Bathing Beauty

When I check with US movie database, I find it is not a very important movie in Hollywood history. But Bathing Beauty is more famous in China than in US. Actually Bathing beauty is one of few Hollywood movies which officially released in 40's China before communist government took power. Every Chinese over 60 years old remember this movie and Gone With Wind as two outstanding classic Hollywood picture. My father told me his uncle took him to see this movie when he was a child, he remember the advertisement all over the streets at the time and call it a Splendid Colorful Movie. It is true. The color is strong and the final scene is spectacular. Talented actor Red Skelton has great pantomime show in this movie which he mimes ladies' dress up in the morning and his swan lake ballet is memorable.

Bathing Beauty is one of those films that one can see over and over again. Lavishly produced and with a wonderful and exciting music, it is a picture that must be included in every DVD collection. My first contact with this movie was one late night when I taped it from our local TV station. Then, several years later, my daughter Paloma was only 10 when she saw it for the first time. She was fascinated!! Now she is 18 and knows the music and most of the script by heart. Esther Williams is beautiful, very warm and excellent swimmer. Skelton funny as always. Although the plot is silly, it serves as a frame for a wonderful presentation of long past artists such as our Colombian Carlos Julio Ramírez who was considered one of our best baritones. Also, Xavier Cugat "Cugie", Harry James and Ethel Smith. Today we have no artists like them. So if you enjoy MGM musicals, you will enjoy this one quite a lot!!

The lack of plot is part of what is fun.

Released during the middle of WWII, it is a rather obvious excuse to show beautiful women in bathing suits and have lots of really good musical numbers.

There are several wonderful location shots, even though most of it was filmed on a sound stage. One of the locations look likes it was filmed in Palm Springs.

Red Skelton is adorable if a bit typecast. Ester Williams is stunningly beautiful and graceful.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable, if silly, movie. A great movie for family viewing especially with younger children.

BATHING BEAUTY offers lots of eye candy and a couple of hilarious RED SKELTON routines proving he's a master at physical comedy. The musical interludes are on the dull side and don't give strong enough material to Ethel Smith (at the organ), Harry James, Xavier Cugat and Carlos Ramirez--a Latin tenor with a strong voice but no charisma.

The slender plot is the usual misunderstanding that occurs in these type of ESTHER WILLIAMS movies. She thinks her newly wed hubby (Red) is the father of three boys, thanks to a practical joke played by BASIL RATHBONE (who looks as if he'd rather be elsewhere in a thankless role). She tries throughout the film to get Red dismissed from the all girl college he enters just to be near her. The highlight of the film is Red's bashful entrance into a class of ballerinas, clad in pink tutu and ballet slippers--all the while being slapped around by a ruthless instructor and going through ballet paces with hilarious results.

The supporting cast is largely wasted--including Bill Goodwin, Margaret Dumont and Janis Paige in a brief role. Jean Porter gets to do more than usual and even has a song and dance number with Red.

The water ballet at the finale is nicely done in typical MGM manner but not as ostentatious as usual for an Esther Williams film. This was her debut as a leading lady and she has lots of confidence and poise, both in and out of the water. In fact, it's one of her better performances--but the spotlight belongs to Red Skelton who deserves his top billing.

I was fourteen-years-old when this film was released and naturally eager to see the fabulous Esther Williams. However, I was totally mesmerized by Harry James, premier trumpeter of his day. His playing was absolutely dynamite. I had never heard anything like it. I made up my mind then and there that I wanted to do that. I went on to a successful trumpet-playing career largely due to the initial influence of the great James. In those days (Mid 1940's) everyone wanted to be a trumpet player (unlike the deluge of guitars today)mainly due to the influence of Harry James. I am impressed to this day whenever the film is shown on TV. For those of you unfamiliar with the film or of Harry James, I strongly recommend it, especially for young budding trumpet players.