DANGEROUS WHEN WET

US, 1953, 95 minutes, Colour.
Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack Carson, Charlotte Greenwood, Denise Darcel, William Demarest, Donna Corcoran, Tom and Jerry.
Directed by Charles Walters.

A pleasant vehicle for Esther Williams. It is about an Arkansas family which is sponsored to swim the English Channel. It is regular Esther Williams material - songs, comedy. Charlotte Greenwood and William Demarest provide some comedy as Esther's parents. A highlight is a swimming sequence where Esther is joined by cartoon characters Tom and Jerry. There are songs by Johnny Mercer and direction is by Charles Walters who made a number of musicals at MGM at this time, including Lili and High Society. Esther Williams was later to marry her leading man, Fernando Lamas.

1. An appropriate title for an Esther Williams comedy? How entertaining?

2. The emphasis in the fifties on Esther Williams swimming musicals? The expectations of plot, characters, singing and music? The importance of the swimming sequences? The appeal at the time?

3. The contribution of the colour photography and locations, the American farm, the family scenes, swimming in the channel, England?

4. The contribution of the special effects when Esther Williams swims with Tom and Jerry? The impact of this sequence and its enjoyment?

5. Was the plot credible? The health fanatic family? The need for money, promotion, the swimming of the channel, the romantic encounter? Was it suitable for the purposes of the comedy?

6. How attractive a character was Katie, her place in the family, her relationship with her mother and father and their beliefs in health and exercise, the other members of the family? Katie’s going to England, her reaction to the promotion, her swimming the Channel, the romance with Andre, the jealousy of Gigi? How well delineated were the characters of Andre and Gigi? Andre as expected French hero, Gigi an the expected other woman? The satire in the presentation of Windy an a salesman?

7. The songs and the family at exercise, the songs throughout the film?

8. The crisis for Katie in romance, promotion, the need for money?

9. Her strength in swimming the Channel and the effort that she made?

10. Themes of endeavour and achievement and romance with the light touch?