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Esther Williams and Red Skelton star in this endearingly silly tale of two star-crossed lovers whose eventual reunion is not for a moment in doubt. Swimming teacher Caroline Brooks (Williams) and songwriter Steve Elliott (Skelton) are engaged and crazy in love. All seems well until Basil Rathbone (!) shows up as a ruthless producer, determined to break them up and keep Steve's songwriting genius for himself. When a wounded Caroline retreats to her women's college, Steve finds the only way to pursue her is to enroll as a student, and the wackiness begins! Bathing Beauty is also jam-packed with music, featuring the talents of Xavier Cugat and his orchestra and Harry James and his orchestra. There's also a stunning number in which the housemother jams on the electric organ for her girls, who shout things like "Now let's really get hot!" and, just when you think it can't possibly get any better, "Let's go below the border for some South American jive!" One can't help but hope those two crazy kids get back together. And do you think the producer will be able to find someone to star in his water pageant? --Ali Davis ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very good, well worth seeing.
"Bathing Beauty," is a great movie with esther willams and red Skelton. It's a delightful comedy as well as drama, and has some lovely songs and music in it.

"Bathing Beauty" Indeed!
Has there ever been a more beautiful aquatic sight than Esther Williams? In 1944, MGM starred Esther in BATHING BEAUTY, a comedy-musical-aquacade that marked her first leading role (she had played featured roles in two previous films). Esther's beauty and swimming talents made such a striking impression on audiences that she was launched on a ten-year career as a star of lavish Technicolor musicals. These movies were often among the top moneymaking films of the year.

BATHING BEAUTY tells a simple, and silly, story: a college swimming instructor (Williams) has a whirlwind romance with a songwriter (played by top comedian Red Skelton). But a misunderstanding causes her to walk out on their marriage. He follows and enrolls as a student at the women's college where she teaches until they can patch things up.

Much of the footage in BATHING BEUATY is devoted to Skelton's broad comedy antics, and he has some hilarious routines here. One extended sequence shows his participation--complete with pink tutu--in a college eurythmics course. He also leads a lengthy musical number, "I'll Take the High Note," that is a big-band variation on the Scottish folk tune "Loch Lommond"--and that grows funnier and funnier the more it's drawn out.

As with many of the MGM musicals produced by Jack Cummings, there are also musical performances by top bands of the day. Harry James leads his musicians in three numbers, including a wonderful performance of the standard "I Cried for You," with a vocal by Helen Forrest. And Xavier Cugat's orchestra is also on hand (1944 was the height of the U.S.'s "Good Neighbor" policy toward Latin America, after all!). Cugat's vocalist, the piquant and sexy Lina Romay, plays a major role in these numbers, especially in a lavishly staged song-and dance sequence referred to as "that Venezuelan number," whose title is unknown to this reviewer.

Since this was Esther's first starring role, her footage is comparatively brief, and her acting is not as polished as in later films. (Williams herself later laughed at the "eye-popping" acting mannerism she employed here but that vanished by her next performance.) However, as always, she wears her dazzling wardrobe extremely well. And her Olympic-caliber swimming abilities are on excellent display in the film's finale, a huge aquacade number set to the music of Johann Strauss that was staged by famed Broadway director John Murray Anderson.

One disappointment about the print of the film available on this video is that the color is quite faded and hardly gives an accurate impression of the richness of Technicolor photography. The only exception is during the finale, when the images and the color become quite sharp and dazzling. Perhaps this photographic difference was noticeable even in the film's original release; it is possible the final aquacade was photographed by a different cameraman than the rest of the film.

For fans of Esther Williams--and for anyone in the mood for a nostalgic wallow in 1940s movie magic--there is much to enjoy in BATHING BEAUTY.

A fun movies with a classic soundtrack!
This period movie from the 40's features a young Esther Williams, Red Skelton and some terrific big band music. The story and much of the acting is not memorable, however there are moments of real entertainment. Red Skelton is a comedy treasure. Foot-tapping songs like Tico-Tico and Harry James solos are a bonus. This was the film that started it all for the [now] classic Ester Williams aquatic dance sequences. For those looking for movies to watch with kids and family, Bathing Beaty offers wide appeal; no language or violence or sexual content. This is a fun way to spend several hours.

