The Merry Monahans

The Merry Monahans
The Merry Monahans
Directed by	Charles Lamont
Screenplay by	Michael Fessier; Ernest Pagano
Produced by	Michael Fessier; Ernest Pagano
Starring	Donald O'Connor; Peggy Ryan; Jack Oakie
Cinematography	Charles Van Enger
Edited by	Charles Maynard
Music by	Hans J. Salter
Production; company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	September 15, 1944;
Running time	91 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Merry Monahans is a 1944 American comedy-drama musical film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan and Jack Oakie.

The story is of a vaudeville family trying to make money through hard times. The film features the great song and dance duet with O'Connor and Ryan, "I Hate To Lose You". Film composer Hans J. Salter was nominated for an Academy Award for his score.^[1]

Plot[edit]

Talented vaudeville family the Monahans have one very big problem in the form of patriarch Pete (Jack Oakie): His heavy alcoholism has gotten the performing clan blacklisted from nearly every significant venue. With little choice but to break away from Pete, his children, Jimmy (Donald O'Connor) and Patsy (Peggy Ryan), devise their own act and take it on the road. The troupe enjoys some success, which motivates Pete to sober up. Hearing of their father's turnaround, they make plans to reunite.