Esther Williams and Van Johnson.

It was when Esther Williams landed a small part in the film, A Guy Named Joe, that she first worked with Van Johnson, who later turned out to be a wonderful, musical, comedy performer. This film was followed by, Thrill of a Romance(1945). Directed by Richard Thorpe. The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. As luck would have it, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away on business, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson. 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.

The studio's publicity department tried put the two together in public as much as possible in the hopes of encouraging a romance. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied, "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals".

Easy to Wed (1946), a remake of 1936's Libeled Lady, with Johnson and Lucille Ball. The story begins when J.B. Allenbury is determined to file a $2 million libel suit against The Morning Star when the newspaper prints a story claiming his daughter Connie was responsible for the breakup of a marriage. Reporter Bill Chandler's job, is to prove that the story was true. I think this maybe one of my favorite Lucille Ball performance.

Duchess of Idaho (1950) is a musical romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho. Christine Riverton Duncan, plays matchmaker for her friend Ellen by helping her pursue Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr., all the way to Idaho. There, Christine decides to play a joke on Douglas. After boarding his train to Sun Valley, Christine shocks him with hints that she expects a commitment. Once she's in Sun Valley, things become complicated when Christine falls in love with hotel bandleader, Dick Layne. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)



Next on the list of films, Easy to Love(1953). Was filmed on location in Cypress Gardens, where a Florida-shaped pool had been built specifically for the film. Williams character is in love with her boss and finally wins him over when she starts an affair with another man. Fun Fact: Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

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

DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1950)

Duchess of Idaho (1950). Musical/romantic/comedy. Directer: Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film with Esther Williams and Van Johnson together. It was shot mainly on location in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Christine Riverton Duncan, the star of the "Melody in Springtime" water ballet, shares her apartment with Ellen Hallet, a secretary to railroad tycoon Douglas J. Morrissen, Jr.. While dining at a nightclub with Linda, Douglas pretends that Ellen is his fiancee to scare her off. Ellen returns home drunk thinking that Douglas is just using her. The next day, Ellen and Douglas make plans to go on a business trip to Sun Valley. When Christine, hears the news she tells her to run out and buy a dress with a "low, cut neck line." No sooner does Ellen bring home the new dress, Douglas calls to cancel their plans. The two girls decide to get even with Douglas. The misadventures begins when Christine falls in love with bandleader Dick Layn.

This is the first time I have seen the film Duchess of Idaho. The songs are wonderful, as well as the swimming numbers. And a couple of fun cameos. Which I want to keep a secret. :)

Soundtracks:
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"Let's Choo Choo Choo to Idaho"
Written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston
Sung by Van Johnson, Connie Haines and The Jubilaires

"You Can't Do Wrong Doin' Right"
Written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston
Sung by Van Johnson and Connie Haines

"Of All Things"
Written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston
Sung by Connie Haines

"Baby Come Out of the Clouds"
Written by Henry Nemo and Lee Pearl
Sung by Lena Horne

A GUY NAMED JOE (1943)

A Guy Named Joe(1943). Director: Victor Fleming. Producer Everett Riskin, from the screenplay written by Dalton Trumbo. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Esther Williams(a very small part), Irene Dunne and Van Johnson.

Pete Sandridge, an American pilot stationed in England, during World War II. Is known for his reckless flying. After a dangerous mission, Nails decides to transfer Pete and his best friend, pilot Al Yackey, to a safer reconnaissance base in Scotland. While there, Pete and Al become bored with their new assignment and happy to see Dorinda, fly in for a visit. Dorina gets an uneasy feeling that Pete's "number is up." She begs Pete to go to the States and become a flying instructor. Dorinda promises that she will give up flying, if he goes home. If not, she will transfer to Australia. Finally, he agrees to go back home. Al comes in with the news, that they must leave for a flight to a large German aircraft carrier. On the flight, Pete is attacked by a German plane. After being shot, he orders his crew to bail out, then flies onto the carrier.

