The Hoodlum Saint(1946)

The Hoodlum Saint(1946). Drama, Cast: William Powell and Esther Williams.

After World War I, Major Terry O'Neill returns to Baltimore, expecting to pick up where he left of at his newspaper editor job. However, the paper has changed owners and his friend and former editor, has been told to cut costs. Disappointed, Terry leaves the building and runs into two of his crooked buddies, "Fishface" and "Three Finger". When they are arrested, it takes all his money to pay their fines.

Now needing a job, he crashes a high society wedding party in the hope of meeting businessman Lewis J. Malbert. When a guard asks to see his invitation, Terry quickly grabs guest Kay Lorrison and kisses her, she slaps Terry in the face. After he catches the brides bouquet and hands it to her they become friends.

She introduces him to her uncle, publisher Joe Lorrison, Terry impresses him with his ideas and lands a job. He and Kay, masterminds a newspaper campaign against Malbery. Terry surprises his boss by quitting his job to go to work for Malbery in New York. Snarp, Fishface, Three Finger and "Eel" tag along to open a pool room.

After three years, he is promoted to executive vice president of the company and returns to Baltimore to see Kay. He finds her getting married. After which, He begins dating Nightclub singer "Dusty".

Eventually, Kay comes to see him, to tell him that she is now a widow and still in love with him. He takes Kay to meet Dusty, who realizes she has no chance keeping her man moves on, but... is not too happy about it. Kay, soon realizes that Terry has become hard and cynical, with the passing of time and she breaks it off with him him.

When Snarp's bookmaking business was uncovered, Terry secretly has Snarp freed, but wants him to believe that his good fortune was because of Saint Dismas.

Terry loses everything in the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Nearly all his friends and associates, who invested in the stock market on his advice, turn against him. A reformed Snarp tries to get Terry to put his faith in Saint Dismas.

Dusty, comes to his aid and offers Terry an expensive bracelet he once gave her, but he turns her down. Hurt by his rejection, she takes over a charity Snarp set up for Saint Dismas, planning to steal the donations and put the blame on Terry.

When Terry leaves town on business, he become ill and is cared for by Father Nolan. Will Kay and his friends come through to prove his innocence?

Video: Movie trailer.



I have been really looking forward to watching this film for a long time. Williams is wonderful in her role and Powell is his usual charming, fast-talking self(maybe a little to old for Esther's love interest). Lansbury, plays a glamorous night club singer(you can tell her voice is dubbed). James Gleason, Frank McHugh and Rags Ragland, all make the cutest crooked buddies.

James Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) Coming from theatrical stock, as a schoolboy he made stage appearances while on holiday.

He began earning his living at the age of thirteen, being a messenger boy, printer's devil, assistant in an electrical store and a lift boy.

He enlisted in the army at age 16 and served 3 years in the Philippines. On discharge, he began his stage career.

He played in London for two years and following his return to the United States, he began in films by writing dialogue for "comedies". He also wrote several plays.

His first film acting was in the film, The Count of Ten (1927).

In 1931, he co-starred with Robert Armstrong in the radio sitcom Gleason and Armstrong. Balding and slender with a craggy voice and a master of the double-take, Gleason portrayed tough but warm-hearted characters, usually with a New York background.

He appeared in several movies with his wife Lucille.

Gleason co-wrote The Broadway Melody, the second film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture and had a small uncredited role in it.

Gleason also co-wrote and briefly appeared as a hot dog vendor in the 1934 Janet Gaynor vehicle Change of Heart.

He played a milk cart driver who gives lessons in marriage to Judy Garland and Robert Walker in the 1945 film The Clock, while Lucille played his wife. In the same year, he played the bartender in the film adaptation of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

Gleason also is remembered for playing police inspector Oscar Piper in a series of six Hildegarde Withers mystery films during the 1930's, starting with Penguin Pool Murder.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as boxing manager Max 'Pop' Corkle in the 1941 film Here Comes Mr. Jordan.

Gleason also appeared on television:  Reed Hadley, The Public Defender, The Real McCoys, and the Christmas 1957 episode of John Payne's The Restless Gun on NBC.

In "The Child" Gleason and Anthony Caruso played Roman Catholic priests who run an orphanage.

James and Lucille Gleason had a son, actor Russell Gleason (1908-1945), who died after falling from the window ledge of a hotel in midtown Manhattan, on Christmas night in 1945, just before his army regiment was due to leave for a posting in Europe.

Russell's most prominent role had been as Muller in the Academy Award-winning version of All Quiet on the Western Front (1930).

Russell Gleason was married to Cynthia Lindsay, a former Busby Berkeley chorus girl who later wrote a biography of family friend Boris Karloff.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Esther Williams.

Esther Williams and her schnauzer “Charlie.”

Celebrating Esther Williams.

I do not remember the first film I watched of Esther Williams, but.. I do remember how colorful and amazing her swim routines were. Esther Williams, was a graceful bathing beauty and superior athlete. Not many actress could fill her flippers. These are my five favorite Esther Williams films.

