eldest daughter's beau in
1947's "Mother Wore Tights."

It's been said that Betty didn't want challenging material or leading men. I think that may be exaggerated. While Betty didn't want to do heavy drama like The Razor's Edge, which studio head Darryl F. Zanuck wanted her for, Grable may have welcomed variety within the formula pictures. Mother Wore Tights is a great example, and is said to be Betty's favorite movie. I can see why. Betty was at the height of her movie stardom, and her new marriage to Harry James was now blossoming into a family. As for leading men, usually female stars that carried a film didn't get their equals as leading men. Fox's top leading men did heavy drama, like Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda. Power had done his duty in musicals in the '30s. So Betty was often paired with Don Ameche or John Payne. That's why a pistol like Dan Dailey was a breath of fresh air. 

"Mother Wore Tights" is forward-thinking for 1947 in depicting the showbiz couple
 mixing career and family.

The story in Mother Wore Tights goes to some interesting places for a '40s movie, like working parents, and how kids cope when their show biz parents aren't around. The rapport between Betty and Dan really carries this picture, and you totally believe them as this dynamic couple who are also devoted parents.

Betty Grable as a high school senior at the start of "Mother Wore Tights" is a bit much, though Betty at 31 plays the mother of teens through half of the movie.

Though it was not uncommon for stars to play young versions of themselves, Betty Grable as a high school senior at 31 was perhaps a bit of a stretch. But Grable was not vain in the least, and happily played the mother of teens in the latter portion of the movie. Betty was pregnant during this movie and I think they may have filmed Mother Wore Tights in sequence as much as possible; in Grable's last big number, her waist is noticeably larger. That’s how they rolled in the days of stars making several films per year. Orry-Kelly shined when he designed for period films and has a field day here. Betty wears some lovely off-stage costumes in particular and in unusual but flattering colors for the blue-eyed blonde.

Betty Grable wears some stylish Orry-Kelly costumes in "Mother Wore Tights."

Mother Wore Tights is old-fashioned and sentimental but in a natural way, and is leavened by some authentic moments about parents and kids. A terrific cast, nostalgic songs, solid story, and superb production all make for a feel-good movie!

A tender moment at the finale of "Mother Wore Tights," the Burts watching their
 daughter perform their signature stage number.

Here's my look at the movie that made Betty a 20th Century Fox star!  https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2023/07/betty-grable-found-stardom-down.html