Thrill of Romance(1945)

Thrill of a Romance (1945) Romance. Cast: Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by opera singer Lauritz Melchior. Director: Richard Thorpe. Written by Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman. This was the first of four films that paired Williams and Johnson together. Made over a period of eight years, those that followed were Easy to Wed (1946), Duchess of Idaho (1950) and Easy to Love (1953).Thrill of a Romance was a box office success, becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 1945.


Swimming instructor Cynthia, catches the eye of Robert G. Delbar, a visiting businessman, while she is teaching a swimming lesson. Robert falls instantly in love with Cynthia and quickly comes up with a plan to win her affections. He begins by sending flowers every day to her home, where she lives with her quirky aunt Nona and her uncle Hobart. Robert takes Cynthia to the horse races, the ice follies and fancy restaurants, sweeping her off her feet. After the wedding, Robert and Cynthia honeymoon at the Hotel Monte Blava, but Robert is forced to leave on business. Left alone, Cynthia becomes friends with Nils Knudsen, the star of the Metropolitan Opera. Cynthia also makes friends with Major Thomas Milvaine, a war hero, and Maude Bancroft. As time goes by Cynthia teaches Thomas how to swim, while he shares war stories and joins her on mountain hikes. Thomas and Cynthia are sad that their brief romance will soon end. Maude, who is also aware that Cynthia and Thomas have fallen in love, arranges a week-long delay through her father in Robert's return. Cynthia goes out for a hike in the mountains to take her mind off her troubles, but Thomas finds her in the woods and joins her. By evening, the two realize that they are lost, and decide to camp in the woods and try find their way back in the morning. When Robert returns to the hotel the following morning, he finds his wife did not sleep in her room and accuses Cynthia of infidelity when she returns with Thomas. Will she choose financial security over love?

I thought this was a very nice romantic film. . Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a wonderful opera star. Loved seeing Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

Soundtracks:

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"Please Don't Say No, Say Maybe"
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Ralph Freed
Sung by Lauritz Melchior
Performed also by the King Sisters and Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra

"I Should Care"
(uncredited)
Music by Axel Stordahl and Paul Weston
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Performed by Tommy Dorsey

"Song of India"
(uncredited)
by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov
Performed by Tommy Dorsey

"Wedding March (Bridal Chorus)"
(uncredited)
from "Lohengrin"
Music by Richard Wagner

"Opus One"
(uncredited)
Music by Sy Oliver
Lyrics by Sid Garris

"Battle of the Balcony Jive"
(uncredited)
Music by Dodo Marmarosa

"Vesti la giubba"
(uncredited)
from "I pagliacci"
Music by Ruggiero Leoncavallo

"Hungarian Rhapsody"
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Liszt
Lyrics by Earl K. Brent

"Serenade"
(uncredited)
Music by Franz Schubert
Lyrics by J. Macklyn Maskill

"Lonely Night"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Music Adapted by George Stoll
Lyrics by Richard Connell

"Ich Liebe Dich"
(uncredited)
Written by Edvard Grieg

"Because"
(uncredited)
Music by Guy d'Hardelot
Lyrics by Edward Teschemacher

"Vive L'Amour"
(uncredited)
Music by George Stoll
Lyrics by Ralph Blane and Kay Thompson

"I Want What I Want When I Want It"
(1905) (uncredited)
from "Mlle. Modiste"
Music by Victor Herbert
Lyrics by Henry Martyn Blossom