Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Neptune's Daughter

Neptune's Daughter
MGM, 1949, Color, 94 minutes, ***
Released June, 1949

Esther owns and operates a swimming suit manufacturing company. Betty Garrett is her zany sister; Montalban is a South American polo star; and Skelton is his American trainer who just happens to be alone in Montalban's stable room when Garrett comes looking for the polo star. What's a guy going to do? Tell her he's not the man of her dreams?!? So, of course, Garrett mistakes Skelton for the polo star and pursues him, while Esther gets the real thing. Lots of laughs and some good music, including the Academy Award winning "Baby It's Cold Outside" performed by Esther, Montalban, Skelton and Garrett.

Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Edward Buzzell
Screen Play by: Dorothy Kingsley
Additional Dialogue by: Ray Singer and Dick Chevillat
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Orchestrations: Leo Arnaud
Musical Numbers Created and Directed by: Jack Donohue
Songs by: Frank Loesser
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Edward Carfagno
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Arthur Krams
Women's Costumes by: Irene
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Charles Rosher
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Irvine Warburton
Released June 1949

Awards: Won Best Song Academy Award ("Baby, It's Cold Outside")

Cast: Esther Williams [Eve Barrett], Red Skelton [Jack Spratt], Ricardo Montalban [Jose O'Rourke], Betty Garrett [Betty Barrett], Keenan Wynn [Joe Backett], Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra [Themselves], Ted de Corsia [Lukie Luzette], Mike Mazurki [MacMozolla], Mel Blanc [Julio], Juan Duval [Groom], George Mann [Tall Wrangler], Frank Mitchell [Little Wrangler], William Lewin [Official], Harold Kruger [Coach], Matt Moore [Official], Joi Lansing [Linda], Carl Saxe [Announcer], Danilo Valente [South American Player], Theresa Harris [Matilda], Elaine Sterling [Miss Pratt], Henry Sylvester [Headwaiter], Lillian Molieri [Cigarette Girl], Pierre Watkin [Mr. Canford], Clarence Hennecke [Gardner], Dewey Robinson, Michael Jordan [Henchmen], Richard Simmons [Mr. Magoo], Dell Henderson [Man], Kay Mansfield [Woman], Heinie Conklin [Groom], Roque Ybarra [Groom], Bette Arlen, Lonnie Pierce, Dorothy Abbott, Sue Casey, Diane Gump, Jackie Hammette [Models]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:17] unidentified instrumental (played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, danced by unidentified couple); [0:19] I Love Those Men (sung by Betty Garrett with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and a little help from Red Skelton); [0:36] My Heart Beats Faster (sung by Ricardo Montalban, danced by Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams); [0:43] Baby It's Cold Outside (sung by Ricardo Montalban with Esther Williams and Red Skelton with Betty Garrett); [0:47] Jungle Rhumba (played and sung by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, danced by Chorus Girls at Casa Cugat); [1:28] unidentified instrumental (played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, swimming by Esther Williams and Chorus Girls)

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