Bathing Beauty (1944)

Esther Williams, as the numero uno bathing beauty of the times, in her first, of many, Technicolor 'swimusicals', has much supporting talent in this extravaganza, which was a smash hit for wartime audiences. Originally conceived as featuring most prominently Red Skelton, in a film titled 'Mr. Co-ed", it was decided to make Esther the headliner name of a retitled "Bathing Beauty". There are two swimming sections, the early one not of much interest, while the finale one is a very elaborate spectacle, featuring many participants in colorful outfits, in and out of the water, with Esther sometimes the focus of attention. Intervening these visual and musical spectaculars is a zany screenplay, with romantic and professional complications, and often featuring Red in various embarrassing situations.In 1936,Fox had initiated a series of films featuring ice-skating shows, usually including musical and romantic comedy features, as well, headed by ice skating sensation Sonja Henie. But, the last notable film of this series was released the year before the present film. Audiences had become bored with ice skating shows and Ms. Henie. MGM decided to imitate this general format, substituting water shows for ice skating shows, with Esther, a champion swimmer, the perennial female star. It worked surprisingly well, given Esther's comparatively bland screen persona.As many superior musicals have done, this one starts out with a musical highlight, to dazzle audiences. Xavier Cugat's Latin-themed band, initially featuring the singing and samba wiggling of Lina Romay, and later, the singing of Columbian Carlos Ramirez, as he seemingly pursues a disinterested Esther around the pool. Not long afterward, Harry James and his band is featured, although they can't equal Cugat's show for interest. Later, Helen Forest sings, Unfortunately, she never came across as an exciting singer. Both bands had already been featured in the B&W musical "Two Girls and a Sailor", released earlier that year. In contrast to most of his roles for MGM as a one song man, Ramirez has several singing assignments here, and plays a small role in the screenplay. However, perhaps his most memorable film moment was when he sang "Begin the Beguine", in the Cole Porter biopic: "Night and Day".While it's often thought that films featuring water ballets were introduced in this film, in fact the first film to do so was "Footlight Parade", back in 1933, with Busby Berkeley as the innovative choreographer. Although Berkeley did choreograph the water ballet in a few of Esther's films, he was not present here. Nonetheless, much of the water ballet featured typical Berkeley-inspired features.Poor Steve Elliot(Red), an important song writer, is fraudulently accused of being a bigamist, just after his wedding to Caroline(Esther). Seems producer George(Basil Rathbone) overheard that Steve planned to retire from songwriting upon his marriage, and is afraid that his future shows won't sell without Steve's song writing. Thus, he arranged for a woman(Jacqueline Dalya, as Maria) to claim she already had 3 sons fathered by Steve, all presented just after the wedding ceremony. Caroline believes this fraud, and leaves Steve to return to her job as swimming instructor at an all girl college. Steve tries to worm his way back into her life, finding a loophole in the college charter, allowing him to register as a student. This, of course, sets the stage for a series of comedic episodes through most of the remainder of the film.Although today, Red mostly comes across as a corny sort of slapstick clown, the episode where he is forced to take a ballet class is still truly hilarious. Another highlight is the vaudeville-like song and dance, to "I'll Take the high Note", mostly featuring the tall Red and petite , vivacious, Jean Porter, looking a bit like Lisa Minnelli. The upbeat organ music of Ethel Smith, often jazzy or Latin-themed, is also featured several times, she also playing the music teacher at this college. Ethel's organ playing would again be featured in the Esther film "Easy to Wed", in which Ramirez would also return for a song. Basil Rathbone, of fame in playing Sherlock Holmes, and fighting losing rapier duels with Errol Flynn, is surprisingly present, as the play and water ballet producer George.Playing a song writer, Red actually did compose many songs and even symphonies, although few are remembered today. In "Three Little Words"('50), he would play the historic song lyricist Harry Ruby".5 years later, in "Neptune's Daughter", MGM would reteam Esther with Red, and with Cugat's band again providing most of the musical numbers, hoping to recapture the magic of the present film. Although it too was a major box office success, in some ways, I see it as an inferior total experience. Red would be included in several other Esther films, as well, the last being the '51 "Texas Carnival". In contrast to the present film, Esther was not paired romantically with Red's character in these other films, being provided with a conventionally handsome leading man.