"A Piece of Junk"
... that was how star Basil Rathbone described this turkey to a friend at the time. Having signed a contract with MGM for economic security during the war, Basil found himself loaned out to Universal at a hefty fee (which he never saw) for the Sherlock Holmes films, while his "home" studio threw him into nothing roles in crap like this. Esther Williams made her film debut in Bathing Beauty, and somehow it made her a star... today she'd be lucky to make it beyond ESPN. Red Skelton is, as usual, quite unbearable. Then there's Xavier Cugat. The only virtue of the film is some Technicolor location footage of L.A. in the forties. It's very small consolation indeed.

Really funny!
My father and I have had a blast watching this movie over and over again! Red Skelton is hilarious, and adorable! We're looking forward to buying this video, and others! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A great film!
This is a must see musical, with color and an interesting plot. The costumes againa re very pretty and colorful, and atmospher ein the film is glamerous and beautiful. It's a greta escape, and a film that can be watched again and again. John Payne and Betty Grable ar egreat in it. Cesar Romero is wonderfulin it, so charming. Cameron Miranda and him are paired again just like in "A Weekend in Havanna." They make a great couple.

LAKE LOUISE IN TECHNICOLOR .
Another enjoyable but virtually nonsensical Fox musical! Here we have lovely Grable and the handsome but wooden John Payne being needlessly suspicious and jealous of each-other while Carmen Miranda (as Miss Murphy!) and Caesar Romero complicate matters romantically. The movie takes us to Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada - 1940's style, and the Technicolor holds up astonishing well - it is clear and vibrant - a real treat for the eyes to behold! Carmen Miranda does her usual scene stealing as the secretary Payne hired while in a drunken stupor in Detroit - Payne also hired the wonderful Edward Everett Horton as his well-educated valet whilst "under the influence". Watch for Charlotte Greenwood doing her hilarious high-kicking dance while she's tipsy, lonely and uninhibited in the resort nightclub - she's embarrassed at the enthusiastic applause she receives! There is something about Greenwood here which reminds me of Celeste Holm in looks, speech and manner - they would have made a terrific mother-and-daughter act! The high-voiced Harry James (to whom Grable would marry and stay with for 20 years) plays his magnificent golden trumpet while the great Big Band vocalist Helen Forrest is showcased - dressed a bizarre, unflattering outfit & walking between the dancers - singing her biggest hit: I HAD THE CRAZIEST DREAM.

A Good Reason To See Why Betty Grable Was a Major Star!
Wonderful musical comedy with Betty Grable in top form as Broadway star who abandons her partner/fiance, John Payne, for the Canadian Rockies when she believes him to be stepping out on her. Once there, she meets up with past dance partner Cesar Romero and uses him to make Payne jealous when he himself shows up at the resort where they are working as a team. The colorful Carmen Miranda is also a stand-out in a hilarious role as the girl Payne uses to try to get Grable jealous as well. The cast is rounded out by the delightfully comical Charlotte Greenwood and Grable's future husband, Harry James, who contributes to the musical goings-on with his fabulous trumpet playing. Lively production numbers and gorgeous Technicolor, not to mention the beautiful Grable herself, make this a fun treat for late-night viewing.

Fun! Fun! Fun!
John Payne, Charlotte Greenwood, Betty Grable and Carmen Miranda contribute to this light concoction that has wonderful dance and musical numbers, but very little in the way of plot. However, everything is light and breezy and quite entertaining.

