Million Dollar Mermaid

Million Dollar Mermaid
(aka The One-Piece Bathing Suit)
MGM, 1952, Color, 115 minutes, ***
Released December, 1952

Esther Williams splashes and shines in this highly Hollywoodized but wholly enjoyable biography of 1890s swimming sensation Annette Kellerman. Fine support from Victor Mature, Walter Pidgeon, Jesse White, plus Busby Berkeley's eye-popping, show-stopping water carnival. Doesn't really qualify as a musical, but it's significant in that it's one of Esther Williams' best roles.

Producer: Arthur Hornblow, Jr.
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenplay: Everett Freeman
Music Director: Adolph Deutsch
Music: various
Choreography: Busby Berkeley
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Jack Martin Smith
Set Decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Richard Pefferle
Costume Design: Helen Rose, Walter Plunkett
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe
Cinematography: George J. Folsey
Film Editing: John McSweeney Jr.

Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Color Cinematography

Cast: Esther Williams [Annette Kellerman], Victor Mature [James Sullivan], Walter Pidgeon [Frederick Kellerman], David Brian [Alfred Harper], Donna Corcoran [Annette Kellerman at age 10], Jesse White [Doc Cronnel], Maria Tallchief [Pavlova], Howard Freeman [Aldrich], Charles Watts [Policeman], Wilton Graff [Garvey], Frank Ferguson [Prosecutor], James Bell [Judge], James Flavin [Conductor], Willis Bouchey [Director], Adrienne d'Ambricourt [Marie, the housekeeper], Charles Heard [Official], Clive Morgan [Judge], Queenie Leonard [Mrs. Graves], Stuart Torres [Son], Leslie Denison [Purser], Wilson Benge [Caretaker], Elizabeth Slifer [Soprano], Al Ferguson [London Bobby], Vernon Downing [Newspaper Man], Creighton Hale [Husband], James L. Kelly, Pat Flaherty [Policemen], Paul Bradley [Defense Attorney], James Aubrey [Pawnbroker], Patrick O'Moore [Master of Ceremonies], George Wallace [Bud Williams], Paul Frees [Band Leader], Louis Manley [Fire-eater], Edward Clark [Elderly Man], Gordon Richards [Casey], Benny Burt [Bum], Rod Rogers [Marcellino, the clown], Harry Hines [Watchman], Clarence Hennecke [Newsboy], Genevieve Pasques [Maid], Tom Dillon [Process Server], Louise Lorimer [Nurse], Mack Chandler [Robbie the Prop Man]

Musical Program: Let Me Call You Sweetheart (only complete song sung); There are also a number of production numbers with background music and some short excerpts of other period songs.