In the clouds, Pete walks toward another flyer and recognizes his old friend, Dick Rumney. Suddenly he remembers that Dick went down with his plane, Pete says "either I'm dead or I'm crazy," and Dick replies, "You're not crazy." Pete meets the General, (one of the first flyer's who has since past,) who gives him an assignment to return and share his knowledge to help other flyer's. Pete and Dick go to a military flying school in Arizona, where Pete becomes a ghost tutor to Ted Randall. Pete guides him through training, becoming very proud of him.


I love movies like, Heaven Can Wait and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. This film has wonderful World combat action mixed in with a little romance.. Never a dull moment.

Soundtracks:

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"The Army Air Corps Song"
Written by Robert Crawford
Played during the opening credits and partially sung by an off-screen male chorus
Played as background music often and at the end

"I'll Get By"
(1928)
Music by Fred E. Ahlert
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Played on harmonica by Ward Bond, sung by Irene Dunne and danced by her and Spencer Tracy
Played also in a juke box
In the score often as a leitmotif for the love between Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy

"I'll See You in My Dreams"
(1924)
Music by Isham Jones
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Played in a bar as dance music and danced by Irene Dunne and Spencer Tracy and other couples

"How About You?"
(1941)
Music by Burton Lane
Lyrics by Ralph Freed
Hummed by Don DeFore

"St. Louis Blues"
(1914)
Written by W.C. Handy
Partially sung a cappella by Don DeFore

"Fight On"
(1922)
Music and Milo Sweet
Lyrics by Milo Sweet and Glen Grant
Sung a cappella by Don DeFore
(USC's Official Fight Song)

"Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"
(1942)
Music by Sam H. Stept
Lyrics by Charles Tobias and Lew Brown
Played on piano by an unidentified woman and sung by Army Air Force men

"Bridal Chorus"
aka (Here Comes the Bride)
From "Lohengrin" (1850)
Written by Richard Wagner
Played by an Army Air Corps Band after Dorinda and Ted become engaged

"I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas"
Written by Phil Baxter
Performed by Don DeFore

EASY TO WED (1946)

This musical remake of the (1936) comedy classic Libeled Lady. Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball and Keenan Wynn, do a wonderful job taking over the roles first performed by William Powell, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy. I think this is my favorite Lucille Ball performance. I had to post the picture of the English Springer Spaniel. I'm owned by one.. :)

The story begins when Farwood knows that his newspaper (The Morning Star) is in trouble, when they print a libelous story about Connie Allenbury, the daughter of the famous tycoon J. B. Allenbury, stealing another woman's husband. Just as he predicted angry by the newspaper's claims Allenbury threatens to file a $2,000,000 libel suit against his paper. Farwood calls his business manager, Warren Haggerty, for help. Warren, jumps at the chance to call off his wedding to his fiancee Glady Benton, and quickly comes up with a plan to frame Connie for another husband stealing story. Warren hires a reporter at the newspaper, womanizer Bill Chandler, to head off for Mexico City, where the Allenburys have a vacation home.

Warren tricks Glady to pretend to marry Bill, so that she can sue Connie for "alienation of affection" when they have a compromising picture of Bill and Connie.

Bill, and his partner in crime Spike, are off to Mexico, where he takes a crash course in duck hunting.

At the Hotel Del Rey, Bill pretends to protect Connie from the unwanted questions from Spike. Bill introduces himself to Connie and her father as a writer and hunter. Allenbury invites Bill to go duck hunting. After a few days Glady and Warren are starting to wonder what's up with Bill, who has not produced the picture. Connie becomes suspicious of Bill's duck hunting abilities when he shows up with brand new sports equipment. They split up into separate boats. Bill has one hilarious problem after the other trying to shoot down a single duck. After hours of waiting, a flock of ducks flies overhead, Bill accidentally fires a shot into the air, hits a duck which falls right into his lap.

A romance begins to blossom between Bill and Connie, Glady is becoming impatient and is ready to ruin all their plans. He has to quickly come up with another plan to keep her quiet. He tells her that he has a romantic interest in her. Warren becomes jealous and decides it's time to pay a visit to Connie and try to talk her out of going ahead with the law suit. After Connie refuses, Warren makes a telephone call to Glady and tells her that Bill is really in love with Connie.

Will Glady ruin everything?

Fun Fact:

Early in the film, on the lower Left of the screen, Fidel Castro,( without beard), is sitting poolside with a drink in front of him. When Fidel was young he did "extra" work for MGM, while a student at UCLA, before becoming active in politics.

