Aqua Babes

Lissa Bengston came from Sweden to toss little kids into the pool. It's an effective way to get them into the water, and once it's clear that it doesn't hurt, the horseplay is a lot of fun. She teaches them movements for the crawl while pinning their legs so they can concentrate on their hands, and ties their hands together so they can work on their kicking.

It all makes sense, and while I'm certain that some of the children cry a lot at this handling, the fact that it seems to work makes her offhanded attitude towards her pupils more secure. When I was a child, my mother never showed concern, although doubtless she felt it.

THIS IS AN interesting addition to the RKO-Sport-scope series. Rather than having snippets that feature such widely scattered subjects as: Pro Wrestlers, Tennis, Bacci and Polo, the production team spends this reel's worth of film short on large group of truly young kids doing some amazing things in the old swimmin' hole (Pool actually).

IN THE NARRATION we are told by the off screen voice of one Harry Wismer that the system being demonstrated so handily was brought across the 'Pond' by the instructing lady from Europe.

JUDGING BY THE performances done by these mainly pre-schoolers, it is truly a superior method. In no way at no time during the film do any of the little, aquatic performers appear to be anything but very enthusiastic.

IT'S BEEN LONG said that swimming is a skill that is best learn young; the younger being the better. Whoever said that was really on to something; as seen on the screen.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS a truth that would appear to be irrefutable.

I saw this years ago and remembered the content but not the name. This is message from our grandparents and great grandparents. The network of social workers and university regimented teachers would fight this concept tooth and nail. The women who so ably taught these children a skill that will not just give them countless numbers of hours of exercise and joy; it could save lives down the line. But, could she teach this class in 2012? In short, NO! Every social worker in the country (and there are tens of thousand of them) would be frothing at the mouth. Tossing 3 years old's into the pool on their own would get them upset; but tying their hands and throwing them in the water would make them apoplectic. The facts of the matter are the children in this short film were healthy and happy; and had learned a lesson that might save lives one day. And while swimming is the class; these kids got far more then just a mastery of the water. They gained confidence and self reliance; and sadly that's something that's not being taught these days. Even our politicians are undermining self reliance; they're force insurance companies to cover children up to 26 years old if they still live at home. And sadly there are many more adult children living in mom's basement. Watch this film and recognize what your seeing; your seeing 3 year old's that can do far more then most parents are willing to admit. Instead we now put our 3 year old girls in patents. Great message, fun to watch.

Aqua Babes (1955)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

I watch every short that shows up on Turner Classic Movies but when a Sportscope one comes on I always shutter because the quality is mostly always bland. This short takes a look at the swimming school by Lissa Bengston who is teaching three and four-year-olds. We see the various techniques she uses to teach the kids the proper way to swim. I'm surprised TCM showed this in the evening because the camp value makes it something they should have played during their Underground programming since that block is usually left for the bizarre and strange. I'm sure Bengston was a master at what she did but if I ever saw her handling my child the way she does those in this film then there would be a major problem. The short starts off with her flipping and then tossing kids into the pool and later in the film we're greeted to images of her using rope to tie the hands of children so that they can't use them when they swim. Yes, Bengston is right there the entire time but the risk factor just makes one watch this short is somewhat of a state of shock. It's also clear that the kids are freezing during one scene as each one of them are shaking so it's clear that RKO were doing what it took to get their shots. AQUA BABES is a very bizarre film that is so strange and different that it should keep one entertained.

There was nothing wrong with the way she taught these young children. I'm sure today the civil liberties would jump in there with reckless abandon. Hey people never taught kids anything that's why you're afraid they'll get hurt doing anything ! Bleeding liberals think all the children are going to grow up to be Einstein, there's no toughness in kids nowadays. The only toughness they learned is from a video game!