On an Island With You(1948). Musical/ romantic/comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe. Cast: Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalbán, Cyd Charisse, Kathryn Beaumont and Jimmy Durante.

Williams stars as Rosalind Reynolds, a swimming star who goes to Hawaii to make a film, bringing along her fiance Ricardo. A military technical adviser named Larry, brought in for the film, is madly in love with her. After, having once done a number with her and been kissed at the end a show. Only problem is... she can't remember him. So he takes her to an island in hopes that she will remember after dancing with her. Ricardo, her fiancee and fellow co-star is not too happy about the romantic trip. Her best friend Yvonne Torro, secretly wants Ricardo for herself.

Williams and Lawford made a perfect couple and Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse, make a perfect dance team during their two romantic dance duets (look out Fred and Ginger).Jimmy Durante, fans will enjoy seeing him perform his jokes. He has a couple of cute scenes with Peter Lawford comparing profiles. The films vibrant colors will take you back to a island paradise. If you love happy and romantic musicals this one is for you. And of course we get to see Esther splashing around. :).

During a scene in which Williams falls into a hole camouflaged by vegetation, the crew had failed to cushion at the bottom of the hole to break her fall. She sprained her ankle and had to finish the film using crutches.

Cyd Charisse completed the most of this film (most impressively in two romantic dance duets with Ricardo Montalban), then broke her leg during the filming of the big ceremonial dance, where the corps de ballet is in island native costume. A double completed her scenes, but the injury kept her out of her next film, Easter Parade. That role, which would've advanced her to fourth billing, went to Ann Miller, making her MGM debut.

Neptune's Daughter(1949). Musical/romantic/comedy film. Cast: Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalbán, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat and Mel Blanc. It was directed by Edward Buzzell, and features the Academy Award winning song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Frank Loesser. This was the third movie that paired Williams and Ricardo Montalbán together, the other two being Fiesta (1947) and On an Island with You (1948), and the second to co-star Red Skelton (1944's Bathing Beauty).

Esther Williams, plays Eve, who is designing a new line of swimwear and is always worried about her scatterbrained, man-trap of a sister Betty. Who's next victim is... Jack Sprat, a masseuse at the club resort that Eve and Betty are staying. He has no luck with women and takes advice from South American polo player Jose who's all the ladies seem to love.

Jack, lacking confidence pretends to be Jose O'Rourke, when he begins dating Betty. When Eve finds out about "Jose O'Rouke", things become more complicated. Eve fears Betty's heart will be broken when Jose returns to South America. She arranges a meeting with the real O'Rourke and they eventually fall in love.

Frank Loesser, did the score for Neptune's Daughter. Loesser had a big hit on Broadway at the time and was working on another project when Neptune's Daughter came out. Played instrumentally, but not sung is his previous hit "On A Slow Boat To China" done during a swim suit fashion show sequence. Loesser, won a Oscar for best song with "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Montalban and Williams sing it first and later there's a comic routine with Skelton and Garrett, which is just as good....

 

Topping it all off is a water ballet by Esther and they typically got bigger and better in films as she tried to top herself.

Williams discovered she was pregnant with her first child with husband Ben Gage early into shooting.

Williams contracted with Cole of California to appear as their spokesperson before making the film. As a result, the company created the suits that Williams and the aqua chorus wore throughout the film.

After filming was done, Williams's doctor ordered her to stay away from activity and she instead gave swimming lessons to blind children. "Teaching those children how to swim was "one of the most gratifying experiences I've ever had."

The movie was filmed on location at Weeki Wachee Springs in Florida.

Williams played a swimsuit designer in this film and went on to copy several swimsuit designs from this film in the line of swimwear she would later create.

Fiesta(1947). Cast: Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalbán, Mary Astor and Cyd Charisse. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe. The film was shot on location in Puebla, Mexico. This was Montalbán's first credited role in a Hollywood film. It was also the first of three films pairing Williams and Montalbán, the other two being On an Island with You (1948) and Neptune's Daughter (1949). Fiesta was the first time Williams's name was billed above the title.

Famous matador Antonio Morales, is thrilled when his wife gives birth to twins... a girl tan a boy. He names them Mario and Maria. As the children grow up, Antonio's wife dreads the idea of her son becoming a bullfighter, but it is the sister Maria, who has the dreams of becoming a bull fighter.

As a gift on their 21st birthday, Maria sends a copy of Mario's  music composition to Maximino Contreras, a famed orchestra conductor. Maximino, who later pays a call on the Morales family just before Mario's first bullfight. Antonio, promises to pass along Maximino's message... but does not.

Before a second bullfight, Maximino, stops by.. wondering why Mario never contacted him. Realizing that his father ignored it, Mario angrily walks out of the ring, disappointing spectators and disgracing his father.

After Mario disappears, Maria disguising herself as her twin brother and puts her life in danger fighting the bull. Will her brother, Mario get there in time to save her?