Lovelorn Grable abandons Broadway for the Rockies
When Broadway star Grable discovers partner John Payne is a love cheat, she abandons him to take up an offer of work in Lake Louise, in the Canadian Rockies, with former dance partner Cesar Romero. After a week's boozing, Payne eventually arrives at Lake Louise to try and win her back from smoothie Romero. Travelling companions he finds on the way include Edward Everett Horton, as his valet, and Carmen Miranda plays Rosita Murphy (!) a very unlikely secretary. Love wins in the end. All-star cast, who work well together. Horton is fine as a woman-shy toothpaste heir (he has money!); Carmen Miranda as colourful as ever and shows a great line in fractured English comedy - her Chatanooga Choo Choo is knockout; and long-legged Charlotte Greenwood has a couple of delightful high-kicks routines. All good fun, set in the beautiful Rockies resort. Betty even has a scene with her husband-to-be bandleader Harry James, who supplies the musical backing, and she does some of her best onscreen dancing with Romero. Trivia note: Betty's first-born was named Vicki (Victoria) after the character she played in this winning musical. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Still just as great, over 60 years later
Lucille Ball, Tommy Dix, Virginia Weidler, June Allyson, and Nancy Walker star in this hilarious and refreshing story of a military school student who invites a famous movie actress to the prom.

Bud Hooper didn't know that his letter would ever be answered...but when Lucille Ball writes back to say she'd be delighted to attend his school's senior prom, he's in shock. He frantically wires his girlfriend, Helen, not to come because he is sick. Guilty and depresed, Bud wishes he'd never thought up this crazy scheme. His two roommates are enthusiastic, however, and convince him that Helen will never know.

Meanwhile, Lucille Ball isn't any happier. Jack, her publicity agent, wants to get her on the front page and thinks this is the way to do it. Lucille is skeptical, especially when she hears that she must hide her identity and go to the prom as Helen, because that was the name Bud turned into the faculty two weeks before.

Trouble escalates when Helen shows up just before the prom, having intended to keep her poor bedridden boyfriend company. Then it's just one laugh after another as Lucille Ball's dress is torn off in a frenzy of "souvenir collecting" started by the fuming Helen. Lucy is then forced to hide in a stuffy closet, while Bud and his friends try to plan an escape.

This is a true gem of a movie, with great songs and hysterically funny lines. My favorite line was probably one spoken by the hopelessly ugly blind date (Nancy Walker): "You can't insult me and get away with it. In fact, you can't insult me."

VERY FUNNY ONE LINERS!
This movie has many lines that my sisters and I still quote from today! ("Whoever finds her...I hope it's me!" -- one of our favorites!) Trust me, this is very funny!

Wonderful Forties Musical
If you like college musicals, you'll love this fast paced MGM piece of fluff. The story is simple, a military college cadet wins a date with Hollywood actress Lucille Ball (In one of many performances where she plays herself) This ill conceived publicity stunt designed to re-start her faltering career, turns into a hilarious disaster when the cadet's girlfriend shows-up the night of the big date. You can imagine the fun that ensues with Lucy hiding out in the cadet's dorm room closet which continues to get more crowed by the minute. The musical numbers are all classic, like Harry James' swing version of "Flight of the Bumble Bee," and the rollicking "Barrelhouse, Boogie, and The Blues," beautifully performed by Nancy Walker, June Allison, and Gloria DeHaven. This was their MGM debut film and they all went on to stardom.

This is one of MGM's better musicals from the forties, it is full of great music, lively dancing and just plain fun and let's face it Lucille Ball is absolutely georgous.

I highly recommend this film!

Lucy shines!
Lucy looks absolutely fabulous in this movie, just like she does in every other movie. She is a brilliant actress, and it shows in this film. Her talent comes shining through. She's very funny at times, especially when her fans rip off her clothes and she slaps a man. She's left there in her underwear, and she constantly has to hide in closets(poor dear!). This is a very good movie, so if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and do watch it. If you love Lucy as much much as I do(which I doubt), or even remotely close to how much I do, then watch her shine in Best Foot Forward. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Sting II Stinks!
In 1973, Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw starred in "The Sting," which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In 1983, Jackie Gleason, Mac Davis, and Oliver Reed starred in "The Sting II," which narrowly beat out "Caddyshack II" for my award for the worst sequel of all time. Jackie Gleason (Henry Gondorff) and Mac Davis (Johnny Hooker), in addition to being laughably bad replacements for Newman and Redford, have no screen chemistry together. Oliver Reed (Doyle Lonnegan) bellows his way through the film, having none of the subtlety of Robert Shaw. Karl Malden chews scenery as the new villain Macalinski, who is being set up for the latest con job. The only reason the movie studio greenlighted this turkey is to make money off the good name of the original film. Don't get stung by watching "The Sting II."

