Wonderful character development!

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Esther Williams, as the numero uno bathing beauty of the times, in her first, of many, Technicolor 'swimusicals', has much supporting talent in this extravaganza, which was a smash hit for wartime audiences. Originally conceived as featuring most prominently Red Skelton, in a film titled 'Mr. Co-ed", it was decided to make Esther the headliner name of a retitled "Bathing Beauty". There are two swimming sections, the early one not of much interest, while the finale one is a very elaborate spectacle, featuring many participants in colorful outfits, in and out of the water, with Esther sometimes the focus of attention. Intervening these visual and musical spectaculars is a zany screenplay, with romantic and professional complications, and often featuring Red in various embarrassing situations.In 1936,Fox had initiated a series of films featuring ice-skating shows, usually including musical and romantic comedy features, as well, headed by ice skating sensation Sonja Henie. But, the last notable film of this series was released the year before the present film. Audiences had become bored with ice skating shows and Ms. Henie. MGM decided to imitate this general format, substituting water shows for ice skating shows, with Esther, a champion swimmer, the perennial female star. It worked surprisingly well, given Esther's comparatively bland screen persona.As many superior musicals have done, this one starts out with a musical highlight, to dazzle audiences. Xavier Cugat's Latin-themed band, initially featuring the singing and samba wiggling of Lina Romay, and later, the singing of Columbian Carlos Ramirez, as he seemingly pursues a disinterested Esther around the pool. Not long afterward, Harry James and his band is featured, although they can't equal Cugat's show for interest. Later, Helen Forest sings, Unfortunately, she never came across as an exciting singer. Both bands had already been featured in the B&W musical "Two Girls and a Sailor", released earlier that year. In contrast to most of his roles for MGM as a one song man, Ramirez has several singing assignments here, and plays a small role in the screenplay. However, perhaps his most memorable film moment was when he sang "Begin the Beguine", in the Cole Porter biopic: "Night and Day".While it's often thought that films featuring water ballets were introduced in this film, in fact the first film to do so was "Footlight Parade", back in 1933, with Busby Berkeley as the innovative choreographer. Although Berkeley did choreograph the water ballet in a few of Esther's films, he was not present here. Nonetheless, much of the water ballet featured typical Berkeley-inspired features.Poor Steve Elliot(Red), an important song writer, is fraudulently accused of being a bigamist, just after his wedding to Caroline(Esther). Seems producer George(Basil Rathbone) overheard that Steve planned to retire from songwriting upon his marriage, and is afraid that his future shows won't sell without Steve's song writing. Thus, he arranged for a woman(Jacqueline Dalya, as Maria) to claim she already had 3 sons fathered by Steve, all presented just after the wedding ceremony. Caroline believes this fraud, and leaves Steve to return to her job as swimming instructor at an all girl college. Steve tries to worm his way back into her life, finding a loophole in the college charter, allowing him to register as a student. This, of course, sets the stage for a series of comedic episodes through most of the remainder of the film.Although today, Red mostly comes across as a corny sort of slapstick clown, the episode where he is forced to take a ballet class is still truly hilarious. Another highlight is the vaudeville-like song and dance, to "I'll Take the high Note", mostly featuring the tall Red and petite , vivacious, Jean Porter, looking a bit like Lisa Minnelli. The upbeat organ music of Ethel Smith, often jazzy or Latin-themed, is also featured several times, she also playing the music teacher at this college. Ethel's organ playing would again be featured in the Esther film "Easy to Wed", in which Ramirez would also return for a song. Basil Rathbone, of fame in playing Sherlock Holmes, and fighting losing rapier duels with Errol Flynn, is surprisingly present, as the play and water ballet producer George.Playing a song writer, Red actually did compose many songs and even symphonies, although few are remembered today. In "Three Little Words"('50), he would play the historic song lyricist Harry Ruby".5 years later, in "Neptune's Daughter", MGM would reteam Esther with Red, and with Cugat's band again providing most of the musical numbers, hoping to recapture the magic of the present film. Although it too was a major box office success, in some ways, I see it as an inferior total experience. Red would be included in several other Esther films, as well, the last being the '51 "Texas Carnival". In contrast to the present film, Esther was not paired romantically with Red's character in these other films, being provided with a conventionally handsome leading man.

The critic Leonard Maltin called this film's script "silly". So what did he expect from a Red Skelton-based comedy. After all, this is not Gone with the Wind (1939). Actually the script is quite amusing, with a promising premise—a guy (Skelton) gets into an all girls' school on a technicality so he can pursue his lady love (Williams). This allows for all sorts of opportunities for Red's brand of amusing set-ups, which he exploits to the fullest. I particularly like his pantomime of how a woman gets dressed in the morning. And get a load of the sounds of that ditzy organ player—they're like nothing I've ever heard.It really is Skelton's movie since he's in most every scene except for the poolside grand finale. I'd like to have been in on the production meetings where the honchos decided to promote this as a Williams movie instead. I suppose they realized she and her swimsuit had more than novelty act potential. After all, what other Hollywood star actually started and monopolized an entire movie genre the way Williams did with her "aqua-musicals". In fact, their popularity continued for about 10-years. Then too, not only could she play a great sexy mermaid, but she's also a good light actress as the movie shows. Anyhow, it's hard to beat this Technicolor extravaganza for sheer visual feast.I suppose my only misgiving is that they're two premier bands (James & Cugat) in addition to the other acts, which means that neither gets enough playtime. One of them should have been dropped. Anyhow. in my view, Maltin needs a refresher course on the essentials of musical comedy and why silliness is sometimes a virtue.

Steve (Red Skelton) pursues Caroline (Esther Williams) to a New Jersey all-girl college where he signs on as a student to be near her and win back her heart.The film is basically a showcase for Red Skelton to put on some mimes and routines. Mixed in with this are some crappy musical numbers. The only musician to come away with any credibility is Harry James and his trumpet playing. The worst offender is Carlos Ramirez - a tenor who sings terrible songs and has no presence at all. Then there is crazy Ethel Smith and her weird organ-playing. Very odd. Unfortunately, Esther Williams isn't given enough to do as she plays second fiddle to Skelton. It's a shame coz she has good stage presence. Pity it's wasted on ridiculously lame water routines. It's a stupid story that is quite boring.

Red Skelton as the pink-tutu ballerina is always hilarious and heartwarming. Esther Williams looks stunning, as always. The dog is a riot, and I love the part where Red calls him 'Lassie', lol. Basil Rathbone as a funny guy is so different from that droll type of part he usually plays. The "I'll Take the High Note" scene was brilliant. Red Skelton as more of the straight man, romantic type, is different and refreshing. That he could dance as well as sing was surprising, and he looked so professional, showing up that music professor. The lady playing the organ was fantastic, and those beautifully-designed shoes she wore were so excellent to look at. Good to see the famous Harry James and Xavier Cugat in this movie.