ShangLuda Admirable film.

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

TheLittleSongbird Esther Williams and that the water ballet sequences were choreographed by Busby Berkeley were my two main reasons for seeing 'Million Dollar Mermaid'. As well as that Annette Kellerman's story is an interesting one.While highly fictionalised as a real-life biography (not unexpected, this was true of a lot of film biopics made then and it's a trend that still hasn't gone away with a few exceptions), 'Million Dollar Mermaid' (aka 'The One Piece Bathing Suit') as a piece of entertainment or a film in its own right is a good film and one of Williams' better films by quite some distance.As for Williams herself, she is captivating and really does radiate a million dollars. Not just in the water, where her aquatic skills are second to none, but she gives a heartfelt and committed out of the water too. She is well supported by handsome Victor Mature (who really does try to inject charm and energy into a character written in a way not worthy of those attributes), very amusing and sympathetic Jesse White and endearing Walter Pidgeon.Berkeley is another star here, the aquatic sequences are wonderfully ornate, exquisitely shot and simply jaw dropping to watch, actually being better than the term "aqua spectacular". Anybody looking for a contender for the best aquatic sequences in an Esther Williams film, or even on film full-stop, 'Million Dollar Mermaid' is a definite contender.'Million Dollar Mermaid' looks beautiful, with lavish cinematography (especially in the aquatic sequences), big, bold, rich colours and opulent costumes and sets, even if the studio's version of England has to be seen to be believed. The music is always pleasant to listen to, while the script avoids being too frothy, sentimental or cheesy and is actually tight, sometimes amusing and sometimes heartfelt. Even though fictionalised (with some glaring inaccuracies and omissions that one wishes were in the film), the story still has a high nostalgic value and emotional impact and is much more eventful and sincere than most of the usual stories in Esther Williams' films.Not without faults. 'Million Dollar Mermaid' does go on slightly longer than necessary and drags ever so slightly in places where the drama sags a little. More of a problem was that the chemistry between Williams and Mature could have been more believable and not as ill at ease, not Williams' fault nor Mature's but more to do with the very unsympathetic and caddish way that the latter's character is written in.Overall, a good film with Williams radiating a million dollars. 8/10 Bethany Cox

moonspinner55 The idea of putting swimming star Esther Williams in a biography of champion Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman must have seemed like a can't-miss concept for a splashy matinée item which would pay-off no matter what the outcome. Unfortunately, the concept itself is underused, as Williams performs in a handful of extravagant water routines but does very little dramatic acting. Producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. and the requisite MGM brass do not appear to have any inspiration that goes beyond the standard glitz and glamour (the script being somewhat expendable). That's too bad, for Kellerman's life story had aspects of both high drama and nostalgic value (being the first woman to wear a one-piece swimsuit on America's shores!). Mervyn LeRoy's direction is quite capable, and Williams is amiable, however Busby Berkeley's lavish, gaudy production numbers are what most people end up remembering. **1/2 from ****

jacobs-greenwood Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, with a screenplay by Everett Freeman, this above average Esther Williams vehicle is a biographical drama about Annette Kellerman who, despite being born with crippled legs, became a championship swimmer in her native Australia, achieved notoriety for being the first woman to wear a one-piece bathing suit at a public beach (near Boston), and made several movies in Hollywood.The film, which was Oscar nominated for its Color Cinematography (George Folsey's ninth of thirteen unrewarded Academy Award nominations), features several spectacular Busby Berkeley- choreographed aquatic ballet sequences, ostensibly performed at New York's Hippodrome. Donna Corcoran plays Annette as a ten year old child with a disability.Walter Pidgeon plays Annette's father Frederick Kellerman who, because he lacked the students and the funding necessary to continue his music conservatory, decided to take his daughter to London where he hoped to work as an assistant to another teacher. No mention of her mother is ever made (unless I missed it).On their voyage, the Kellermans met James Sullivan (played by Victor Mature) and his assistant Doc Cronnol (Jesse White), and their boxing kangaroo named Sydney. Sullivan, a carnival man and self promoter, recognized Annette's name immediately per her swimming successes, and tried unsuccessfully to hire her - he'd wanted to promote her as a mermaid from 'Down Under' but her father refused to consider it per his plans for his daughter in the ballet, or as a musician.However, Sullivan's persistence, and the Kellermans' poverty, eventually leads to a publicity stunt whereby Annette swam a 26 mile marathon down the Thames River to Greenwich. With her popularity soaring, Sullivan sells the kangaroo for their passage to New York where he attempts to sell an unprecedented water ballet idea to the Hippodrome's manager Alfred Harper (David Brian).Unable to convince Harper to take a chance, Sullivan takes Annette and her father up the coast to the Boston area where, while attempting to create more publicity, she's arrested (by Charles Watts) for indecent exposure for wearing a one-piece swimsuit in public.During her trial, Annette proposes a compromise design which the judge (James Bell) accepts despite the prosecutor's (Frank Ferguson) protestations. Interest in Annette soars and the four of them make a bundle of money during nine consecutive weeks of swim stroke and diving demonstrations by Annette; Doc is the bookkeeper.But when another promoter named Aldrich (Howard Freeman) proposes a lecture tour for her, Sullivan blows his top; in lieu of proposing to her, he insults her saying she's no more than a trained seal. In the days when airplanes are an untested fascination, he buys one from still another carnival promoter and he and Doc hit the road. Meanwhile, Annette receives a telegram from Harper who's finally willing to give her a change to perform at the Hippodrome, on the same bill as prima donna ballerina Pavlova (Maria Tallchief).Annette's success at the Hippodrome leads to a marriage proposal from Harper, and a movie offer from Hollywood. On their way West, Annette and Harper meet Sullivan, who's heading to Hollywood with Doc himself with their new act, Rin Tin Tin (obviously, this is a fictionalized biography)!An accident on the set of Annette's movie Neptune's Daughter (which was released in 1914, and not to be confused with Williams' own 1949 film), brings Sullivan and her together again. In real life, they were married, but this movie ends with Harper bowing out so that true love can run its course.

smatysia 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.