Excellent movie, STILL TOO MUCH foul language, though.
Jackie Gleason is TERRIFIC as Henry Gondorff though I don't see why the hell Paul Newman couldn't have returned for the smash sequel. This movie comes CLOSE to being as successfull as the 1973 hit but misses by an inch. EVERYONE who worked on this film-TERRIFIC job. I LOVED Oliver Reed's portrayal of Doyle Lonnegan. Rated PG. ... Read more

Description

If Ellas your thing, this is for you. Its Ella in concert, Ella on television, Ella alone, Ella with DUKE ELLINGTONS ORCHESTRA and Ella with BENNY GOODMAN. Just about everything she ever made famous (except "A Tisket A Tasket") and some things youd never expect to hear (like a Scat Samba!). JO STAFFORD, HARRY JAMES, TEDDY WILSON, RED NORVO all add to a memorable performance. Includes rare kinescope footage with DAVE GARROWAY. Is it tape or is it Ella Live? (Its on tape...and thank goodness its Ella!) 66 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

If only I could have worked at MGM...
This is one of my favorites. June and Gloria are a great team, acting and singing together perfectly. Jimmy Durante really shines in this movie, and Van Johnson is cute. Tom Drake is bland but there is so much fun and great music in this movie it doesn't matter. A WWII moral booster that doesn't drag or get soggy,with a
freaky dream sequence AND Virginia O'Brien doing what she does best. I also like the growing up in show business storyline. Gloria
DeHaven has a beautiful voice which should be praised more often.

With so much talent, how can you go wrong?
It's great - one of my favorites. The plot is fun, but who cares when you are being constantly entertained by such famous and talented performers.

best time of your life!
June Allyson And Gloria DeHaven Are Great As The Two Sisters. Van Johnson And Tom Drake Are Great As Their Love Interests. But Who Will Get Who At The End? You'll See! But On To The Real Part Of This Film.... THE MUSIC~! I Fell In LOve With Gloria's "My Mother Told Me" She sings On Top Of A Piano With A Bunch Of Servicemen. We All Know VAn Johnson Is The Rich Tar (A Sailor) That HAs 60 Million Dollars. Great Film For Every One! I Would Give This One A Couple Billion Stars If I Could Only Do That!!!!

More Of MGM Greatest
This movie is so enjoyable. The plot isn't very complicated or original, but it is easy to follow. There are some funny moments supplied by Durante. Gloria DeHaven and June Allyson also have some funny dialogue. DeHaven's vocals are spectacular. She is a very underated singer. The musical numbers are top notch. MGM has some of the greatest entertainers and they are showcased beautifully in this film. Some of my favorite musical moments are Gloria DeHaven singing "My Mother Told Me There'd Be Moments Like This", June Allyson singing "The Young Man With a Horn", Lena Horne singing, "Paper Doll" and Virginia O'Brien and the Wilde Twins singing "Take It Easy". This movie is charming from start to finish.

Two Girls And A Sailor
This jewel is one of my favorite musicals. Here's why. First, the viewer watches the two female leads grow up on screen, physically and musically; second, it is bouncy and perky, with good dialogue and memorable musical numbers; third, there is an element of suspense as the female leads and the audience guess who provided the canteen; fourth, Allyson and DeHaven blend beautifully, in voice and personality; and fifth, Jimmy Durante provides good comic relief. In the first half of the movie, Gloria DeHaven sings "What Are You Going To Do Now?" on top of a piano, surrounded by serviceman. Her delivery is supurb, and I find myself backing it up many times, just to replay that number. Later on, June Allyson sings "Young Man With a Horn," with band leader great Harry James. Although love triangles are a common plot in musicals of this era, the relationship between the two sisters keeps the plot from being obvious. I never tire of this one. It is top-notch entertainment. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

interestingly bad
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz met on the set of this lowbudget 1940 musical. Ball plays Connie, a spoilt hardhearted woman, who has suddenly decided to eschew the Ivy League to attend her father's alma mater Pohatawny College in small-town Louisiana.

