Product Details

• Actors: Esther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon, David Brian, Donna Corcoran
• Directors: Mervyn LeRoy
• Writers: Everett Freeman
• Producers: Arthur Hornblow Jr.
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: February 24, 1995
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301973186
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,124 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Million Dollar Mermaid, starring the incomparable Esther Williams, is the story of "the incomparable Annette Kellerman," an Australian swimming champion and water ballet artist who went on to perform in New York's Hippodrome. We start off in Sidney, Australia, where a young Annette is hampered by cumbersome leg braces. She starts swimming to strengthen her legs and before you know it, a star is born. Annette swims and dives her way through the show-biz ranks, struggling to support her musician father and fighting every woman's battle between Love and Career. The highlight of Million Dollar Mermaid is a jaw-dropping water ballet production number that simply must be seen to be believed. Colored smoke! Trapezes! Water slides! Water starlets making floating stars with kicking legs! And, of course, Esther herself, surrounded by sparklers and swimming in all her mermaid glory. They don't make 'em like this anymore: this blast from the past is not to be missed. --Ali Davis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Williams' best movie, April 12, 2001

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Million Dollar Mermaid [VHS] (VHS Tape)

MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID is Esther Williams' best work on film, and is the most successful attempt at combining a passable dramatic story with water ballet that was crucial to the plot of the story.

Esther Williams plays the famed Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman, who wowed audiences in London and at New York's Hippodrome with her beautiful water ballets.

Williams is good as Kellerman, she seems to have the character well in hand. Never in any other picture did Williams display her considerable acting talents. She is terribly good here - both in her acting and in her swimming.

Rounding out the cast is Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon (as her loving father), Donna Corcoran (as the young Annette), and David Brian.

There are lavish costumes and beautiful period sets. The entire production is flawless.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A YOUNG, AVID ESTHER WILLIAMS FAN!, April 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Million Dollar Mermaid [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Considering that I am of the minority group of young people in this day and age, I have a deep appreciatiation and love for classic movies, particularly musicals. Maybe it was my mom's influence back when I was only 10 or 11 years old, but it didn't take long for me to fall in love with this clean-cut, family-oriented, entertaining films of both the lives of hopeful dreamers and realistic persons who just wanted to experience the warm feeling of good old times amongst famous Hollywood faces. Nevertheless, throughout all the countless classics and musicals I've seen, Esther Williams stood out as the best actress and representative of musicals for all time. The movie Million Dollar Mermaid, debuted in 1952, was and is probably William's greatest feature film. The first time I saw this movie was when just about any Hollywood musical could be found in any store that sold VHS video tapes. Unfortunately, there are few people who still fall in love with classics and musicals each time they see their favorite black-and-white (or for those who think Technicolor is the saving grace for classics) Hollywood flame grace the screen...me, I'm the lover of both kinds. If I had to choose a favorite classic movie musical, I am certain that one of Esther William's feature films would come to mind, and more than likely her most memorable debut was Million Dollar Mermaid. I hope that MGM will re-release this great, all-time classic...it would please the hearts of any Esther William fan, or for that matter, any musical lover!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As classics go, it's one of the best, April 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Million Dollar Mermaid [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A great fan of this movie, they just do not make movies like they used to. Look forward to seeing it re-released on video so many more people can enjoy this wonderfully put together musical.