Bathing Beauty
| Bathing Beauty | |
|---|---|
1944 US Theatrical Poster
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| Directed by | George Sidney |
| Produced by | Jack Cummings |
| Written by |
Story: Kenneth Earl M.M. Musselman Curtis Kenyon Adaptation: Joseph Schrank |
| Screenplay by |
Dorothy Kingsley Allen Boretz Frank Waldman |
| Starring |
Red Skelton Esther Williams Basil Rathbone Bill Goodwin |
| Music by |
Herbert Stothart Alberto Colombo |
| Cinematography | Harry Stradling Sr. |
| Edited by | Blanche Sewell |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
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Release date
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Running time
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101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,361,000 |
| Box office | $6,892,000 |
Bathing Beauty is a 1944 musical film starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney.
Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be titled "Mr. Co-Ed" with Red Skelton having top billing. However, once MGM executives watched the first cut of the film, they realized that Esther Williams' role should be showcased more, and changed the title to "Bathing Beauty," giving her prominent billing and featuring her bathing-suit clad figure on the posters.
The film is also Janis Paige's film debut. After this film Paige would go to Warner Brothers to make such films as Of Human Bondage, Hollywood Canteen, and Romance on the High Seas. In later years, Paige would return to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in few films.
In Los Angeles, popular songwriter Steve Elliott (Red Skelton) prepares to marry Caroline Brooks (Esther Williams), who has pledged to give up her job as a college swimming instructor once she has wed. Likewise, Steve plans to quit his songwriting career, even though New York producer George Adams (Basil Rathbone) has already hired him to write new songs for a water ballet show.
When George overhears Steve discussing his "retirement" with Caroline, he vows to prevent the marriage and enlists Maria Dorango (Jacqueline Dalya), an aspiring actress posing as a Latin-American singer, to help him. Moments after a justice of the peace pronounces the redheaded Steve and Caroline man and wife, Maria rushes in, claiming that Steve is her husband and the father of her three redheaded children, which she has paraded in at that moment. Although Steve pleads his innocence, Caroline storms off in a rage and returns to her teaching post at Victoria College in New Jersey. A determined Steve and his friend, Carlos Ramirez, follow her there, but are denied entrance to the all-female school.
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Wikipedia