This Time for Keeps (1947)

Expected to follow his opera star father into the business, but discontent with his life; a young man pursues a career in popular music and romances the aquatic-ballet dancer he met during his time in the service.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Gladys Lehman (screenplay), Erwin S. Gelsey (story),

Stars:

Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Lauritz Melchior

Cast

Credited cast:
Esther Williams	...	Leonora 'Nora' Cambaretti
Jimmy Durante	...	Ferdi Farro
Lauritz Melchior	...	Richard Herald
Johnny Johnston	...	Dick Johnson (as Johnnie Johnston)
Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra	...	Cugat Orchestra
Dame May Whitty	...	Grandmother Cambaretti
Sharon McManus	...	Deborah Cambaretti
Dick Simmons	...	Gordon
Mary Stuart	...	Frances Allenbury
Ludwig Stössel	...	Peter
Dorothy Porter	...	Merle
Tommy Wonder	...	Tommy Wonder
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Xavier Cugat	...	Orchestra Leader

Storyline

A singing soldier (Johnny Johnston) newly returned home finds himself discontent to work in his father's opera company or pick up where he left off with his girlfriend. Having met an aquacade showgirl (Esther Williams) while in the service, he reintroduces himself. Romance blossoms.

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Taglines:

Lilting Rhythms...Lovely Mermaids...Wacky Comedy!

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bezaubernde Lippen

Filming Locations:

Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anne Francis' film debut.

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Connections

Featured in That's Entertainment! III (1994)

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Soundtracks

"M'Appari"
(uncredited)
from "Martha"
Music by Friedrich von Flotow
Libretto by Friedrich Wilhelm Riese
Sung by Lauritz Melchior

User Reviews

A major and minor vehicle at the same time.

This film is an enigma because, while it is a properly light-hearted musical (but weren't they all), it also boasts a great many oddities- starting with the strange title (exactly what in the film is "for keeps?"). Esther Williams plays a properly likable, properly beautiful, water ballerina whose relationship with Jimmy Durante (a legend whom I've always enjoyed) should have been that of a father and daughter, but instead is something a tad stranger. Thankfully, this isn't ignored in the film, as her actual love interest (Johnnie Johnston), whom Durante relentlessly 'protects' from Williams, challenges his interference in the film's 11th hour. (While Durante seems to have a bothered conscience about this, it is never confirmed or denied.) Co-starring with Williams and Durante is the very genteel and old-school tenor Lauritz Melchior as Johnston's meddlesome (and somewhat annoying) father. The musical numbers are delightful, if a tad uneven in quality. I wasn't particularly fond of Durante's "Lost Chord" routine, but it appears to be legendary with most listeners. I prefer Johnston's "Easy To Love," the various Xavier Cugat pieces, and most of all, the provocative striptease and swim of "Ten Percent Off."