Most of the plot of million dollar mermaid is fictitious, her romance with hippodrome impresario david brian, her accident on the set of neptunes daughter. Water ballet show at the hippodrome from the movie about anette kellerman million dollar mermaid, starring esther williams. Million dollar mermaid also known as the one piece bathing suit uk is a 1952 metrogoldwynmayer biographical musical film of the life of. As predicted in trade publications, million dollar mermaid was a hit and was one of. In a particularly captivating scene, one of the most. As williams tells it in her fresh and convincing autobiography, the million dollar mermaid, after she became a swimming champion at not quite 17 and a hit in billy roses aquacade in the 1940 san francisco worlds fair, the studio practically hijacked her from her steady and congenial salesgirl job at i. Rent million dollar mermaid 1952 starring esther williams and victor mature on dvd and bluray. Million dollar mermaid is also correct in illustrating how kellerman became an international sensation with her shows at the hippodrome in her onepiece bathing suit after her 1907 arrest in boston. In million dollar mermaid, williams plays annette kellerman, a reallife australian swimming star who took up the sport as a child to strengthen her legs, which were severely weakened by a birth. The treatment proves effective, and as she grows to adulthood. I had read esther williams book by the same title and found that i wanted to have the movie as well.
The film stars esther williams, victor mature, and walter pidg. Released 1952, million dollar mermaid stars esther williams, victor mature, walter pidgeon, david brian the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 55 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. She broke her neck filming a 115 ft dive off a tower during a climactic musical number for the film million dollar mermaid and was in a body cast for seven months. Williams died early today in her sleep, according to her longtime publicist harlan boll. Million dollar mermaid 1952 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I read on wikipedia that the star of this film was a big fan of lsd.
Million dollar mermaid official trailer 1952 youtube. The music score was by adolph deutsch, the cinematography by george folsey and the choreography by busby berkeley. With esther williams, victor mature, walter pidgeon, david brian. It was directed by mervyn leroy and produced by arthur hornblow jr. Million dollar mermaid dvd esther williams, victor mature fortune culture collectors edition by golden classic collectibles.
May 26, 2017 million dollar mermaid was the 1952 blockbuster that cemented swimmer and aquamusical star esther williams as a hollywood luminary. Rent million dollar mermaid 1952 on dvd and bluray dvd. Million dollar mermaid 1952 million dollar mermaid 1952. Million dollar mermaid marked the the last onscreen credit for berkely until the 1962 mgm production of jumbo see above, on which he was credited as the second unit director. Well, she called her 1999 autobiography the million dollar mermaid. Million dollar mermaid also known as the one piece bathing suit uk is a 1952 metrogoldwynmayer biographical musical film of the life of australian swimming star annette kellerman.
Esther williams was often called americas mermaid, as it appeared that she could stay underwater forever. Million dollar mermaid tells the story of australian swimming sensation annette kellerman, who overcame childhood polio to go on and achieve fame as a professional swimmer and film star in the early decades of the 20th century. Who else but esther williams could star in a romantic drama with musical numbers bearing a title like this. Million dollar mermaid 1952 stream and watch online. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing million dollar mermaid near you. Now theres an esther williams movie id like to see. Million dollar mermaid looks beautiful, with lavish cinematography especially in the aquatic sequences, big, bold, rich colours and opulent costumes and sets, even if the. Liberties were taken with the true story by writer freeman, who usually wrote in collaboration but took. A onetime little mermaid remembers swimming with esther. Million dollar mermaid was the 1952 blockbuster that cemented swimmer and aquamusical star esther williams as a hollywood luminary. In million dollar mermaid, williams plays annette kellerman, a reallife australian swimming star who took up the sport as a child to strengthen her legs, which were severely weakened by a birth defect. The amazing life of australias milliondollar mermaid the extraordinary australian woman broke records in the swimming pool before becoming a vaudeville performer, fitness guru and.
Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Million dollar mermaid is arguably one of esther williamss most important films, not only because it was a huge moneymaker, but because it also demonstrated the power esther came to have at mgm. The movie, full of romance, music, and dazzling underwater spectacles, remains one of the definitive films of williams career. All million dollar mermaid movie posters,high res movie posters image for million dollar mermaid. Rent million dollar mermaid 1952 starring esther williams and victor mature. She also made movies in the 1910s and 1920s, many of which are lost or gone forever. Digby diehl is the coauthor of the million dollar mermaid, the astoldto autobiography of esther williams.
In million dollar mermaid, williams plays annette kellerman. Million dollar mermaid is everything youd expect from a mgm musical film. Leaving it to america and to mgm, million dollar mermaid is a fine esther williams film, but no more than that. As predicted in trade publications, million dollar mermaid was a hit and was one of the top money makers of the year for mgm. This is an excerpt from a mute trailer for metrogoldwynmayers million dollar mermaid mervyn leroy, usa, 1952. Million dollar mermaid premiered in december 1952, and in january esther williams was voted the number one female movie star in fifty countries by the hollywood foreign press association the golden globe people.
