Charles Waters directed Dangerous When Wet, a Technicolor musical film starring Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, and Jack Carson.
Grade: B- (**1/2* out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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The film was based on a story by Dorothy Kingsley, who was hired by MGM to develop it into a screenplay.
Dangerous When Wet features an animated swimming sequence starring Williams with the cat-and-mouse duo, Tom and Jerry.
Williams plays Katie Higgins, the wholesome daughter of a dairy family (Pa, Ma, Suzie, Katie, and Junior) that start the day with a song and morning swim.
When Katie meets travelling salesman Windy Weebe (Carson), who sells an elixir that purports to turn the user into a peppy, fit-as-a-fiddle specimen.
Upon noticing the family’s strength in the water, he suggests that they attempt to swim the English Channel. The family and Weebe head off to England whereupon they learn that the distance is 20 miles, but with the currents, it can be up to 42 miles.
Since Katie is the only member strong enough to attempt this feat, she begins training with Weebe as her coach.
The ending was rewritten after a real-life incident during the shoot, when Johnny Weissmuller (Esther’s old Aquacade partner) dove into the water to swim alongside Florence Chadwick, whom he was coaching.
Casting: Love Interest On and Off Screen
Esther Williams knew of Lamas before he was cast as love interest, but the two had never been formally introduced. They would marry in 1969, and remained so until Lamas’s death in 1982.
Williams knew that he starred in movies with Jane Powell, Greer Garson, Oana Turner, and that he was romantically linked to Turner. She also heard he could swim.
At first, Lamas declined the role, stating that he came to MGM to be a star, and only wanted to act in “important pictures.” Williams convinced him that his part would be expamnded.
The film earned $2,230,000 in the US, and $1,025,000 elsewhere, recording a profit of $386,000.
Cast
Esther Williams as Katie Higgins
Fernando Lamas as André Lanet
Jack Carson as Windy Weebe
Charlotte Greenwood as Ma Higgins
Denise Darcel as Gigi Mignon
William Demarest as Pa Higgins
Donna Corcoran as Junior Higgins
Barbara Whiting as Suzie Higgins
Bunny Waters as Greta
Henri Letondal as Joubert
Paul Bryar as Pierre
Jack Raine as Stuart Frye
Richard Alexander as Egyptian Channel swimmer
Tudor Owen as Old Salt
Ann Codee as Mrs. Lanet
Credits:
Directed by Charles Walters
Written by Dorothy Kingsley
Produced by George Wells
Cinematography Harold Rosson
Edited by John McSweeney Jr.
Music by Albert Sendrey; George Stoll
Production companies: MGM
M-G-M Cartoons (animated sequences)
Distributed by Loew’s Inc.
Release date July 3, 1953
Running time 95 minutes
Budget $1,465,000
Box office $3,255,000
