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Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 576 users  
Reviews: 10 user | 15 critic

Biopic of Australian swimming champ and entertainer Annette Kellerman. After overcoming polio, Kellerman achieves fame and creates a scandal when her one-piece bathing suit is considered indecent.

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(screenplay)
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Title: Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) on IMDb 6.2/10

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win. See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
Annette Kellerman
...
James Sullivan
...
Frederick Kellerman
David Brian ...
Alfred Harper
Donna Corcoran ...
Annette - 10 years old
Jesse White ...
Doc Cronnol
...
Pavlova
...
Aldrich
Charles Watts ...
Policeman
Wilton Graff ...
Garvey
Frank Ferguson ...
Prosecutor
James Bell ...
Judge
James Flavin ...
Conductor
...
Director
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Storyline

Million Dollar Mermaid tells the story of Australian swimming sensation Annette Kellerman, who overcame childhood polio to go on and achieve fame as a professional swimmer and film star in the early decades of the 20th century. At the same time, she scandalized the world by wearing a one-piece bathing suit on public beaches long before the style was accepted in polite company, and made waves in other ways as well. The story was a perfect vehicle decades later to showcase the star quality of Esther Williams in the 1950s, and Kellerman's moniker was picked up by Life Magazine when it named Ms. Williams the "Million Dollar Mermaid" herself. Written by Tedosan

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

swimming | star | scandal | swimmer | childhood | See more »

Taglines:

Inspired by the true story of bathing beauties! (Million Dollar Mermaid) See more »


Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

15 April 1953 (Japan)  »

Also Known As:

A Rainha do Mar  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Esther Williams broke her neck diving off a 50-foot tower during the sequence in which she wears a golden swimming costume. She spent six months in a body cast before recovering to complete the film. See more »

Connections

Spoofed in Vaktmästaren och professorn (2002) See more »

Soundtracks

"An der schönen, blauen Donau, Op. 314 (On the Beautiful Blue Danube)"
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauß
Played when Jimmy says he'd be a sucker to make big plans
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User Reviews

 
Glitzy style in place of a dramatic concept...
12 May 2011 | by (las vegas, nv) – See all my reviews

The idea of putting swimming starlet Esther Williams in a biography of champion Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman must have seemed like a can't-miss concept for a splashy matinée item which would pay-off no matter what the outcome. Unfortunately, the concept itself is underused, as Williams performs in a handful of extravagant water routines but does very little dramatic acting. Producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. and the requisite M-G-M brass do not appear to have any inspiration that goes beyond the standard glitz and glamor (the script being somewhat expendable). That's too bad, for Kellerman's life story had aspects of both high drama and nostalgic value (being the first woman to wear a one-piece swimsuit on America's shores!). Mervyn LeRoy's direction is quite capable, and Williams is amiable, however Busby Berkeley's lavish, gaudy production numbers are what most people end up remembering. **1/2 from ****


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A factual version of Annette Kellerman's story arthurblock
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