Skirts Ahoy

Skirts Ahoy


MGM, 1952, Color 109 minutes, ***½

Released May, 1952



 Loads of fun with the most loveable threesome of lovely ladies, Esther, Vivian and Joan. They are WAVE enlistees trying to get through boot camp. Each of them has a completely different personality and background, but they become best of friends. And each of them finds a way to cope with the challenges of Navy life and with the men in their lives. Great fun, and great performances by all three. Musical standouts are "What Good Is a Gal Without a Guy" and "The Navy Waltz" (a really great number). Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van make a special appearance, along with a rare appearance by the DeMarco Sisters.



Yes, the critics are right - the plot is predictable, routine and paper-thin. But that's not all there is to this film. Esther, Joan and Vivian are splendid actresses, and it's not every day you can see the three of them together. Vivian's character is bright and boisterous - she's really fun. Joan is the shy girl-next-door type, and she carries it off splendidly. She's sweet and very lovable! And Esther is, well... Esther. She's a great actress and comedienne (not to mention her swimming). Her swimming numbers in this film are nothing to write home about, but they're fun.



The film is interesting, too, in that the Navy actually participated with a Precision ("Monkey Drill") Drill Team, The Navy Chorus and Marching Bands, and shots of graduation reviews at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois.

Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Sidney Lanfield

Written by: Isobel Lennart

Technical Adviser: Lt. Comdr. Eleanor Sowers

Music by: Harry Warren

Lyrics by: Ralph Blane

Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll

Orchestrations by: Pete Rugolo

Vocal Arrangements by: Jeff Alexander

Musical Numbers Created and Staged by: Nick Castle

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Daniel B. Cathcart

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Alfred E. Spencer

Esther Williams' and Vivian Blaine's Costumes Designed by: Helen Rose

Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up by: William Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Special Effects: Warren Newcombe

Montage Sequence by: Peter Ballbusch

Director of Photography: William Mellor

Technicolor Color Consultants: Henri Jaffa, James Gooch

Film Editor: Cotton Warburton



Cast: Esther Williams [Whitney Young], Joan Evans [Mary Kate Yarbrough], Vivian Blaine [Una Yancy], Barry Sullivan [Lt. Comdr. Paul Elcott], Keefe Brasselle [Dick Hallson], Billy Eckstine [Himself], Dean Miller [Archie O'Conovan], Margalo Gillmore [Lt. Comdr. Stauton], The De Marco Sisters [The Williams Sisters: Ann, Alma, Abby, Aileen, Alice], Jeff Donnell [Lt. Giff], Thurston Hall [Thatcher Kinston], Russell "Bubba" Tongay [Little Boy Swimmer], Kathy Tongay [Little Girl Swimmer], Roy Roberts [Capt. Graymont], Emmett Lynn ["Pop", the Plumber], Hayden Rorke [Doctor], Additional Cast: Keenan Wynn [Himself], Debbie Reynolds [Herself], Bobby Van [Himself], Paul Harvey [Old Naval Officer], Ruth Lee [Mrs. Yarbrough], Whit Bissell [Mr. Yarbrough], Rudy Lee [Randy], Madge Blake [Mrs. Vance], Mae Clarke [Miss LaValle], Kathleen Freeman [Seamstress], Byron Foulger [Tearoom Manager], Juanita Moore, Millie Bruce, Suzette Harbin [Black Drill Team Members], Henny Backus [Nurse], Robert Board [Young Sailor], Mary Foran [Fat Girl], William Haade [Bosun's Mate], Marimba Merrymakers [Themselves], Joan Elmes [singing voice of Joan Evans?]



Musical Program: [0:00] Skirts Ahoy (sung by Chorus under titles); [0:08] Anchors Aweigh [played by Navy Marching Band]; [0:16] Glad to Have You Aboard (sung by Vivian Blaine and the Girls); [0:20] What Makes a WAVE? (sung, mopped and drenched by Esther Williams and The DeMarco Sisters); [0:39] What Good Is a Gal (Without a Guy) (sung by Vivian Blaine, Esther Williams and Joan Elmes dubbing for Joan Evans); [0:48] Hold Me Close to You (sung by Billy Eckstine with the Marimba Merrymakers at the nightclub); [1:00] Ring Around the Rosy / London Bridge (Is Falling Down) (sung and swimmed by Esther Williams with little Russell "Bubba" Tongay and Kathy Tongay); [1:06] The Navy Waltz (played during WAVES monkey drill performed by a real WAVES special drill team); [1:09] Alone Together on an Island Under a Tropical Moon with You (Oh, By Jingo) (sung and danced by Debbie Reynolds and Bobby Van, introduced by Keenan Wynn); [1:12] I Get a Funny Feeling (played by dance orchestra and sung by Dean Miller with Chorus as WAVES dance at ball); [1:16] What Good Is a Gal (Without a Guy) (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra at WAVES ball); [1:18] The Navy Waltz (sung by real Navy Chorus Mixed Chorus and The DeMarco Sisters, also danced by Esther Williams and Emmett Lynn in a very touching moment); [1:28] What Good Is a Gal (Without a Guy) (sung and danced by The DeMarco Sisters); [1:35] The Navy Waltz (instrumental arrangement which include a Tango strain played as Esther Williams swims with a inflatable pool toy that looks like a Sailor); [1:39] Anchors Aweigh (played by Navy Band at Graduation Review, U. S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois); [1:47] Anchors Aweigh / Skirts Ahoy (played in background by Marching Band and sung by Women's Chorus at train station as everyone says goodbye to their loved ones)