Customer Reviews

TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams, Volume One (Bathing Beauty / Easy to Wed / On an Island with You / Neptune's Daughter / Dangerous When Wet)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

For years I've been waiting for this Esther Williams DVD collection and hallelujah they have finally arrived. These five films from 1944 to 1953 are among the best, but hopefully the remainer of her aquatic musicals will soon follow. BATHING BEAUTY is among the top of my favorites list thanks to Red Skelton, Xavier Cugat, Harry James with vocalist Helen Forrest, Hammond orgaist Ethel Smith's Tico-Tico and Esther's spectacular flaming water fountains swim finale. I gave a five star rating just because it contains five very entertaining musicals. Hopefully the picture and sound quality will give justice for this rating.

I am going to be broke this Summer, and it's going to be Warner Home Video's fault. Every week they seem to be releasing something I've been waiting for to arrive on DVD.

Esther Williams was one of the most successful screen performers for several years in the '40s and early '50s, and it's no wonder. She was gorgeous, had a wry screen personality, a nice singing voice, and..oh yeah, she swam a bit.

This collection looks outstanding, and it's nice to see that Warner has included their usual cache of vintage extras, including those neat radio promos they have been using lately.

Aside from Esther's spectacular aquatics in BATHING BEAUTY and NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER, there are many other wonderful aspects to these films. Red Skelton is hysterically funny in BB and ND, Cugat is always entertaining as well, and who can resist Tom & Jerry in DANGEROUS WHEN WET. Beautifully done. There are also some great songs here, particularly the Frank Loesser score for NEPTUNE'S, and the Arthur Schwartz/Johnny Mercer tunes in DANGEROUS WHEN WET are all terrific....and let's not forget Charlotte Greenwood's star turn in the AIN'T NATURE GRAND number. Most importantly, there's Miss Williams, who was quite a knockout in every way.

I'm particularly happy to see that the packaging says Volume One. While every film here is a winner (my personal favorites are NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER and DANGEROUS WHEN WET), I would assume Warner could give us another 2 sets of Esther's best, but for the moment I remain most grateful for this first volume. Viva Esther!

I am so glad The Esther Williams collection is finally being released. She was the most beautiful star at MGM, if not in all of Hollywood. What a great selection of films too. "Easy To Wed" features a comical, but gorgeous Lucille Ball. "On An Island With You" is a personal favorite and Esther is at her most beautiful here. I am hopeful TCM will release a second volume to this collection and include Esther's 1956 drama "The Unguarded Moment". In it, she plays a high school music teacher who is being stalked by a young John Saxon. "Thrill Of A Romance", "This Time For Keeps" "Easy To Love" and "Jupier's Darling" would complete the set nicely. Miss Williams proves she is a star both in and out of water!

Talk about bringing back memories...I've waited many years to be able to see her swim again! What Ginger Rogers does to the dance floor Esther Williams brings life and glamor to water. When her movies were finally released on DVD I just had to have them. As a child she was a tremendous encouragement to me to become a swimmer. I encourage parents with young children to have these DVD's around for safe watching but more. They can watch and know you can accomplish beauty, grace, love and have fun without morality issues. She is a first class lady. What a joy to have them now to view when I just want to sit back, laugh and enjoy wholesome entertainment. These DVD's are still inspiring!!!!!!
Crystal Clear

The movies are great except that one of the movies is on two discs. Dangerous When Wet is on its own dvd as well as being on the dvd for "Easy to Wed."

I really liked Esther Williams when her movies came on the late late show when I was a kid...These movies to me don't disappoint...I hadn't seen the one which was her first movie called "Bathing Beauty" with Red Skeleton. I really liked it...They even had an interviewed her about her life.... The extras were good as well...Overall I was very pleased with my purchase.

I bought this set as a gift for my mom a few months ago and she absolutely loves it! She grew up in the era when these movies were originally in the theatres and saw many of them for the first time on the big screen. She says Esther Williams is one of her all-time favourite stars.

I can vaguely remember watching some of these as a kid back when they sometimes used to show this kind of thing on TV, and being amazed at the elaborate and colourful watershow spectacles. But sadly, now in our "wonderful" 100+ channel universe these type of movies are no longer broadcast, and instead we are subjected to the latest inane reality show or American Idol clone, or re-runs of "classics" like "Friends" or "Seinfeld". (*gags in disgust*) Heck, even the late-late-show movies where one could sometimes still find these kind of movies have now been replaced with nothing but useless waste-of-time infomercials. But now thanks to the miracle of DVDs, at last my mom can watch the type of show she's been longing to see again.

She has now watched the whole set and loved them all. She said that "Neptune's Daughter" is one of the funniest movies she has ever seen. Now she is ready for the next set (she was really excited when I pointed out to her that the first set says "Vol.1" on it), but I keep checking back here and so far there's nothing.

Come on Warner Home Video, there are people out here waiting, and there's money for you just waiting to be made. Get cracking with the release of Vol.2!