Glamorous, amphibious esther williams portrays the reallife aquatic star in a splashy biopic costarring victor mature and loaded with stunning spectacle including a mustsee busby berkeley masterwork. Million dollar mermaid marked the the last onscreen credit for berkely until the 1962 mgm production of jumbo, on which he was credited as the second unit director. The treatment proves effective, and as she grows to adulthood, annette shows that she has the talent to be a champion swimmer, though she. Read the million dollar mermaid movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on. Watch million dollar mermaid online stream full movie. Million dollar mermaid 1952 the blonde at the film. Williams was the million dollar mermaid, a nickname that stuck with her and that she chose as the title of her autobiography. While this movie does contain some great swimming sequences, i wouldnt say that they are the best of all of the movies esther williams starred in.
Million dollar mermaid is a 1952 metrogoldwynmayer biographical musical film of the life of australian swimming star annette kellerman. Overview of million dollar mermaid, 1952, directed by mervyn leroy, with esther williams, victor mature, walter pidgeon, at turner classic movies. Growing a little frustrated with her unique brand of aqua musicals, she decided she wanted to bring to the silver screen the life of annette kellerman. Million dollar mermaid 1952 esther williams secured her status as americas swimming sweetheart with million dollar mermaid 1952, a story loosely based on the reallife australian swimmer annette kellerman. Million dollar mermaid trailer turner classic movies. Million dollar mermaid vhs, 1992 for sale online ebay. Annette did become an early silent film star as big in the silent days as her male successors johnny weissmuller and buster crabbe became in sound. George folsey received a 1953 oscar nomination for best cinematography, color. Million dollar mermaid also known as the one piece bathing suit in the uk is a 1952 metrogoldwynmayer biographical musical film of the life of australian swimming star annette kellerman. Read the million dollar mermaid movie synopsis, view the movie trailer, get cast and crew information, see movie photos, and more on movies. Rent million dollar mermaid 1952 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
Bathing beauty was a simple movie compared to her later big splashes such as million dollar mermaid 1952, costarring victor mature and walter pidgeon. Biopic of australian swimming champ and entertainer annette kellerman. We start off in sidney, australia, where a young annette is hampered by cumbersome leg braces. A onetime little mermaid remembers swimming with esther williams. Million dollar mermaid, starring the incomparable esther williams, is the story of the incomparable annette kellerman, an australian swimming champion and water ballet artist who went on to perform in new yorks hippodrome. Esther jane williams was born on august 8, 1921 in inglewood, california. As a child in australia, kellerman learns to swim to overcome a potentially crippling physical handicap and develops into a champion.
The amazing life of australias milliondollar mermaid. Anybody looking for a contender for the best aquatic sequences in an esther williams film, or even on film fullstop, million dollar mermaid is a definite contender. Watch million dollar mermaid starring esther williams in this drama on directv. Million dollar mermaid 1952 star of the silver screen and in the swimming pool, actress esther williams has passed away at the age of 91. Many of her mgm films, such as million dollar mermaid and jupiters darling, contained elaborately staged synchronized swimming scenes, with considerable risk to williams.
Million dollar mermaid 1952 million dollar mermaid. Her youth was spent as a teenage swimming champion and she won three united states national championships. May, 2011 million dollar mermaid also known as the one piece bathing suit uk is a 1952 metrogoldwynmayer biographical musical film of the life of australian swimming star annette kellerman. From the 1940s to the 1950s, swimming, singing, dancing star esther williams was mgms top grosser, and million dollar mermaid, directed by mervyn leroy gold diggers of 1933, sweet adeline, is widely considered williamss best work. Esther williams youth was spent as a teenage swimming champion. I get very little information about the trials and. Frank ferguson, esther williams, victor mature, walter pidgeon, david brian, donna corcoran, jesse white, maria tallchief, howard freeman, charles watts, mervyn leroy, million dollar mermaid the one piece bathing suit.
Rent million dollar mermaid 1952 on dvd and bluray. During hollywoods heyday, big studios battled over the. Million dollar mermaid 1952 directed by mervyn leroy. The movie, full of romance, music, and dazzling underwater spectacles, remains one of the definitive films of. A musical romantic drama, this biopic tells the story of influential australian swimmer annette kellerman esther williams, who broke gender barriers while becoming a pioneer of synchronized swimming. Instead the movie plays as an excuse to get esther into the water, which is fine. Million dollar mermaid, williams plays a reallife heroine of the water, annette kellerman.
Esther williams secured her status as americas swimming sweetheart with million dollar mermaid 1952, a story loosely based on the reallife australian swimmer annette kellerman. Million dollar mermaid movie quotes rotten tomatoes. Esther williams stars in this dramatic true musical romance of turnofthe century swimming champion annette kellerman, better known as the million dollar mermaid. Annette and alfred agree to marry while working on a movie together, but.
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