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

In the long shots of the scene where Deborah drives the sleigh, it's actually being driven by a local boy of the same age.

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Connections

Featured in That's Entertainment! III (1994)

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Soundtracks

"S'No Wonder They Fell in Love"
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain
Lyrics by Ralph Freed

User Reviews

A waste of time and talent

This movie is a waste of talent and time - yours if you watch it. The script often makes no sense - nor does the title, as one reviewer pointed out - and it sinks the whole enterprise. Esther Williams' swim numbers aren't at all interesting, nothing like those in movies like Jupiter's Daughter. Melchior gets to sing a lot, but he doesn't sing very well - it's often just loud, as in M'appari. He is much better in Thrill of Romance. The best performance in the movie is, to my mind, Durante's - though it's not one of his better movie appearances. The best number is his The Lost Chord, and that's not a great number.

All of these performers have given much better performances elsewhere. Go watch those, and leave this unfortunate mistake to rest in peace.