MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID

US, 1952, 115 minutes, Colour.
Esther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon, David Brian, Jesse White, Maria Tallchief, Howard Freeman.
Directed by Mervyn Le Roy.

Million Dollar Mermaid was originally called The One Piece Bathing Suit and is a Hollywood-style biography of Australian swimmer and entertainer Annette Kellerman. Esther Williams was an obvious choice to portray Annette Kellerman in the '50s. After almost ten years of entertaining audiences with light musical comedies with swimming, Esther Williams attempted something more of a characterisation in this film. However, while it takes itself a little more seriously, it is really a variation on her usual films.

Annette Kellerman came from New South Wales, had need for swimming to strengthen her legs, became a champion and then an entertainer in burlesque and silent films. The men in her life are the typical show business contrasts: the rough busker type and the suave producer. Victor Mature is his usual self as the busker hero. Walter Pidgeon is also himself as Annette’s father. There is the Hollywood interpretation of the Australian scenery - similar to Interrupted Melody, the biography of Marjorie Lawrence which was to appear the following year. There is more surety of hand in the presentation of the swimming sequences, choreographed with lavish and even garish colour by choreographer Busby Berkeley. Direction is by Mervyn Le Roy who made all kinds of films over a long Hollywood career, ranging from Little Caesar to Blossoms In The Dust and Random Harvest to Gypsy.

1. An enjoyable Hollywood biography? An Esther Williams vehicle? Audience interest in Annette Kellerman and her life and career? The blend of biography with romance and aquatic spectacle?

2. M.G.M. production values of the '50s: colour photography, costumes, recreation of Australia, England, America? The insight into early film making? Spectacle and special effects? Busby Berkley’s choreography for the water spectacle?

3. Audience knowledge of Annette Kellerman? As a child, her learning to swim, her skills and strength, her forthright approach, questions of censorship and prudery, sport, spectacle? The importance of Pavlova's comment about her skill and success?

4. The Australian background and its use? Teaching music? Her father and his poverty and the Depression? Her swimming as a child? Building up strength and winning in competition? The need to go to England?

5. The shipboard comedy and romance? Jimmy and his quick-talking? Doc and Sidney the kangaroo? Australian humour with the kangaroo and boxing? The possibility of Annette and sideshows and burlesque? London, poverty? Jimmy's visit and the decision about the swimming? The press response and the public response?

6. The transition to America, ambitions: Harper and the Hippodrome? The lack of initial success? On the road? Annette's skill in swimming and diving, demonstrations? The successful return to the Hippodrome? Pavlova and the ballet sequence? John Philip Souza and his band music? The further success in silent films?

7. Annette and her father? The strong bonds? His wariness about Jimmy? Poverty and going to America? His standing by his daughter with the Boston trials? Working in the sideshows? In the Hippodrome orchestra? His death? Jimmy and his smooth talk, the success with Annette, the clash, his flying to Florida? The plane flight competition and his being in hospital? Annette and Harper encountering him and Doc on the train? The happy ending? Doc and his comedy and affection? The humour of the kangaroo sequences? Alfred and his being a successful producer, his helping Annette, squiring her in society, wanting to marry her, his presence on the film sets. his standing aside for Jimmy?

8. The Boston incident: Jimmy and the stunt, Annette and her innocence, the prudery in reaction, her taking a strong stance, her case and the question about prudery, morals, swimming costumes? The judge and his listening to the case, his fair judgment? The result with her doing demonstrations of swimming and diving, the invitation to lecture?

9. Annette as a celebrity and its effect on her life?

10. Jimmy and the contrast with society: his talk.. carnival atmosphere, his using Doc? The contrast with Harper and American society style?

11. The impact of the aquatic spectacle and the décor, costumes. use of colour, choreography? Spectacular kitsch?

12. An enjoyable biography? Its relationship with the facts? M.G.M. musical style? Impact now, dated?