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TCM Website
August 9, 1999
TCM Salutes Million Dollar Mermaid Esther Williams With 12-Film Festival
on September 15 As New Autobiography Hits Bookstore Shelves
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TCM dives into the stuff of Hollywood legend with a 24-hour festival dedicated to screen legend Esther Williams, in conjunction with the September debut of her autobiography, Million Dollar Mermaid, from Simon & Schuster. Williams, who swam her way to stardom in a series of all-star musicals, appears in 12 films, starting at 6 a.m. on September 15. Movies featured in the festival include EASY TO WED (1946, 10 a.m.), SKIRTS AHOY! (1952, 8 p.m.), JUPITER'S DARLING (1955, Sept 16, 4 a.m.) and TEXAS CARNIVAL (1951, 6 p.m.). Additionally, Williams will answer questions and share stories in an on-line chat that same day at 8 p.m. at the Turner Classic Movies website, http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com.
Originally, Williams was slated for sports stardom as a member of the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, but the outbreak of World War II canceled the 1940 Olympics, sending her to star in Billy Rose's Aquacade, where she was spotted by MGM talent scouts. Initially, MGM didn't know what to do with her. For her film debut, she swam with Mickey Rooney in Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942), followed by a serious role as Van Johnson's potential new girlfriend in A Guy Named Joe (1943).
With her third film, BATHING BEAUTY (1944, Sept. 15, 6 a.m.), MGM hit on the formula that would keep her at the top of the box office charts for nearly a decade. They showcased her in a role that allowed for frequent swimming, with a light romantic plot that barely stretched her acting talents. Then they surrounded her with top comic and musical talent-in this case Red Skelton, Harry James, Xavier Cugat and Ethel Smith. Williams's musical numbers grew ever more extravagant, eventually including a dip with cartoon characters Tom & Jerry in DANGEROUS WHEN WET (1953, Sept. 16, 12 a.m.), a massive water ski ballet in EASY TO LOVE (1953, Sept. 15, 2 a.m.) and her dive from 50 feet above the water into a ring of swimmers in MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (1952, Sept. 15, 10 p.m.).
Esther Williams Day
Wednesday, September 15, 1999
6 a.m. BATHING BEAUTY (1944) - Starring Esther Williams, Red Skelton and Basil Rathbone. A songwriter enrolls in an all-girl school to win the affection of a pretty gym teacher.
8 a.m. THRILL OF ROMANCE (1945) - Staring Esther Williams, Van Johnson and Tommy Dorsey. A solider returning from WWII finds love with a beautiful swimmer.
10 a.m. EASY TO WED (1946) - Starring Esther Williams, Van Johnson and Lucille Ball. A tough newspaper editor hires a gigolo to compromise a woman suing his paper for libel.
12 p.m. THIS TIME FOR KEEPS (1947) - Starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante and Lauritz Melchior. The son of a famous singer falls for a swimming star.
2 p.m. DUCHESS OF IDAHO (1050) - Starring Esther Williams, Van Johnson and John Lund. During a Sun Valley vacation, a woman tries to solve her roommate's romantic problems only to get caught in a love triangle of her own.
4 p.m. PAGAN LOVE SONG (1950) - Starring Esther Williams, Howard Keel and Rita Moreno. An American tourist romances a Tahitian beauty.
6 p.m. TEXAS CARNIVAL (1951) - Starring Esther Williams, Red Skelton and Howard Keel. A penniless carnival worker runs up a mountain of debt when he is mistaken for a millionaire.
8 p.m. SKIRTS AHOY! (1952) - Starring Esther Williams, Vivian Blaine and Barry Sullivan. Three women join the Navy to find husbands.
10 p.m. MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (1952) - Starring Esther Williams, Victor Mature and Walter Pidgeon. True story of Annette Kellerman, the world's first great swimming star.
12 a.m. DANGEROUS WHEN WET (1953) - Starring Esther Williams, Charlotte Greenwood and Fernando Lamas. A family of fitness freaks sets out to swim the English Channel.
2 a.m. EASY TO LOVE (1953) - Starring Esther Williams, Tony Martin and Van Johnson. Two men vie for the heart of a Cypress Gardens swimming star.
4 a.m. JUPITER'S DARLING (1955) - Starring Esther Williams, Howard Keel and Marge & Gower Champion. A beautiful Roman mounts a romantic campaign to halt Hannibal's invasion of the empire.
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