This film features wonderfully festive Mexican music where dancer Charisse, is just as amazing as Rita Hayworth. Montalban, is no slouch on the dance floor, in the bull ring and at the piano. His timing is excellent and it makes you wonder is he really playing the piano? Esther, does not have a swim number in this film.. I enjoy watching this film even though I am not a fan of bullfights, but in this film the scenes in the ring are very interesting because of the fancy cape work.

Easy To Wed(1946). Musical/comedy directed by Edward Buzzell. Cast: Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball and Keenan Wynn.

The wealthy J.B. Allenbury, threatens to sue The "Morning Star," for 2 million dollars for an article they printed saying that his daughter is chasing after married men. Reporter Bill Chandler's job is to prove that the story is true.

To save his paper from financial ruin editor Curtis Farwood asks his friend Warren, to help come up with a plan. Warren, then asks reporter Bill Chandler to temporarily marry Gladys so that she can sue Connie for alienation of affection when an incriminating photograph of Bill and Connie Allenbury is printed. In order to get the damaging picture, Bill must befriend the Allenburys, who are vacationing at the Hotel Del Rey in Mexico.

He introduces himself to the Allenburys as a writer who enjoys hunting, which is J.B.'s favorite hobby. Bill, is having trouble getting himself photographed with Connie and Gladys and Warren become suspicious that Bill has become romantically involved with Connie. Warren flies to Mexico in hopes he can persuade them to drop their lawsuit.

When they refuse, Warren telephones Gladys, who arrives at the resort and tells J.B. she is married to Bill. When J.B. shares the news to his daughter, Connie decides to prove him wrong by proposing to Bill. They are wed by a justice of the peace. When Warren and Gladys threaten to expose Bill as a bigamist or is he?

This was the first film in which Williams sang.

This was Johnson and Williams' second film together, after Thrill of a Romance.

Van Johnson's biography, he states that Lucille Ball's performance as Gladys "reveals the embryo of her Lucy Ricardo role in the later I Love Lucy television series," and also states that Keenan Wynn had been in a motorcycle accident before filming, had his mouth wired shut and as a result, he had to talk between his teeth while losing thirty pounds in four weeks.

The film also features organist Ethel Smith in a musical sequence with Johnson and Williams, her second appearance in an Esther Williams film, the first being Bathing Beauty.

Bathing Beauty(1944). A musical starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney. Although this was not William's screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film is also Janis Paige's film debut.

Songwriter Steve Elliott, is engaged to Caroline Brooks, who has promised to give up her job as a college swimming instructor after their wedding. Steve, also plans to quit his songwriting career, even though his producer George Adams, is planning for him to write songs for his new water ballet show. Not happy about their plans George, hires Maria Dorango, an aspiring actress to help him stop the marriage.

Moments after the wedding, Maria rushes in, claiming that Steve is her husband and the father of her three redheaded children. Although Steve is innocent, Caroline storms off and returns to her teaching job. Steve and Carlos, follow close behind her, but are denied entrance to the all-female school.

Later, in a nightclub, Steve meets drunken lawyer Chester Klazenfrantz, who has been hired to change the rules to an all female College.

Steve returns to Victoria and registers as a student. Unaware of Caroline's relationship to Steve, Dean Clinton allows him to be admitted for a two-week probationary period, during which time the college can give him 100 demerits, which would get rid of him before Parents Day. Steve tries to speak with Caroline, but she tells him she is seeking an annulment.

Later, in music class, Professor Hendricks orders him to write his own version of the Scottish ballad Loch Lomond and teach the next day's class. With help from the other students and Steve's friend Harry James and his orchestra, Steve meets Hendricks' challenge.

That night, Steve visits Caroline at her house, until botany professor Willis Evans, who is in love with Caroline, arrives. When Caroline finds Steve is hiding in her closet, she commands Willis' Great Dane, to guard him, then reminding Steve that unless he is in his room in five minutes, he will be expelled for breaking curfew. Steve manages to trick the dog and run back to his room. Steve is then visited by George, who threatens to expose him unless he finishes his songs. When Steve swears revenge on the person who hired Maria, George offers to help Steve with his homework.

Concerned about Parents Day, Dean Clinton, commands Steve's professors, to make even life harder him. Mme. Zarka , the ballet teacher, forces him to wear a tutu and dance with the co-eds, but Steve once again meets the challenge. Now running out of options, Dean Clinton asks Caroline to go out with Steve and make sure that he arrives back at Victoria after the curfew. Caroline agrees and Steve is able to convince her of his innocence and as they make plans for their future together...

In this film Red Skelton, has great pantomime show in which he mimes how ladies' dress up in the morning and his swan lake ballet is very cute. Topping it all off is a water ballet by Esther.

Video: Esther Williams interview.

 

In Memory: Esther Williams, Swimming Champion Who Became a Movie Star, Dies at 91.

Esther Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013), was an competitive swimmer and MGM movie actress. Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team.

Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of  World War II, she joined Billy Rose's Aquacade. It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the attention of MGM scouts. Williams made films in the 1940's and early 1950's known as "aqua-musicals".

In 1952, Williams performing in her only biographical role, as Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman in "Million Dollar Mermaid", which would go on to become her nickname.

Following her retirement from film in the 1960's, Williams became a businesswoman, and lent her name to a line of swimming pools and swimwear, instructional swimming videos for children and serving as a commentator for synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

She is survived by Mr. Bell, a son, Benjamin Gage, a daughter, Susan Beardslee, three stepsons, the actor Lorenzo Lamas, Tima Alexander Bell and Anthony Bell, three grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren. 

Asked once who her favorite leading man was, Ms. Williams said... “The water.”

In the water she was graceful and as an actress she could hold her own with actors: Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Betty Garrett. Her films were always fun to watch and could brighten anyone's day..

Video: Newsreel..




Video: Esther's movie clips.

Neptune's Daughter (1949).

Neptune's Daughter (1949). Musical/ romantic/ comedy Cast: Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat and Mel Blanc. Directer: Edward Buzzell. Features the Academy Award winning song Baby, It's Cold Outside by Frank Loesser. Neptune's Daughter was the third movie that paired Williams and Ricardo Montalbán together, the other two being Fiesta (1947) and On an Island with You (1948), and the second to co-star Red Skelton (1944's Bathing Beauty).

At first aquatic ballet dancer Eve Barrett, rejects the offer by Joe Backett to become his business partner at the Neptune swimming suit design company, but changes her mind when she thinks about the publicity she will get out of the partnership.

When Joe learns that a South American polo team will be playing a big match in town, he and Eve begin planning a swim number for the event. Eve tells her love starved sister Betty about the South American team coming to town, Betty comes up with a plan to find herself a husband.

After practice, Jose O'Rourke, the captain of the polo team, goes to see Jack Spratt, a masseur, who tells Jose that he has never been on with a date woman. During the massage, Jose gives Jack advice on how to talk to women. Jack, now believes women can not resits him when he speaks to them in Spanish, which he calls the "language of love."

While looking for the South American team captain, Betty accidentally mistakes Jack for Jose. Jack keeps his true identity secret and accepts her invitation to have dinner at her house. On their date, Jack secretly plays a Spanish language instruction record while pretending that he is speaking to Betty.

Later, Betty tells Eve about her date and Eve tries to talk her out of dating any of the visiting polo players.

The next day, while giving a tour of the Neptune bathing suit factory, Eve meets Jose and warns him to stay away from her sister. Jose is attracted to Eve, and pretends to understand and agrees to break his date with Betty.

Jose asks Eve to go on the date with him, she says "yes" only to prevent him from dating her sister. Eve finds him attractive and begins to fall in love with him. Now, she thinks that she must find a way to break the news to her sister.

The mistaken identities and romantic complications turn this film into a great mix of fun. Garrett and Skelton's on screen chemistry was wonderful. I'm surprised that they did not do more films together..

 

Betty Garrett (May 23, 1919 – February 12, 2011). After graduating from grammar school, Garrett enrolled at the Annie Wright School in Tacoma, with a full scholarship. There was no drama department, so she organized musical productions and plays on her own.

Following her senior year performance in Twelfth Night, the bishop urged her to pursue a career on the stage. At the same time, her mother's friend arranged an interview with Martha Graham, who was in Seattle for a concert tour and the dancer recommended her for a scholarship at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Garrett and her mother moved to Manhattan in the summer of 1936 and Garrett began classes in September. Her teachers included Graham and Anna Sokolow for dance, Sandy Meisner for drama, Lehman Engel for music, and Margaret Webster for the Shakespearean classics.

She felt she was destined to be a dramatic actress and shied away from playing comedic roles. During the summer months, Garrett performed in the Borscht Belt, where she had the opportunity to work with Danny Kaye, Jerome Robbins, Carol Channing, Imogene Coca, and Jules Munshin, and she was encouraged to work on her singing and dancing skills.

She joined Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre as an understudy in what was to be its last stage performance, a short-lived production of Danton's Death that gave her the opportunity to work with Joseph Cotten, Ruth Ford, Martin Gabel, and Arlene Francis.

She performed with Martha Graham's dance company at Carnegie Hall and the Alvin Theatre, sang at the Village Vanguard, and appeared in satirical and political revues staged by the Brooklyn-based Flatbush Arts Theatre, which eventually changed its name to the American Youth Theatre and relocated to Manhattan. It was during this period she joined the Communist Party and began performing at fundraisers for progressive causes.

Garrett made her Broadway debut in 1942 in the revue Of V We Sing, which closed after 76 performances but led to her being cast in the Harold Rome revue Let Freedom Sing later that year. It closed after only eight performances, but producer Mike Todd saw it and signed her to understudy Ethel Merman and play a small role in the 1943 Cole Porter musical Something for the Boys. Merman became ill allowing Garrett to play the lead for a week. During this time she was seen by producer Vinton Freedley, who cast her in Jackpot, a Vernon Duke/Howard Dietz musical also starring Nanette Fabray and Allan Jones. The show closed quickly, and Garrett began touring the country with her nightclub act.