Unknown to Connie, her father has hired a quartet of bodyguards to transher to Pohatawny and keep an eye on her. She has more than an education on her mind -- there is a writer who lives nearby with whom she is having an affair. The guys meantime become football heros and enjoy their status of big men on campus at a school where women outnumber men 10 to 1.

The movie is full of annoying song-and-dance numbers (although Ball has a wonderful singing voice, unknown to fans of her hit show 'I Love Lucy', where she screeched like a crow as a running gag.) Inexplicably, a white actress with a black wig is supposed to be a Mexican student -- I did not get that until halfway through the film. Were there REALLY no available Mexican actresses in 1940? Hmmmm.

very fun
this film was very fun to watch as it was very upbeat and filled with music. it was especially interesting to watch knowing that the greatest romance of the century started as a result of the movie being made (of course i mean lucy and desi's). i would recommend that if your in the mood for a harmful upbeat comedy (and/or happen to love lucy and desi) you should rent this movie.

LUCY MEETS DESI
This pleasantly modest little film from 1940 is important as a footnote in the history of Hollywood: it was during its filming that rising 29 year-old movie comedy actress Lucille Ball met a 23 year-old Cuban Conga drummer named Desi Arnaz! It's a fast-paced musical comedy full of peppy performances and musical numbers. Lucy plays an heiress who takes a shot at campus life accompanied by a quartet of bodyguards, all of whom are topnotch football players...Ann Miller dances up a storm and Desi delivers a hot conga interpretation of SPIC AND SPANISH. Upon meeting Desi, Lucy once remarked "It was NOT love at first sight. It took 5 minutes!" Lucy and Desi married in Greenwich, Connecticut on November 30, 1940. Eleven years later, I LOVE LUCY would make Ball and Arnaz America's most beloved couple in the entertainment world. Van Johnson made his film debut in this musical frolic, the score of which includes the perennial Rodgers and Hart tune I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS.

Too Many Girls
This movie is a must see for Lucy and Desi fans as they met and fell in love while making it. Lots of fun music and dancing and you will also see a young Betty Grable too. ... Read more

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Made during the heyday of Hollywood anthology films (such as O. Henry's Full House and Tales of Manhattan), this meandering movie is wound around the adventures of a lowly classified-ad clerk (Burgess Meredith, who also produced) who plays roving "man on the street reporter" for a day. He asks the question, "What influence has a baby had on your life?" and gets a collection of comical responses. Hapless jazz musicians Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart mistake the word "baby" for "babe" and describe how a shapely trumpet-playing dish upended their lives, movie star Dorothy Lamour remembers how a child star turned an Iowa day player into a South Seas screen goddess, and Fred MacMurray tells a story suspiciously similar to "The Ransom of Red Chief." It's fun to see Fonda stumble and stammer through a slapstick performance and Lamour spoof her Polynesian Princess image, but it's a lightweight lark with only fitfully funny stories.

Officially credited to King Vidor and Leslie Fenton, it also received uncredited assistance from John Huston and George Stevens in the Fonda-Stewart story. None of them show much facility for slapstick and their styles never meld. The film lurches from one gag to another, only settling down for MacMurray's story, where his easy delivery and chemistry with future "My Three Sons" costar William Demarest overcomes the clumsy direction. Paulette Goddard also rises above her material in a small role as Meredith's sharp and sexy wife. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hopefully O. Henry Got Some Royalties Off of This One
Known for being the only film Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda starred in together, I thought I'd check out "On Our Merry Way" for its historical significance. Unfortunately, it's not very good.

The film is split into three seperate stories tied together by a rather odd framing device. Burgess Meredith and Paulette Goddard play a married couple having monetary problems, with Meredith conning his way into a reporting job to earn extra cash. He then proceeds to interview three seperate sets of people, with the angle being the way in which a child has affected each of their lives. Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda are musicians that lose their band to a "babe", Dorothy Lamour is an actress contending with a spoiled child star (echos of Shirley Temple) and finally Fred McMurray fights a battle of wits with a 10 year-old holy terror.

The first segment is pretty dull, and Jimmy and Henry are not given much to do. The second story is a little better, with Lamour doing a nice musical number sending up her exotic image called "Queen of the Hollywood Isles". The last section is a blatant [take] of O. Henry's classic short story, "The Ransom of Red Chief", only stressful instead of funny. The framing device with Goddard and Meredith is the best part of the movie, due to the strong chemistry between them.

I recommend "On Our Merry Way" as a rental for hard-core Stewart or Goddard fans, otherwise it's not really worth your time. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Andrews Sisters with Harry James
With the benefit of the DVD format, this film can be enjoyed as an Andrews Sisters concert with Harry James as well as the 1942 low-budget Universal musical that it was at the time of release (and a box office success, by the way).
The Sisters swing on "Three Little Sisters" (note this is after the disaster at Bataan/Corregidor and the lyric "from Iceland to the Philippines" is changed to "from Iceland down to New Orleans"), "That's the Moon, My Son" and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree". This is a rare chance to hear the great Vic Schoen Andrews Sisters arrangements with the sharp James orchestra. This film also provides a glimpse of the great stage presence and commedienne quality of Patty Andrews, if only briefly.
Harry James and Helen Forrest join forces for "You Made Me Love You" and "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen".
James demonstrates his considerable talent on the trumpet several times and the Sisters keep smiling through, perhaps, their strangest novelty song, "We're Six Jerks in a Jeep".
Dick Foran croons "Private Buckaroo" and gives out with "We've Got a Job to Do" which is also the Andrews Sisters finale after the equally rare "Johnny Get Your Gun Again". Neither of these two wartime tunes were recorded by the Sisters in the Decca studio and may only exist in the Sisters surviving recordings on this film soundtrack.
Then-former Stooge Shemp Howard, Mary Wickes and the dancing team of Peggy Ryan and Donald O'Conner try to provide comic support in the tradition of musical comedy films of the era. This DVD contains an adequate print of the film with good sound and also has some World War II newsreel footage and movie bloopers in the package unrelated to "Private Buckaroo".
If Universal does not release a restored print of this film or an Andrews Sisters Universal DVD multi-film package (oh, that they would!), this is a keepsake item.

It's all in the dancing
If young dancer Donald O'Connor catches your eye in this film, it's thanks to choreographer John Mattison, who taught O'Connor (among others) much of what he knows. Mattison's daughter, Ethelyn, also dances in the chorus. Mattison, who danced in Vaudeville and on Broadway before working in Hollywood, went on to become a well-known dance teacher. His students included Basil Rathbone and Dan Dailey.

Of some historic interest...
This is essentially an armed forces recruitment film made by Universal shortly after the U.S. formal entry into World War II, utilizing some comics and swing musicians to raise the patriotic tenor. The wispy plot relates how the entire band of Harry James decides to enlist in the Army to follow its drafted leader, with a subsequent U.S.O. follies being organized directly before the entire group marches avidly into combat. With the exception of the reliable Mary Wickes, the comedians, in particular Joe E. Lewis and Shemp Howard, are dreadful and serve only to make the various musical interludes, notably those featuring the sprightly Andrews Sisters, a welcome relief --- from comedy. Former big band singer Dick Foran, who warbles the title tune, is the featured non-musical performer tasked to deal with the hapless propagandistic script, but 16 year old Donald O'Connor nearly steals the show along with some of his jitterbugging cronies.

Private Buckaroo
Private Buckaroo is a wonderful wartime movie which I would reccomend to anyone who likes movies of the 1940's, and/or The Andrews Sisters. I am also a Three Stooges fan, so I also liked seeing Shemp in it too.

Great, even still today!
It's incredible, the amount of propaganda put into this movie, "Be a Man, fight for your country!" But overall, the songs and dances are amazing...especially since i love The Andrews Sisters! ... Read more