Thrill of a Romance (1945)

A swim teacher and a wealthy businessman are married after a brief courtship. A charming war hero falls in love with this newly-married woman, after her husband abandons her on their honeymoon for the sake of a business meeting.

Director:

Richard Thorpe

Writers:

Richard Connell (original screenplay), Gladys Lehman (original screenplay)

Stars:

Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Frances Gifford

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Van Johnson	...	Maj. Thomas Milvaine
Esther Williams	...	Cynthia Glenn
Frances Gifford	...	Maude Bancroft
Henry Travers	...	Hobart Glenn
Spring Byington	...	Nona Glenn
Lauritz Melchior	...	Mr. Nils Knudsen
Carleton G. Young	...	Robert G. Delbar
Ethel Griffies	...	Mrs. Fenway
Donald Curtis	...	K.O. Karny
Jerry Scott	...	Lyonel
Fernando Alvarado	...	Julio
Helene Stanley	...	Susan
Vince Barnett	...	Oscar
Billy House	...	Dr. Tovve
Joan Fay Macaboy	...	Betty

Storyline

Cynthia is swept off her feet and marries a rich and very successful business executive, but business affairs make him abandon her during their honeymoon. Cynthia is sad and while he's away, meets the charming war hero, Maj. Milvaine, who is on leave. Sparks fly. Will she choose wealth over love?

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Plot Keywords:

businessman | yosemite national park | annulment | whirlwind romance | world war two | 

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Taglines:

Musical bliss with every kiss!

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Genres:

Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1945 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Juego de pasiones

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, 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

This film was first telecast in New York City Saturday 9 November 1957 on WCBS (Channel 2), followed by Philadelphia Friday 20 December 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by San Francisco 8 February 1958 on KGO (Channel 7) and by Los Angeles 9 February 1958 on KTTV (Channel 11). At this time, color broadcasting was in its infancy, limited to only a small number of high rated programs, primarily on NBC and NBC affiliated stations, so these film showings were all still in B&W. Viewers were not offered the opportunity to see these films in their original Technicolor until several years later.

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Goofs

When Cynthia and Thomas are lost in the woods she lies down to sleep and she has his jacket over one shoulder. He reaches down and pulls the jacket all the way over her. They cut to him and then back to her and the jacket is still only over one shoulder.

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Connections

Featured in The Chosen (1981)

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Soundtracks

Vive L'Amour
(uncredited)
Music by George Stoll
Lyrics by Ralph Blane and Kay Thompson
Performed by Lauritz Melchior

User Reviews

More romantic than thrilling

It is difficult to discern the main theme of this film because the script is in itself confusing. Most likely it has to do with the extraordinary number of hasty marriages which took place in America during World War Two. The problems surrounding such marriages seemed insurmountable. For example, need marriages of convenience be honored as Cynthia Glenn (Esther Williams) attempts to do when her husband goes to Washington for a week-long meeting during their Honeymoon? Tens of thousands of real life soldiers did in fact leave their new wives shortly after the ceremony, many times leaving unresolved domestic problems as well. Cynthia, a swimming instructor, falls in love with a Major Milvaine (Van Johnson) the non-swimmer, and the complication begins. The value of this film is that a Homefront problem is addressed within the frame of fairly good acting by both Johnson and Williams. Can Cynthia keep swimming with the Major without sinking her marriage?