After Laffing Room Only another production Garrett appeared in on Broadway closed there she traveled with the show as it played extended runs in Detroit and Chicago, after which she returned to New York and was cast in Call Me Mister. She won critical acclaim and the Donaldson Award for her performance. It led to her being signed to a one-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Louis B. Mayer.

Garrett arrived at the studio in January 1947 and made her film debut portraying nightclub performer Shoo Shoo O'Grady in Big City. Mayer renewed her contract where she performed in the musicals Words and Music, On the Town, Take Me Out To The Ball Game, and Neptune's Daughter.

The Jolson Story had been a huge hit in the United Kingdom, and Garrett and husband Larry Parks decided to capitalize on its popularity by appearing in at the London Palladium and then touring the UK with their nightclub act. But, the increasing popularity of television led to the decline of music hall entertainment.

Then Garrett was cast opposite Janet Leigh and Jack Lemmon in My Sister Eileen, a 1955 musical remake of a 1942 film starring Rosalind Russell, when Judy Holliday dropped out of the project due to a contract dispute.

The following year, she and Parks replaced Holliday and Sydney Chaplin in the Broadway production of Bells Are Ringing during their vacation from the show.

Over the next two decades, she performed on Broadway in two short-lived plays (Beg, Borrow or Steal with Parks and A Girl Could Get Lucky with Pat Hingle) and a musical adaptation of Spoon River Anthology, and making guest appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Lloyd Bridges Show, and The Fugitive.

In the fall of 1973, All in the Family added two new neighbors to the neighborhood, Frank Lorenzo and his feisty Irish American wife, Irene. Lear had been the publicity man for Call Me Mister, All in the Family writers Bernard West and Mickey West knew Garrett from her days with the American Youth Theatre, and Jean Stapleton had been in the cast of Bells Are Ringing, so Garrett appeared to be a front runner for the role of Irene. It went instead to Sada Thompson, but, unhappy after filming one episode, Thompson asked to be released from her commitment, freeing the role for Garrett, who remained with the series from 1973 through 1975.

The following year, Garrett was performing her one-woman show Betty Garrett and Other Songs in Westwood when she was offered the role of landlady Edna Babish in Laverne and Shirley. The character was a five-time divorcee who married Laverne's father Frank. Although Garrett reportedly felt she was never given enough to do on the show, she appreciated the fact that her musical talents occasionally were incorporated into the plot, and she won a Golden Globe for her performance. When the series was extended beyond what had been intended to be its final season, Garrett was forced to drop out because she already had committed to performing with Sandy Dennis, Jack Gilford, Hope Lange, and Joyce Van Patten in The Supporting Cast on Broadway. The play closed after only eight performances, but returning to Laverne and Shirley was not an option, as the writers had explained Edna's disappearance by having her divorce Frank.

Garrett appeared on television in Murder, She Wrote, The Golden Girls, Harts of the West, Union Square, Boston Public, Becker (for which she was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series), and Grey's Anatomy, among others, and on stage in Plaza Suite (with Parks), And Miss Reardon Drinks A Little, and the 2001 Broadway revival of Follies.

At Theatre West, which she co-founded, she directed Arthur Miller's The Price and appeared in the play Waiting in the Wings. She won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award twice, for Spoon River Anthology and Betty Garrett and Other Songs.

Garrett received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2003. On her 90th birthday in 2009, she was honored at a celebration sponsored by Theatre West at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood.

In 2010, Garrett appeared alongside former two-time co-star Esther Williams during Turner Classic Movies' first annual Classic Film Festival. Their film Neptune's Daughter was screened at the pool of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, while a Williams-inspired synchronized swimming troop, The Aqualilies, performed.

Pagan Love Song (1950).

Pagan Love Song (1950). A beautiful south seas musical, where everyone lives in the sun and looks out for each other. This is one of my favorites films from the Esther Williams DVD volume II collection.

A tanned Esther Williams plays a Half-Tahitian Half- American woman.( Mimi Bennett), who lives with her rich aunt. Bored of the easy life of Tahiti and longs for the excitement of the United States. But when (Hazard Endicott) played by Howard Keel, arrives to take over his late uncle's coconut plantation, she has a change of heart.

At first Hazard mistakes Mimi for one of natives, and instead of correcting Hazard, Mimi playfully pretends to know just a little bit of English.

Later.. Mimi stops by to invite Hazard to a party at her house. Hazard accepts the invitation. Expecting the guests to be natives, Hazard comes dressed in a sarong. When he finds the guests are dressed in suits and evening dresses. He leaves the party  and Mimi, realizing that her joke has gone to far, catches up with him and tells him the truth.