Soundtracks:
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"Continental Polka"
Lyrics by Ralph Blane
Music by Johnny Green
Sung and Danced by Lucille Ball (dubbed by Virginia Rees) and chorus

"Acendiete Mas"
(Come Closer To Me)
Written by Osvaldo Farrés and Al Stewart
Sung by Carlos Ramírez
also sung by Esther Williams

"Toca Tu Samba"
Music by Paul Soler
Performed on the organ by Ethel Smith

"Bonecu de Pixe"
Music by Ary Barroso
Performed on the Organ by Ethel Smith
Danced by Van Johnson, Esther Williams and chorus

"Viva México"
Written by Pedro Galindo
Performed by a wandering trio
Sung by a chorus at the end

EASY TO LOVE (1953)

Easy to Love (1953) With the Cole Porter classic as the music title, Esther Williams and Van Johnson star in their fifth film together.

After Julie's (Esther Williams) performance in the water-skiing show, she comes to Ray (Van Johnson) to talk about about her long hours, and wants to quit working for him when he asks her to cancel her plans for that evening.

Ray ignores her wishes, and sends her on a very important job for a LIFE magazine photo shoot, where Julie meets the handsome singer Barry Gordon (Tony Martin), who is also being photographed. During her photo shoot, Barry asks to take the place of the male model, and they become attracted to each other . After the photo shoot, Julie asks Ray to take her to see Barry's nightclub act. Later that evening, Julie gets a call from Barry and they go out dancing. When Barry learns that Julie swims, models and even types for Ray for not much money, he makes an appointment for her to meet Oscar Levenson, who is producing a water follies show. Julie auditions for Oscar, who gives her the job. That afternoon, Julie tells Ray about her new job, Ray pretends that it is OK with him. She starts to feel guilty, and at the last minute, she returns to Florida with him. Ray asks Julie to meet with him that evening. Julie thinks Ray is going to propose. Hank comes by to tell Julie that his father wants him to return to Texas, and she tells him that she is in love with someone else. Hank then rushes into Ray's office and accuses him of stealing his girl friend, and Ray is surprised to hear that Julie is in love with him. That evening, when Julie meets him for dinner, Ray pretends to be talking on the phone with another woman. He then informs Julie that he will double her pay. Julie returns to the resort and is surprised to find Barry sitting at the piano, and when he sings a love song to Julie, Ray becomes jealous. Barry asks Julie to go to Paris with him, but before she can answer, Ray asks Julie to go with him in his boat. When Ray proposes, he finds that Julie had already jumped out of the boat. The next morning, after performing in a spectacular water-skiing show, with dozens of water skiers, ramps, pyramid formations and gushing geysers. Nancy accidentally knocks Julie out with a water ski. By this time I have no idea who loves who.. any who... Who is to rush to her side ?

Fun Facts:

Tony Martin bumps into Cyd Charise (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

Esther Williams was pregnant during the filming of this movie.

Supposedly Esther Williams favorite of her movies.

Sound Tracks:

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"Easy to Love"
Written by Cole Porter
Sung by Tony Martin and played often throughout the picture

"Look Out! I'm Romantic"
Music by Vic Mizzy
Lyrics by Mann Curtis
Sung by Tony Martin

"Didja Ever"
Music by Vic Mizzy
Lyrics by Mann Curtis
Sung by Tony Martin

"That's What a Rainy Day Is For"
Music by Vic Mizzy
Lyrics by Mann Curtis
Sung by Tony Martin and Esther Williams (dubbed by Betty Wand)

"Coquette"
(uncredited)
Music by Carmen Lombardo and Johnny Green
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Sung by Tony Martin

"What Good Is a Gal? (Without a Guy)"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played during the scene where Julie is packing for New York

"Tritsch Tratsch Polka, Op. 214"
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauß
Played during the clown routine

"Roses from the South (Rosen aus dem Süden, Op. 388)"
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauß
Played after the clown routine

"Spring, Beautiful Spring (O Frühling, wie bist du so schön)"
(uncredited)
Written by Paul Lincke
Played during the big water skiing finale