On an Island with You (1948)

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Charles Martin (story) and
Hans Wilhelm (story) ...

Release Date:

3 May 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

A young navy lieutenant is brought in as techninical adviser on a song-dance-and-swim film being made by screen star Rosalind Reynolds...

Plot Keywords:

Lieutenant | Malapropism | Young Girl | Actress | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Esther Williams	...	Rosalind Reynolds
Peter Lawford	...	Lt. Lawrence Y. Kingslee
Ricardo Montalban	...	Ricardo Montez
Jimmy Durante	...	Jimmy Buckley
Cyd Charisse	...	Yvonne Torro
Xavier Cugat	...	And his Orchestra
Leon Ames	...	Cmdr. Harrison
Kathryn Beaumont	...	Penelope Peabody aka Pineapple
Dick Simmons	...	George Blaine

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #12672) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Anna Maria Island, Manatee County, Florida, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Cyd Charisse completed the bulk of this film (most impressively in two romantic dance duets with Ricardo Montalban), then broke her leg during the filming of the big ceremonial dance, where the corps de ballet is in island native makeup. A double completed her scenes (shot at full length), but the injury kept her out of her next scheduled film, Easter Parade (1948). That role, which would've advanced her to fourth billing, went to Ann Miller, making her MGM debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ricardo exits the plane into the water and runs to meet Roselynd, his pants go from being submerged in water to dry on land.

Quotes:

Lt. Lawrence Y. Kingslee: Put your arms around my neck.
Rosalind Reynolds: If I put my arms around your neck I'd choke you!

Soundtrack:

The Pagan Mask

Paradise Island

"On an Island with You" offers, as Neil Doyle has already remarked on this forum, escapist entertainment to warm any fan of this genre with the magnificent colors and the music in the film. MGM was the studio that excelled in this type of movies and this Esther Williams vehicle offers a lot of fun. Although predictable, it offers the viewer a nice time at the movies.

Directed by Richard Thorpe, the movie takes us to a movie location where a film is being shot. The gorgeous Rosalind Reynolds is the star that combines acting with water ballet and incidental singing and dancing. Rosalind is attracted to a Navy Lieutenant that is serving as technical adviser to the movie. Larry Kingsley, in turn, seems to have fallen head over heels with the beautiful Rosalind.

Esther Williams looks ravishingly beautiful in her water scenes as well as in her scenes with Peter Lawford, who plays Larry. Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse play roles in the film and they become involved with one another with the blessing of her mother in a funny scene at the end of the picture.

The great Jimmy Durante almost steals the film from its stars. As Jimmy Doyle, the assistant to the director, he plays a key part in the movie and makes it his own. Xavier Cugat and his orchestra are also seen in the picture.

"On an Island with You" will not disappoint.