After a short time they become engaged. Everything is going well until one day when Mimi witnesses Hazard lose his temper with one of his workers Tavae. Mimi does not like Hazard's harsh treatment of Tavae and breaks off their engagement. Will Mimi ever forgive Hazard?

This is a gorgeous film. Scenery of the island of Tahiti was beautiful. A cute story line with some wonderful songs and one amazing coral sea ballet. I also enjoyed seeing the native dances. One that really stood out in my mind was the SIMONE knife dance. Rita Moreno plays a feature role, in sarong and long beautiful hair.

Esther Williams, was 6 months pregnant while filming PAGAN LOVE SONG.xxx Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse were the first choices for the leads, but Charisse was pregnant at the time. A new screenplay was then written for Esther Williams to star in.

 

Rita Moreno (born December 11, 1931), was born Rosa Dolores Alverío in Humacao, Puerto Rico, to Rosa María, a seamstress, and Paco Alverío, a farmer. She moved with her mother to New York City at the age of five, and took the surname of her stepfather, Edward Moreno.

She began her first dancing lessons soon after arriving in New York from a friend of her mother, a Spanish dancer called Paco Cansino, who was the uncle of Rita Hayworth.

When she was 11 years old, she lent her voice to Spanish language versions of American films. She had her first Broadway role as "Angelina" in Skydrift.  By the time she was 13, which caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts.

She appeared in small roles in The Toast of New Orleans and Singin' in the Rain, in which she played Zelda Zanners. In March 1954, Moreno was featured on the cover of Life Magazine with a caption “Rita Moreno: An Actresses' Catalog of Sex and Innocence.” In 1956, she had a supporting role in the film version of The King and I as Tuptim.

Moreno landed the role of Anita in Robert Wise's and Jerome Robbins' film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's and Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking Broadway musical, West Side Story, which was played by Chita Rivera on Broadway.

Moreno won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for that role. After winning the Oscar, Moreno thought she would be able to continue to perform less stereotypical film roles, but didn't make another movie for seven years after winning the Oscar....

Moreno went on to be the first Hispanic to win an Emmy (1977), a Grammy (1972), an Oscar (1962) and a Tony (1975).

 In 1985, she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago. Other roles Besides appearing in Singin' in the Rain, The King and I, Summer and Smoke (1961), West Side Story, The Night of the Following Day (1968) and Carnal Knowledge in (1971), Moreno appeared on the PBS children's series The Electric Company in the 1970s, most notably as Millie the Helper. Moreno screamed the show's opening line, "HEY, YOU GUYS!"

She also had roles as the naughty little girl Pandora, and as "Otto", the very short-tempered director. Moreno appeared in the family variety series The Muppet Show, and she made other guest appearances on television series such as The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, The Cosby Show, George Lopez, The Golden Girls, and Miami Vice.

 She was also a regular on the short-lived sitcom version of Nine to Five (based on the film hit) during the early 1980s. Broadway and television Moreno's Broadway credits include: The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Gantry, The Ritz, for which she won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress, and the female version of The Odd Couple.

In 1993 she was invited to perform at President Bill Clinton's inauguration and later that month was asked to perform at the White House. During the mid 1990s, Moreno provided the voice of Carmen Sandiego on the animated Fox show Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?

 In 1995, she co-starred with Charlton Heston, Mickey Rooney, Deborah Winters and Peter Graves in the Warren Chaney docudrama, America: A Call to Greatness.

 In the late 1990s, she gained exposure to a new generation of viewers when she played Sister Pete, a nun trained as a psychologist in the popular HBO series, Oz. She made a guest appearance on The Nanny as Coach Stone, Maggie's (Nicholle Tom) tyrannical gym teacher, whom Fran Fine (Fran Drescher) also remembered from her school as Ms. Wickavich. Moreno continues to be active on stage and screen.

 In 2006, she portrayed Amanda Wingfield in Berkeley Repertory Theatre's revival of The Glass Menagerie. She was seen on Law and Order: Criminal Intent as the dying mother of Detective Goren. She was a regular on the short-lived TV series Cane.

In 2011 she accepted the role of the mother of Fran Drescher's character in the TV sitcom Happily Divorced. In September 2011, Moreno began performing a solo autobiographical show at the Berkeley Rep (theater) in Berkeley, California, Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup written by Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone after hours of interviews with Moreno.

Moreno dated Marlon Brando for 8 years, and attempted suicide in his home in 1962. On June 18, 1965, Moreno married Leonard Gordon, a cardiologist who was also her manager. He died on June 30, 2010. They have one daughter, Fernanda Luisa Gordon-Fisher, and two grandsons, Justin and Cameron Fisher.

Happy Birthday Esther Williams(91)!!

Happy Birthday! Esther Williams, who is turning 91 today. She helped popularize synchronized swimming through her fun films of the 1940's and 1950's.

Photo of the Day: Esther Williams

Esther Williams is one of Dawn's favorite stars so I thought I would post a pic of her today....Happy Tuesday everyone!

Esther clowning around...

Great On Screen Couples: Esther Williams and Van Johnson.

