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Esther Williams: The TCM Spotlight Collection
Reviewer: Alyice Edrich
Movie
TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams, Vol 2
Million Dollar Mermaid, Easy To Love, Thrill Of A Romance, This Time For Keeps, Fiesta, and Pagan Love Song
Starring
Esther Williams, Donna Corcoran, Walter Pidgeon, Victor Mature, Jesse White, Carleton G. Young, Fernando Alvarado, Spring Byington, Henry Travers, Van Johnson, Lauritz Melchior, Fortunio Bonanova, Mary Astor, Ricardo Montalban, Akim Tamiroff, John Carroll, Hugo Haas, Johnnie Johnston, Dick Simmons, Jimmy Durante, Mary Stuart, Minna Gombell, Howard Keel, Charles Mauu, Rita Moreno, John Bromfield, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, and more.
The Review
Esther Williams spent years training as a swimmer, hoping to become a part of the United States Olympic Swim Team. Then it happened. In 1940 Williams made the team and was headed for Tokyo to compete. Unfortunately, World War II cancelled those dreams. But as fate would have it, Williams was picked up by legendary showman Billy Rose, and later, MGM. Williams went on to make several films, affectionately dubbed, Aqua Musicals. Then in the early 60s she left Hollywood to become a business woman. She soon became a household name via swimming pools and beautiful swimming suits.
There are a few things that capture my attention when watching the films released in this DVD set.
First, Williams may not have been the best actress that ever graced the big screen, but boy did she have charisma!
Second, despite her apparent limited acting abilities you can’t help but be drawn into the storyline—and when she swims, it’s breathtaking. It’s so breathtaking, in fact, that you forget that some of those musical swim scenes don’t necessarily fit in with the overall feel/theme of the film.
Third, it’s strange—and wonderful—to see a woman, of that era, with such bold upper body strength and athletic form—and yet remain delicate and feminine and “proper”. In today’s world, any woman who appears to show athletic form is immediately cast as a tomboy or worse.
Fourth, as corny as some of the films are, they were good wholesome fun. And in an era where ugliness and death and strife were at every turn, audiences needed that escape. And that’s just what William’s films brought. They had a way of removing the cares of the world so that, for just a brief moment in time, the audience could laugh and have hope, again.
As for this DVD collection, it comes with 6 films, and only two of them have any real aquatics. Most of the films in this collection appear to be MGMs attempt at moving Williams from the water to land. Unfortunately, critics and audiences didn’t take too well to the storylines, Williams’ acting skills, or the lack of aquatics.
Million Dollar Mermaid, 1952
This is a fictionalized story of Annette Kellerman’s life. Annette, an Australian swimmer and feminist, spent the first part of her life crippled and in leg braces. Determined to not let her disease ruin her life, she’d sneak off to swim at the local lake. One day, her father searches for her, only to fear for his daughter’s life as she flops around in the middle of the lake. As they talk, however, his anger and fright turns to joy because his daughter has discovered the “medicine” and the “cure” for her disease. Over the course of her childhood, Annette would compete in one swim competition after another, winning every one. But as luck would have it, the economy took a downfall and they were forced to leave Australia in search of work. Unfortunately, by the time they arrive in London, their hopes of employment are lost.
After selling nearly every silver cup she has, Annette gets desperate and takes an offer to swim 26 miles down the Thames. That swim earns her recognition as a local celebrity and a chance to earn some real money. Unfortunately, Annette turns down the offers and takes a risk of a lifetime—to travel to New York City to pitch an Aquatic musical to the Hippodrome. When her offer is rejected, she agrees to perform swim stunts in a carnival act. After receiving a certain amount of notoriety, however, the Hippodrome offers Annette a place in their show—and she takes it.
There’s an underlying love story, followed by a tragedy that unites two old lovers. But the heart of the story is, in fact, Annette’s drive to succeed.
This film has some amazing aquatic performances that should not be missed. Personally, I rather enjoyed this film and felt it was the best in this collection.
Easy To Love, 1953
This is the story of Julie Hallerton, who is madly and deeply in love with her boss and business tycoon, Ray Lloyd. Julie is positive that his inability to let her leave the company and move on with her life, or date other men on a serious level, stems from his unspoken love for her and she is determined to break Ray’s outer defenses. The whole film deals with a cat-and-mouse type chase between the two main characters until finally, Julie wears down Ray and he admits how much in love with her he really is.
