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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally Esther is Surfacing......, July 17, 2007
Finally we get to see Esther Williams flicks in radiant colors and updated sound! Not that the DVD transfers are perfect, Criterion-league: there are specks and scratches from time to time, and blacks tend to bleed, particularly in the early ones (e.g. Bathing Beauty). But what a pleasure it is to have this joyful entertainement back, put together with care and intelligence. There's bonus material galore, though not all of it dealing with the star.
Included in the Bathing Beauty disc is a substantial interview Ms. Williams did with Robert Osborne for Turner Classic Movies. Ms. Williams comes across as somebody who has always been level headed, with a realistic view of life, aware of alternatives and skeptical of show-biz, always marveled at her good fortune (wondering when it would end), with the self-assurance gained from awareness of her personal worth. Nothing delusional there: underneath the Hollywood glamour, throughout her career and beyond, she has retained the mindset and integrity of a committed, champion athlete, i.e., it's the hard work, constancy and achievement that count, not the glitz or the noise (she was slated to participate in the 1940 Olympics had WWII not interfered). All these personal qualities come across in her films, and probably made her a star, unique in her genre. Before, during and after, there was no other. Though she was a fine craftsman and learned her trade well as an actress, she really only played one character, Esther Williams. Audiences flocked to "Esther Williams movies," with all fantasy such would entail (of course, production values count). It is difficult not to feel that she'd be a great friend to have. During the interview Robert Osborne can barely contain his delight.
Suspend disbelief, just enjoy. I hope we don't have to wait as long for Volume 2, which would include Million Dollar Mermaid and Easy to Love.
For fans, I would also recommend reading her down-to-earth autobiography.
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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best part of this release? "Volume 1" in the title. YES!, July 14, 2007
Seriously...when I think of actors / actresses who are L-O-N-G overdue for the DVD treatment, Esther Williams is at the top of the list. Kudos to TCM for putting 5 of Ms. Williams' amazing films...including my all-time favorite "On An Island With You"...in an affordable box set. I'm sure Volume 2 will be greeted with equal enthusiasm by her fans and I know I'll pre-order it the minute it's available.
So what's the big deal? Aside from the legendary aquatics and the intricately choreographed numbers, the films of Esther Williams are key examples of "They Don't Make Movies Like That Anymore" movies. They don't, and they can't, because the world is really a different place. The simplicity and innocence and sweetness are qualities that exist in a readically different form in 2007.
If your idea of cinematic romance is Tom Cruise telling Renée Zellweger that she "completes" him, or Renée telling Tom that he "had her at hello," these might not be the right films for you. They're more geniune, more honest, and warmer. They represent the absolute best that MGM had to offer.
While "On An Island With You" may not be Ms. Williams' signature film, it has all of the elements that made her films great. Ricardo Montalban, dressed in full navy uniform, strumming a guitar under a tropical tree and crooning the opening theme as Esther swims in a shady lagoon? Genius! The four-way, star-crossed lovers subplot featuring Williams, Montalban, Peter Lawford and Cyd Charisse? The Montalban / Charisse dance number? Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat? What's NOT to like in this movie?
The other four films are just as good, but "Island" is a personal favorite.
Thanks to TCM. Can't wait to see which films are included in Volume 2.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music, water, & comedy combine in a great film collection, June 30, 2007
These films are something like underwater Busby Berkeley films, so if you like the MGM musicals of the 40's and 50's, and/or you like Busby Berkeley's work you'll likely appreciate this collection. I rate this set as five stars for those people who appreciate the light-hearted romantic comedy and music of these types of films. If you are looking for gut-wrenching drama or film noir and are not open to these kinds of films, look elsewhere. Also, if you like the comedy of Red Skelton or Lucille Ball, they both show up in some great comic performances in a couple of these films.
Bathing Beauty (1944)
Costars Red Skelton in a comedy about a songwriter who enrolls in a women's college to win back his estranged swimming-teacher wife. Highlights include music from both Harry James and his Music Makers and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, Skelton in a pink tutu doing unforgivable things to Tchaikovsky and a spectacular, trendsetting `chlorine-and-chorine' finale.
Special Features:
Robert Osborne hosts "TCM's Private Screenings with Esther Williams"
Oscar-nominated Short "Main Street Today"
Academy Award-winning cartoon "Mouse Trouble"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)
Easy To Wed (1946)
This is a remake of the 1930's screwball comedy Libeled Lady, although outside of the skeleton of the plot the comparisons are few. Particularly funny is Van Johnson afloat with a baleful spaniel who knows a lot more about duck hunting than he does, and a drunken scene featuring the antics of Lucille Ball. Actually, Lucy steals the show in more than a few scenes here. When the local paper runs an untrue story claiming an heiress (Esther Williams) is a husband stealer, she prepares to sue for libel. So an employee of the newspaper (Keenan Wynn) comes up with a plan to improve the paper's chances in court: He'll arrange a sham wedding between his fiancée (Lucille Ball) and another newsroom employee (Van Johnson), send said employee to woo the heiress, and thus have a real husband-stealing story.
Special Features:
Oscar-nominated Pete Smith Specialty comedy short "Sure Cures"
Classic cartoon "The Unwelcome Guest"
Theatrical trailers of "Easy to Wed" and "Libeled Lady"
Subtitles: English (feature film only)
On an Island with You (1948)
This musical comedy feature moonlight swims, swaying palms, Technicolor sunsets and...cannibals. Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse get the swimming, swaying and sunsets and Jimmy Durante, of course, gets the cannibals. Williams is a swimming movie star pursued by two handsome suitors on the set of her latest film. Features Xavier Cugat and his orchestra playing some lovely songs.
Special Features:
Vintage Romance of Celluloid series short "Personalities"
Classic cartoon "The Bear and the Hare"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)
Neptune's Daughter (1949)
Betty Barrett (Betty Garrett) mistakes Jack Spratt (Red Skelton) for the South American polo team captain José O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), and relentlessly pursues him. Meanwhile, the real O'Rourke pursues Betty's sister Eve (Esther Williams). The resulting mistaken identities and romantic complications turn into a great mix of slapstick and flirtatious fun. Garrett and Skelton's comedy is particularly appealing. The film features songs by Frank Loesser including Baby, It's Cold Outside, winner of the 1949 Best Song Oscar. The film has a happy ending and culminates in a stupendous water ballet.
Special Features:
Outtake musical number "I Want My Money Back"
Esther Williams cameo sequence from 1951's "Callaway Went Thataway"
Oscar-Nominated Pete Smith Specialty comedy "short Water Trix"
Oscar-nominated cartoon "Hatch Up Your Troubles"
Theatrical trailers of this movie and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
Subtitles: English (feature film only)
Dangerous When Wet (1953)
This film has Williams playing Katy, a farm girl from a health-obsessed family who finds romance with Williams' future real-life husband Fernando Lamas while training to swim across the English Channel. In the film's key sequence, Williams swims along with cartoon stars Tom and Jerry.
Special Features:
Outtake musical number "C'est La Guerre"
Pete Smith Specialty comedy short "This Is a Living?"
Classic cartoon "Name to Come"
Esther Williams musicals trailer gallery
Subtitles: English (feature film only)
The descriptions of the special features are from a press release from Warner Home Video.
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