Easy to Love (1953)

An Aquatic performer tries to attract the man she loves.

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

László Vadnay (screenplay), William Roberts (screenplay),

Stars:

Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tony Martin

Cast

Cast overview:
Esther Williams	...	Julie Hallerton
Van Johnson	...	Ray Lloyd
Tony Martin	...	Barry Gordon
John Bromfield	...	Hank
Edna Skinner	...	Nancy Parmel
King Donovan	...	Ben
Paul Bryar	...	Mr. Barnes
Carroll Baker	...	Clarice
Ed Oliver	...	Bandleader

Storyline

Set against the background of Florida's Cypress Gardens, and featuring many stretches of water carnival-ballet numbers, the slight story line finds swimming star Julie Hallerton (Esther Williams) in love with Ray Lloyd (Van Johnson), her boss and the creator and operator of the operation. She stays mostly wet, while he stays mostly disinterested in anything other than the cash receipts.

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Taglines:

MGM's spectacular Technicolor musical excitingly filmed in Florida's beautiful Cypress Gardens!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Du bist so leicht zu lieben

Filming Locations:

Cypress Gardens - 2600 S. Lake Summit Drive, Winter Haven, Florida, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Esther Williams chooses Van Johnson over Tony Martin; toward the end of the movie, Martin bumps into Cyd Charisse (in a cameo), his real-life wife at the time.

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Goofs

At the very end of Esther Williams's water-skiing extravaganza, the camera shoots a long pullback shot of her on a platform with flags hoisting into view on either side; the shot then makes a stationary jump (albeit on cue with the music) to the same shot with jet fountains coming in from both sides like a curtain closing. You can see it's two different shots because Williams's right hand is up in the first one, then suddenly down in the second.

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Connections

Featured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Didja Ever"
Music by Vic Mizzy
Lyrics by Mann Curtis
Sung by Tony Martin

User Reviews

Last and best MGM teaming of Esther Williams and Van Johnson

Although critics constantly gripe that Esher Williams could not act this movie lore is absolutely nonsense. Most of her films were slight escapist fare that called for her to display her sparkling light comedic touch which she showed over and over in hit after hit throughout the forties and fifties. WHen allowed to play more dramatic roles like "Million Dollar Mermaid"(MGM,1952) and most superbly in the underrated "The Unguarded Moment"(Universal,1956) she was very fine indeed but the rumor persists. But I will say it is in delightful musical confections like "Easy TO Love"(MGM, 1953) that she remained a top box-office star. Her chemistry with Van Johnson was always there. This was their fifth film together: their first was in Victor Fleming's dramatic fantasy "A Guy Named Joe"(MGM,1943) in support of superstars Spencer Tracey and Irene Dunne but this film made both stars; the empty but hugely successful "Thrill of a Romance"(MGM, 1945); certainly holding their own opposite the marvelous Lucille Ball in the charming and extremely popular "Easy to Wed"(MGM, 1946); and finally the solid hit "Duchess of Idaho"(MGM,1950) which allows Esther and Van to sparkle. But it is their last film "Easy to Love" that captures Esther and Van at their most captivating. The story is the usual fluff about fighting ex-lovers and is topped off with spectacular Busby Berkeley production numbers but all this is wrapped up in a witty script and the superb comic performances of Miss Williams and Mr. Johnson who were never better. Sad to say both their careers declined after this success.