Billed right at the bottom of the official cast list, the lovely Janis Paige has only one line: "And I helped carry them!" Never mind! This is an extremely mindless if extremely colorful musical, hindered rather than helped by some of the now-dated swing music of Harry James and Xavier Cugat – despite Harry Stradling's attractively fluid and silhouette photography during these musical renditions. The movie is also not exactly elevated by the bumbling presence of an inane Red Skelton. Admittedly, Skelton is forced to battle with poor material and mindless routines, but he doesn't have to really plunge into them with such feigned enthusiasm. Fortunately, Skelton more than meets his match with Ann Codee who sparks up what could have been one of the more clichéd and embarrassingly gauche sequences. And after this Codee coda, even the songs seem to improve, particularly James' horn staccato with its imaginative framing shadows. Mr. Skelton's relentless mugging and the no-account histrionics of the French bedroom farce still intrude, but at least the farce is topped by Margaret Dumont. Fortunately, the hick story is got out of the way before the spectacularly costumed water ballet conclusion. Incidentally, Basil Rathbone has a few typical moments as the villain, though not enough to satisfy his fans. All in all, the movie's good moments outweigh its bad, but it's nevertheless a shame that the stupid plot and the boringly gross Mr. Skelton are not up to scratch.

Overlook the misleading title. The plot doesn't really focus on the aquatic talents of Esther Williams and her bathing suits. While she does have two amazing swimming sequences, including an elaborate water ballet, the story focuses on the attempts of song writer Red Skelton to woo Williams who married him impulsively. To do this, he registers as a student at the all-girl college where she teaches. This results in extended skits for Skelton to clown, especially a rather violent one where dance teacher Ann Codee basically slaps him silly while he clowns in a tutu. At least the dance sequence where fellow students each try to get rid of a sticky note remains funny. The sequence will bring back memories of I Love Lucy's charm school episode.The musical sequences fare better than some of Skelton's shtick, particularly a sketch where he demonstrates in pantomime of how a lady gets dressed in the morning. I'll Take the High Note is particularly enjoyable, jazzing up Loch Loman and featuring practically every specialty act in the film including Ethel Smith at her organ and the big band swinging of Harry James and his band. Diminuative Jean Porter is a feisty young lady who stands out in this, while a young Janis Paige is clearly recognizable as the other student. Smith has another specialty as she makes solo organ music even hotter than the brief presence of the over-the-top ego of Xavier Cugat.In spite of Ms. William's criticism of her own acting here, she's actually fine here, because she spends more time reacting to Skelton than having to emote. There's a ton of supporting players, although most of them get little to do. I wouldn't call Skelton and Williams a dream team, but there is plenty to like, topped by a gorgeous finale that in less capable hands would be a major bore.

BATHING BEAUTY was never meant to be a classic. It's primarily an excuse to feature Red Skelton in some of his "routiens", like being in drag and doing lots of pantomime. Also a vehicle for showcasing Esther Williams who was just starting out in films. She does well for her first co-starring role. Red is the star in this one unlike NEPTUNES DAUGHTER where he co-stars. The film is likable enough and fun to watch for the by-gone days of the flimsy MGM musical that it is. The plot is almost non-existent and again, just an excuse for Reds antics. Look for a young Janis Paige in the best number in the film. BATHING BEAUTY is one of six titles on DVD in the Williams collection. Now if Warner's would just put out another collection which should include some her better material i.e. EASY TO LOVE; DUCHESS OF IDAHO; SKIRTS AHOY; MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID and THRILL OF A ROMANCE.