This film has some amazing aquatic performances and one huge aquatic stunt performance that should not be missed. Personally, I rather enjoyed this film and felt it was a nice addition to this collection. I thought Williams was more relaxed in this film than in any of the films she’s played in, aside from Million Dollar Mermaid.
This Time For Keeps, 1947
This is the story of returning war vet, Dick Johnson, who finds he’s no longer content with the life he left behind—the girlfriend or the career as an opera singer. Determined to make a fresh start, he brushes off his girlfriend, and seeks employment as a jazz singer. When he finds a flyer of Nora, an aquatic star he met while injured in the service, he immediately becomes mesmerized with her and decides to do whatever it takes to win her heart—including meeting her grandmother and stealing her away from her boyfriend/manager.
This film has one good aquatic performance and very few water scenes, though Nora’s character is an aquatic star. Personally, I enjoyed the storyline, despite many loopholes in the plot—like not addressing the lies told by Dick, or the cheating done by both Nora and Dick.
Thrill Of A Romance, 1945
This is the story of Cynthia Glynn, a public swim instructor, who quickly falls in love and marries a business tycoon. All seems well until, on the first night of their honeymoon, Cynthia’s new husband leaves her—before consummating the marriage—to rush off and handle a business deal that takes weeks to resolve.
Soon, Cynthia finds herself attracted to a recuperating Major. She spends nearly all of her free time with him, but tries desperately to keep her emotions in check—after all, she’s a married woman—but the Major doesn’t make it easy.
This film has a few water scenes, but no aquatic performances. Personally, I thought the film was okay; even if some areas are a little choppy. I, however, had a hard time getting past the fact that the husband spent so much energy winning his bride’s heart to only let her go so easily. And of course, it left me wondering, “if she could so easily fall in love with another man, was she ever really in love or simply infatuated by the courtship?”
Fiesta, 1947
Don Antonio, a famous bull fighter, marries the love of his life and later becomes the proud parents of twins: Mario and Maria. Don Antonio ruthlessly trains Mario to become the next bull fighting sensation, while Maria secretly learns to fight the bulls on the side. There’s just one problem, Mario dreams of being a world-famous composer and longs to leave behind the world of bull fighting. But to do so would be to dishonor his father, and so moves forward with his career as a bull fighter. Determined to see her brother’s dreams come true, Maria secretly sends one of Mario’s compositions to a famous conductor. The conductor loves Mario’s piece and wants to train him but Mario’s father will have none of it and hides the opportunity from Mario. When Mario discovers the truth, he leaves he world of bull fighting behind, thus disgracing his father. Determined to find her brother, Maria signs up to fight a few bulls—all in disguise, as her brother.
This film has one quick water scene, but no aquatic performances. Personally, I felt Williams was the wrong choice for the leading role in this film and it made the entire film awkward—especially the part where she dresses up as her twin. She doesn’t even attempt to speak in an accent or appear Hispanic.
Pagan Love Song, 1950
Mimi, the half Tahitian swim instructor, is about to embark on a new journey—as she preps for her trip to America. But her plans are thwarted when she meets Endicott, a school teacher who has inherited his uncle’s plantation. Determined to live off his uncle’s wealth, he attempts to hire Mimi—whom he mistakes for a maid. Mimi, not yet willing to let on that she’s an educated woman of wealth, fakes a Tahitian accent and speaks in broken English as she turns him down. Not yet willing to give up on Mimi, he sets off to get to know her better—and eventually asks her out on a date. As time progresses, Endicott turns his non-functioning plantation into a working, barely profitable plantation and Mimi realizes that what was missing from her life wasn’t adventure, or the American way, but a love interest.
The two enjoy a nice, little romance but it quickly blows up in their faces when they discover they have different viewpoints. Determined to save their relationship, two of the islanders—both of whom are Mimi’s dearest friends—concoct a plan to bring the two together.
This film has one aquatic performance, performed by Mimi and her island students. Personally, I did not care for this film at all. I think it’s the worst film of the bunch. The imagery is breathtaking, but the chemistry between Williams and Keel sucked, Endicott’s singing got on my nerves—especially his face gestures and how it made him appear as they he were making fun of the mentally disabled, and Williams’ fake accent was simply atrocious.
This collection is not digitally restored or enhanced but does include a few extras, like: theatrical trailers, short cartoons (which were often featured before the films in theatres), film shorts (which were 8 minute black and white films on random topics of interest), and a few deleted scenes.
Would I recommend this collection? Yes. And as long as you remember that Williams was NEVER given any acting lessons, you can enjoy the films for what they are—true classics.
Order TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams, Vol 2 Today!
Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the DVD to review.
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