Esther Williams and Van Johnson, performed in five movies together. It was when Esther Williams landed a small part in the film, A Guy Named Joe, that she first met and worked with Van Johnson.

The studio's publicity department tried put the two together in the hopes of encouraging a romance. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied, "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals".

A Guy Named Joe was then followed by, Thrill of a Romance(1945). Directed by Richard Thorpe. The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. As luck would have it, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away on business, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson. I thought this was a very nice romantic film. . Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a wonderful opera star. Loved seeing Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

Next on the list is the film, Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of 1936's Libeled Lady, with Johnson and Lucille Ball. The story begins when J.B. Allenbury is determined to file a $2 million libel suit against The Morning Star when the newspaper prints a story claiming his daughter Connie was responsible for the breakup of a marriage. Reporter Bill Chandler's job, is to prove that the story was true. I think this maybe one of my favorite Lucille Ball performance.

Duchess of Idaho (1950). is a musical romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho. Christine Riverton Duncan, plays matchmaker for her friend Ellen by helping her pursue Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr., all the way to Idaho. There, Christine decides to play a joke on Douglas. After boarding his train to Sun Valley, Christine shocks him with hints that she expects a commitment. Once she's in Sun Valley, things become complicated when Christine falls in love with hotel bandleader, Dick Layne. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)

Next on the list of films, Easy to Love(1953). Was filmed on location in Cypress Gardens, where a Florida-shaped pool had been built specifically for the film. Williams character is in love with her boss and finally wins him over when she starts an affair with another man. Fun Fact: Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Esther Williams

Esther shows some love to a turkey...

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Esther Williams.

Personal Quote:

 "No one had ever done a swimming movie before so we just made it up as we went along. I ad-libbed all my own underwater movements".

Great On Screen Couples: Esther Williams and Van Johnson.

It was when Esther Williams landed a small part in the film, A Guy Named Joe, that she first worked with Van Johnson, who later turned out to be a wonderful, musical, comedy performer.



This film was followed by, Thrill of a Romance(1945). Directed by Richard Thorpe. The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. As luck would have it, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away on business, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson. I thought this was a very nice romantic film. . Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a wonderful opera star. Loved seeing Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

The studio's publicity department tried put the two together in public as much as possible in the hopes of encouraging a romance. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied, "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals".

Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of 1936's Libeled Lady, with Johnson and Lucille Ball. The story begins when J.B. Allenbury is determined to file a $2 million libel suit against The Morning Star when the newspaper prints a story claiming his daughter Connie was responsible for the breakup of a marriage. Reporter Bill Chandler's job, is to prove that the story was true. I think this maybe one of my favorite Lucille Ball performance.

Duchess of Idaho (1950) is a musical romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho. Christine Riverton Duncan, plays matchmaker for her friend Ellen by helping her pursue Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr., all the way to Idaho. There, Christine decides to play a joke on Douglas. After boarding his train to Sun Valley, Christine shocks him with hints that she expects a commitment. Once she's in Sun Valley, things become complicated when Christine falls in love with hotel bandleader, Dick Layne. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)

Next on the list of films, Easy to Love(1953). Was filmed on location in Cypress Gardens, where a Florida-shaped pool had been built specifically for the film. Williams character is in love with her boss and finally wins him over when she starts an affair with another man. Fun Fact: Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Esther Williams.

Personal Quote:

"I was just a swimmer who got lucky."

Happy 87th Birthday: Esther Williams!

Esther Williams, is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star. Esther is also one of my favorite actress. Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of World War II, Williams joined Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she took on the role left by Eleanor Holm. After the show move from New York City to San Francisco. Where she performed five months with Olympic swimmer and Tarzan star, Johnny Weissmuller.

It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the eye of MGM scouts. After performing with Mickey Rooney in an Andy Hardy film, and five time co-star Van Johnson in A Guy Named Joe, Williams made films in the 1940's and early 1950's known as "aquamusicals", which featured beautiful performances with synchronized swimming and diving.

My favorite Esther Williams film is: ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (1948). Cast: Ricardo Montalban, Esther Williams, Cyd Charisse and Peter Lawford.

Williams and Lawford are wonderful together and so are Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse. Especially, during their beautiful dance numbers. If you love happy and romantic musicals you'll love this movie. And don't forget.. we get to see Esther doing what she does best in beautiful water performances.

The film begins when Ricardo Montez, is playing the part of a Navy man in love with a Polynesian woman, played by his fiancee, Rosalind. They hired Lawrence a Navy Lieutenant, as technical adviser, to help the director with the film's authenticity. During the filming of one of Rosalind and Ricardo's love scenes, Larry interrupts the shooting to take the opportunity to kiss Rosalind. That evening, at the Royal Aloha hotel, the cast and crew attend a nightclub show performed by Xavier Cugat and his orchestra. Larry, finds another opportunity to get close to Rosalind, and asks her to dance. She refuses thinking that he is too forward.

