Best movie of this year hands down!

Simply A Masterpiece

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A nice color film of a certain age. The plot is formula melodrama, but so were most dramas of the day. In this world of Meryl Streeps, it was interesting that the filmmakers made absolutely no effort at Australian or English accents in spite of the characters, or the settings. It seems that many liberties were taken with the story of Annette Kellerman, the Aussie swimming phenom, who became the first real international swimming star. Esther Williams, who owned swimming in Hollywood in those days was very good, her acting thoroughly credible, and her theatrical swimming unparalleled. Victor Mature and Walter Pidgeon round out the cast.

One of the best of the film series featuring Esther Williams' swimming talents, that usually included some choreographed 'water ballets'. It has one of the better screen plays for her films, being a tribute to the first international swimming star: Australian-bred Annette Kellerman. No doubt, much of the screen play is quite fictionalized. This is probably especially true of the details of Annette's relationship with her promoter and future husband , American James Sullivan, played by familiar leading man Victor Mature.Although most identified with his several roles in biblical-oriented films or ancient Egyptians, Mature had been paired with some of Hollywood's most glamorous ladies in musicals or romantic dramas for more than a decade, yet was still quite handsome, cocky, and personable, at age 40. Sullivan's participation in a race across the US in a very primitive plane is probably as fictional as his supposed promotion of the German shepherd Rin Tin Tin as a potential Hollywood star....David Brian serves as Sullivan's faithful partner(Alfred) in his various oddball enterprises and world travelings. Walter Pigeon plays Annette's father, who decides to move to the UK, where Annette gains further notoriety in her swimming feats. The real Annette made 3 unsuccessful attempts to become the first woman to swim the difficult English Channel. Donna Corcoran plays Annette as a girl, whose legs are weak from polio and thus she has been encouraged to swim much to strengthen her legs, which eventually fully recover. After consulting several sources, it's still unclear to me if polio was the actual cause of her problem. The polio scare was at its height around the time this film was made, shortly before an effective vaccine became widely available. When Annette was a girl, polio was a much less common cause of muscular paralysis in children, infants being much more commonly affected, and often dying.The film dramatizes Annette's trial for indecent exposure in wearing her customized one piece form-fitting bathing suit on a beach near Boston. She thereafter became noteworthy in serving as a model for the evolution of modern women's beach/swimming attire. Later, she starred in a series of Hollywood silent films, one of which featured her quite nude at times: a first in Hollywood films, but not mentioned in this film. The film ends with Annette in a hospital, trying to recuperate from an incident in which she was propelled through a glass viewing section of a swimming tank, after the glass gave way, seriously injuring her spine. This is based on a true incident. However, it happened in Bermuda, not while making a Hollywood film. Also, the problem wasn't a spinal injury, but severe lacerations from the jagged glass. Interestingly, while making his film, Esther suffered a very severe injury in a broken neck from a high dive, necessitating a long delay in finishing the film. Thus, the nature of the reported injury and its circumstances much more resembled Esther's injury than Annette's. There are, of course, several spectacular 'water ballet' segments, appropriately choreographed by Busby Berkley, in one of his last such roles, having been most active in this regard in the '30s. Included are some signature overhead kaleidoscopic shots... Esther looks quite stunning in all of her outfits, in or out of the water.Present for one performance is Maria Tallchief,as Pavlova: world famous traditional ballet dancer. Maria was, in fact, acknowledged to be such: unexpected for the daughter of an Osage Native American!Various familiar period or classical music pieces are played as background music. "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" is periodically heard or sung, serving as the theme song. There is a formulistic rocky period in the Annette-Sullivan relationship, when she has a well-established high class suitor, in contrast to Sullivan's romantic wandering seat-of-the-pants persona.

In Australia, little Donna Corcoran (as little Annette Kellerman) swims to overcome polio. Supported by father Walter Pidgeon (as Frederick), she becomes a little swimming champion. The cute girl quickly grows up to be attractive trophy-collecting Esther Williams (as the adult Annette Kellerman). She meets manly Victor Mature (as James "Jimmy" Sullivan) and goes to America. Mr. Mature puts her in a shocking one-piece bathing suit and Ms. Williams is accused of "indecent exposure." They are mutually attracted, but Williams must listen to Mature tell her: "Wet you're terrific, dry you're just a nice girl who ought to settle down and get married." Understandably, this nervy line puts a cramp in their romance. Williams also attracts "Hippodrome" owner David Brian (as Alfred Harper). While not classically handsome, kangaroo-trainer Jesse White (as Doc Cronnol) gets no action; he's faithful, supportive and funny, but apparently not Williams' type. All this silliness is based on a few facts from the real turn-of-the century celebrity Annette Kellerman's life. The original "Million Dollar Mermaid" was also famous for appearing for the public in only her "birthday suit" - but this biography keeps Williams' Kellerman modestly covered.Stick around for the sensational aquatic scenes. This is where Williams, choreographer Busby Berkeley, and cinematographer George J. Folsey really shine. They didn't do it alone, of course, as the MGM production team employed hundreds of hard-working helpers. Ballet dancer Maria Tallchief (as Anna Pavlova) and one of the seemingly endless cute Corcoran kids are additionally noteworthy. Young Donna won a "Film Daily" acting nomination in their juvenile category, Mr. Folsey's color photography received "Academy Award" consideration, and Williams drew in the crowds.****** Million Dollar Mermaid (12/4/52) Mervyn LeRoy ~ Esther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon, David Brian

Wonderful film exhibiting the talents of Esther Williams portraying swimming Annette Kellerman at the turn of the 20th century.The water sequences were never lovelier and the story of Kellerman, who overcame adversity as a young child, was remarkable.Victor Mature is in fine form as her promoter and eventual lover, Frank Sullivan. Jesse White brings his comic relief as Sullivan's side-kick and Walter Pidgeon is endearing as her father.Coming from Australia to star in the Hippidrome and other features, Kellerman exhibited outstanding talent in her swimming career while at the same time trying to maintain her dream of being a ballerina. Ballet star Maria Tallchief brief appears as the legendary Pavlova in the film.When professional differences end her romance with Sullivan, Kellerman really makes it on her own thanks to the help of David Brian, as the head of the Hippidrome.While the tragic accident she had while making "Neptune's Daughter" in Hollywood almost cost her her life, it brings on a wonderful moving ending.This is a highly entertaining film.