MovieChat Forums > Million Dollar Mermaid (1953) Discussion > Esther's best

Esther's best

posted 13 years ago by dmnemaine
1 reply | jump to latest

This film is arguably the best of the series of films that Esther Williams did for MGM. Although highly fictionalized, unlike most of her other films, this one has a pretty substantial plot based on the life of Australian swimmer and vaudevillian Annette Kellerman. I think Esther more than proved herself as an actress in this film, and it's too bad that MGM didn't provide her with more real storylines like this one. But then again, what the public wanted in an Esther Williams film was splashy technicolor and Esther in a bathing suit, and not much more.

[–] vinidici 9 years ago

Pretty much spot-on OP. Though I would argue that Miss Williams was not a bodytype match for the more voluptuous Annette Kellerman, no one else could have played the part.