The next day, Larry is to circle the set once in an airplane with Rosalind on board, but he flies the plane to the tropical island where they first met. Larry wants one dance with her before he returns her to the set. Rosalind, says she will kiss him to prove that she has no feelings for him, but the kiss shows that she is an attracted to Larry. When Larry and Rosalind return to the airplane, they find that the wheels and other parts have been stolen by the islanders. The two set out to find the natives village, but become separated. Will they be rescued before the natives have them for dinner? (wink/wink).

In 1952, Williams performed in her only biographical role, as Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman in Million Dollar Mermaid, which would go on to become her nickname while at MGM. Williams left MGM in 1956 and performed in feature films, followed by several water-themed television specials, including one from Cypress Gardens, Florida.



Since her retirement from film in the 1960s, Williams has become a businesswoman, lending her name to a line of swimming pools and retro swimwear, instructional swimming videos for children, and acting as a commentator for synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (1952)

Million Dollar Mermaid, A perfect role for Esther Williams. A story inspired by the life of " Annette Kellerman," an Australian swimming champion and water ballet performer who performed in New York's Hippodrome. I thought Esther, did a wonderful acting tribute to Annette.

The film starts off in Sidney, Australia, where a young Annette, is wearing leg braces during her recovery from polio.

She starts swimming to strengthen her legs.

The scenes with Annette as a little girl, I thought were emotional. As Annette, eventually recovers she begins ballet along with her love of swimming and with her father's support she wins the south Wales women's Amateur Freestyle Cup.

After running into financial trouble, Frederick closes his music conservatory and accepts a teaching position in London. On the trip to England, they meet American promoter James Sullivan, Doc Cronnol, and Sidney.( a boxing kangaroo).

Jimmy is impressed by Annette, and makes an offer to manage her swimming career. Annette wants to help support her father, she accepts the offer after she learns that her fathers job fell through.

To kick off her career, Annette decides to to swim 26 miles to Greenwich, with Doc and Jimmy, rowing along side.

Soon thousands of spectators are cheering her on as she swims through London. Her father Williams, reads about the swim in the newspaper and is there to greet her as she swims into Greenwich.

They receive many offers, but Jimmy turns them down because he has a dream of going to America, for their fame and fortune..

When they first get to America, things don't go as planned, until Annette receives a telegram, offering her a water ballet at the Hippodrome.

Annette, then gets a call from Hollywood and will appear in her first film, Neptune's Daughter .

A few weeks later, on the last day of filming the movie Annette, dives into the water for her last scene, a crack develops in the glass of the huge tank. Annette is trapped and swept onto the broken glass as the tank bursts and she is seriously injured.

Two weeks later, her recovery is still unsure. When Alfred and Jimmy, go up to Annette's room they see her doctor and he tells them that she may never walk again....

Berkeley's first of two films that he did with Esther Williams. This film gave him the opportunity to Showcase three water ballets set on the stage of the Hippodrome Theater.

Fun Facts:

In the final number not only does Esther Williams drop into the center of a circle formed by swimmers, but he also uses fire and colored smoke for a beautiful effect.

The last ballet is truly worth seeing. Million Dollar Mermaid received an Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography.

This is considered to be Esther's signature film.

Esther Williams, broke her neck diving off a 50-foot tower during the scene where she wearing a gold swimsuit.

She spent six months in a body cast before recovering to finish the film.

PAGAN LOVE SONG (1950)

Pagan Love Song (1950), A beautiful south seas musical, where everyone lives in the sun and looks out for each other. This is one of my favorites films from the Esther Williams DVD volume II collection.

A tanned Esther Williams plays a Half-Tahitian Half- American woman, who lives with her rich aunt. Bored of the easy life of Tahiti and longs for the excitement of the United States. But when Hazard, arrives to take over his late uncle's coconut plantation, she has a change of heart. At first Hazard mistakes Mimi for one of natives and instead of correcting Hazard, Mimi playfully pretends to know just a little bit of English.

Later.. Mimi stops by to invite Hazard to a party at her house. Hazard accepts the invitation. Expecting the guests to be natives, Hazard comes dressed in a sarong. When he finds the guests are dressed in suits and evening dresses. He leaves the party and Mimi, realizing that her joke has gone to far, catches up with him and tells him the truth. After a short time they become engaged.

Everything is going well until one day when Mimi witnesses Hazard lose his temper with one of his workers Tavae. Mimi does not like Hazard's harsh treatment of Tavae and breaks off their engagement. Will Mimi ever forgive Hazard?

This is a gorgeous film. Scenery of the island of Tahiti was beautiful. A cute story line with some wonderful songs and one amazing coral sea ballet. I also enjoyed seeing the native dances. One that really stood out in my mind was the SIMONE knife dance. Rita Moreno plays a feature role, in sarong and long beautiful hair.

Fun Facts:

Esther Williams, was 6 months pregnant while filming PAGAN LOVE SONG.

Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse were the first choices for the leads, but Charisse was pregnant at the time.