On an Island with You

On an Island with You


MGM, 1948, Color, 117 minutes, ***

Released May, 1948



Top-notch MGM musical fantasia with Esther Williams as a Hollywood star on location in Hawaii who is desired by swabby Peter Lawford. Ricardo Montalban, Jimmy Durante, Cyd Charisse and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra also star; songs include "If I Were You", "Dog Song" and "Wedding Samba."



Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Richard Thorpe

Screen Play by: Dorothy Kingsley, Dorothy Cooper, Charles Martin and Hans Wilhelm

From an Original Story by: Charles Martin and Hans Wilhelm

Musical Direction by: Georgie Stoll

Songs by: Nacio Herb Brown and Edward Heyman

Dances and Water Ballets Created by: Jack Donohue

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Edward Carfagno

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis

Associate: Richard A. Pefferle

Costumes by: Irene

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn

Recording Director: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: Charles Rosher

Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie

Color by Technicolor

Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus

Associate: Henri Jaffa

Film Editors: Douglass Biggs and Ferris Webster



Cast: Esther Williams [Rosalind Reynolds], Peter Lawford [Lt. Lawrence Y. Kingslee], Ricardo Montalban [Ricardo Montez], Jimmy Durante [Buckley], Cyd Charisse [Yvonne Torro], Leon Ames [Commander Harrison], Kathryn Beaumont [Penelope Peabody], Richard Simmons [George Blaine], Marie Windsor [Jane], Arthur Walsh [2nd Assistant Director], Nina Ross [Mrs. Peabody], Betty Reilly [Vocalist], Kay Norton [Martha, the Hairdresser], Nolan Leary [Cameraman], Chester Clute [Tommy the Waiter], Carl Leviness [Desk Clerk], Cosmo Sardo [Barber], Dick Winslow [Bald Radio Operator], Jim Dale [Navigator], Sam Tubuo [Native Chief], Lester Dorr [Photographer], Franklin Parker [Lieutenant, Technical Advisor], Emelia Leovalli [Grandmother], Uluao Letuli [Sword Dancer], Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra [Themselves]



Musical Program: [0:00] On an Island with You (sung by Chorus behind titles); [0:02] On an Island with You (sung Bill Lee dubbing for Ricardo Montalban, water ballet by Esther Williams and Chorus Girls); [0:12] Dog Song (sung by Xavier Cugat, sung in English and Spanish by Betty Reilly with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra); [0:15] On an Island with You (instrumental arrangement played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, danced by Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams); [0:17] unidentified instrumental (played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra with Chorus, danced by Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse); [0:24] I Know Darn Well I Can Do Without Broadway (But Can Broadway Do Without Me) (performed by Jimmy Durante); [0:25] Takin' Miss Mary to the Ball (sung by Jimmy Durante with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, joined by Xavier Cugat, Betty Reilly, Nightclub Patrons and Chorus); [0:28] The Beauty Hula (played by unidentified Hawaiian Band, danced by Hula Dancers); [0:32] Anapau (?) (played by Orchestra, swam by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban); [0:34] The Pagan Mask (played by Orchestra, danced by Cyd Charisse and Chorus); [0:44] unidentified instrumental (played on radio, danced by Esther Williams and Peter Lawford); [0:54] unidentified instrumental (played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra); [0:58] I'll Do the Strut-away In My Cutaway (sung by Jimmy Durante with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra); [1:05] unidentified instrumental (played by Orchestra and Chorus, swum by Ricardo Montalban, Peter Lawford and Esther Williams); [1:12] unidentified "native" dance (performed by island natives); [1:24] unidentified instrumental (danced by Cyd Charisse and Ricardo Montalban); [1:32] You Gotta Start Off Each Day with a Song (sung by Jimmy Durante); [1:33] All Aboard (?) (played by Orchestra and Chorus, swum by Esther Williams); [1:41] El Cumbanchero (sung by Betty Riley with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra); [1:43] Anchors Aweigh (excerpt played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra); [1:44] unidentified number (played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra, danced by Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse)