As summer weather continues and the temperatures rise to the level commonly referred to as a scorcher, there are many ways you can beat or enjoy the heat. One way is of course to cool off in the water, be it a lake, the ocean, a swimming pool, or perhaps your neighbors bird bath, if they happen to be away. Where these options are not available, you may choose to stay inside as much as possible, with the shades drawn and the air conditioner blasting. There is of course, the option of sitting in front an open refrigerator, or the methods I often employed as a child, going out beneath the shade of a tree, or running through the sprinkler. While all of these options have their own merits, there is another I would like to propose, which, while not actually cooling your body, has proven to be a very effective way to enjoy the summer weather while it lasts.
I am referring to the colorful, cool, and relaxing experience of watching an Ester Williams water spectacular motion picture. For those of you unfamiliar with this iconic Hollywood motion picture star, there is no better time than a hot, hot summer day or sultry evening to pour yourself, and perhaps a loved one, if you are fortunate enough to have a loved one handy, a refreshing beverage, collapse into a comfortable chair, and enjoy the splashing, synchronized swimming, and technicolor glory of an Esther William film; and there is no better place to start this rewarding pursuit than with her first starring film, Bathing Beauty. This 1944 MGM release features Esther looking lovely and athletic in a bathing suit, with some great water numbers that will transport you to cool poolside. Bathing Beauty also stars Red Skelton, who is both hilarious and full of pathos as Esther’s falsely discredited love interest. Basil Rathbone, familiar to many from his role as the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne in 1938’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, and from a whole series of pictures playing the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, gets a break from his heavy and serious roles to play a likeable cad who starts all the trouble for Red .
With romance, comedy, music, brilliant costumes and sets and of course Esther Williams swimming and diving, in cool, refreshing water Bathing Beauty is a great way to the make the best of summer heat.
Speaking of music, Bathing Beauty delivers with a top-notch roster of musical entertainment. Not one, but two big name bands, Harry James and his Music Makers along with arguably the top vocalist of the era, Helen Forrest, and Xavier Cugat and his orchestra, with Lina Romay! Plus, not one, but two top individual musical names: organist Ethel Smith, and singer Carlos Ramirez. Besides her usual wizardry at the organ, we also have the treat of hearing Ethel Smith utter the immortal line, thought by some to be attributed to an unpublished work of William Shakespeare, “Cheese it, here comes Piccolo Pete.” Just one of many minor touches that add to the enormous entertainment value of this film. One of the musical highlights of Bathing Beauty is the rendition of Loch Lomond, adapted to a contemporary swing score, performed by Red Skelton and an ever growing ensemble, and ultimately played by Harry James and His Music Makers.
If you can’t get to the water, get to a TV monitor and cool off with Esther Williams and the entire all star cast of MGM’s 1944 technicolor treat Bathing Beauty.
