Dangerous When Wet (1953)

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Directed by Charles Walters, and written by Dorothy Kingsley, this Esther Williams film also stars her future husband Fernando Lamas, who swims with her during this musical romantic comedy. Though absent much of the spectacular synchronized swimming that's a staple in virtually all of her other films, this one does feature an extended animated sequence in which Ms. Williams swims with Tom & Jerry and other cartoon characters. Also appearing are Jack Carson, Charlotte Greenwood, and William Demarest.The Higgins family is a healthy one, the family that swims together stays together. Unfortunately, their family farm isn't doing so well. What they really need is a prize bull to breed better dairy cows than they currently have, and a few repairs here and there. Enter Windy Weebe (Carson), a vitamin serum ("Liquapep") traveling salesman that meets the farmer's daughter, Katie Higgins (Williams). When he happens upon the fit family and learns that Ma (Greenwood), Pa (Demarest), Junior (Donna Corcoran), and Suzie (Barbara Whiting) recently swam in a 14 mile river race, along with Katie who won it, he knows he's found a perfect promotion for his wares. He convinces "the Colonel" (someone we never see who Windy speaks to via the telephone) to sponsor the family in an attempt to cross the English Channel. The family is willing to go along with it because of their financial need, and because Windy tells them the distance is only 20 miles.Once in France, the Higgins family learns that crossing the channel is really a 30 to 40 mile swim because of the route one must take to traverse its currents. However, they begin their training in earnest anyway, which occasionally involves promoting Liquapep, the vitamin product none of them can stand to swallow. On one particularly foggy day, Katie meets rich playboy André Lanet (Lamas), while he's rowing to his yacht; Windy meets another swimmer Gigi Mignon (Denise Darcel). Of course, a romance begins between Katie and André (and Windy & Gigi) which threatens her training schedule and the possibility that she's be fit enough to accomplish the task.Additionally, Pa mortgages the family farm and bets it all on someone in their family winning the race. It also becomes clear that only Katie will be able to attempt the crossing among the family. I'm sure you can guess the result.

My review title is a quote from Jack Carson, as his character is getting nowhere trying to strike up a romance with Esther's character, on her family porch at night. Don't understand the reason for the title of this capsule of euphoric escapism. It's the story of 32y.o. spinster milkmaid Katie(Esther)(undoubtedly cast as much younger), still part of her marginal, if healthy, dairy farming family. By her responses to a series of questions by aspiring suitor Windy Weebe(Jack Carson), she seems to have no interest in romantic relationships with men, who are easily attracted to her. In contrast, her younger sister, Suzie(Barbara Whiting) seems interested in men(as evidenced by her song("I Like Men"), but is never seen with a romantic hopeful, although she is surrounded by a bevy of men during her 2 songs. Other than seeing a few bovines wandering around, we never really feel we are on a dairy farm. The family awakens as a group well after the usual very early morning milking time. Instead of rushing to the milking barn, they group sing, then undergo a daily exercise training program, including a swim by Esther.. Later, all truck off to England, with the sponsorship of the dubious Liquipep company(thanks to accompanying Weebe), to compete in a 'swim the English Channel' contest.The film can usefully be divided into 6 segments:1) An introduction to the Higgins family, with William Demarest as father, Charlotte Greenwood as mother, Katie the oldest, followed by Suzie, and much younger 'Junior'(they must have been hoping for a boy). Weebe: self-described 'general promoter' is also introduced. Consists of activities at or near the farm.2)Introduction to foggy England, training for the Channel swim, the accidental meeting of Katie with French playboy Andre Lanet(Fernando Lamas), and the beginning of their romance. 3)the dream-staged cartoon segment, in which Katie cavorts in the ocean with Tom and Jerry, among other animals, some of whom clearly represent characters in the film.4)The "Ain't Nature Grand" musical interlude, followed by more Katie & André romancing.5) The Channel swim contest6)A very brief finale, in which all the principals reprise the opening "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side", to express their general euphoria.Jack Carson and William Demarest provide most of the light comedy, as expected, Carson more or less functioning in the role of Red Skelton or Jimmy Durante in certain other EW films. Carson's character remains a hopeful romantic partner with Katie through most of the film, despite absolutely no encouragement. A romantic dalliance with French swimming competitor Gigi is suggested, Nonetheless, his character remaining on good terms with the Higgins, after the initial hostility.In place of a water ballet, featured in many EW films, we have the cartoon segment and the Channel swim, along with various other minor swimming scenes. In the cartoon, Lamas clearly is represented by a large octopus, who keeps trying to snatch Katie, while often singing "In My Wildest Dreams", as had Lamas. The rest of the Higgens family is presented by a foursome of seahorses, singing "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side", as in the film beginning. Gigi is represented by a small French-speaking fish. The turtle leisurely swimming on his back may possibly represent Weebe in his rowboat. A ferocious shark-sailfish hybrid chases Katie, Tom , and Jerry. Not clear to me who it might represent.Arthur Schwartz and Johnny Mercer did the score. Barbara Whiting gets a role early on in "I Like Men". Shortly before the swimming contest, Katie and Andre, in their private room, begin "Ain't Nature Grand". In a more public place, this is taken up, in succession, by sister Suzie, then Weebe & Gigi, then Papa and Mama Higgens. This performance final ends with Charlotte displaying, at age 63, her signature sideways high kicks, followed by an ape-like 4 ped walk. These can also be seen in "Down Argentine Way", and "Young People", for example.Lamas was a well-recognized all around athlete and champion swimmer, and could sing and dance tolerably. Thus, he made an ideal mate for Esther's character. Many years later, they would marry.The channel swim section is perhaps the least interesting. Although Katie insists she has to quit near the end, we are sure that Andre's dogged encouragement will prevail.... The first woman to swim the English Channel was American Gertrude Ederle, back in 1926. It wasn't until shortly before this film was made, that interest in women swimming the channel was reawakened...Odd that in the film, initially the whole Higgens family is promoted as taking part in this contest. Later, only Katie is recognized as having a chance.If you have the DVD, be sure to check out the special feature "This is a living?", which consists of a series of films of amazing dare devil stunts!

Esther Williams plays Katie Higgins in "Dangerous When Wet". She's a member of a family that is nuts for physical fitness and they come to the attention of a slick salesman (Jack Carson) who decides to market them in an upcoming English Channel swimming race. However, shortly before the race, the sponsor, 'Liquapep', decides that the family (apart from Katie) isn't up to the rigors of such a crossing. So, it's up to Katie to try to win it for her family. In the meantime, a very rich and handsome man, André (Fernando Lamas) falls for her and might prove to be a bit of a distraction. What's to happen? See the film."Dangerous When Wet" is different from all the many other Esther Williams films that I have seen because the plot seems to unfold at a much slower pace than her other films. It also is different because, for once, she has a leading man who can keep up with her in the water. Fernando Lamas was a South American swimming champion, and so his swimming scenes with Esther looked awfully good compared to some of other male co-stars. But the important thing is whether it's any good. Overall, I'd have to say yes. The cast is quite good and the finale is awfully well done. Not Williams' best film but one of her better ones.By the way, this film featured a lengthy cartoon sequence where Esther swam with Tom & Jerry. While charming, I actually found it slowed the film down and wasn't necessary.

A farm family from Arkansas is tapped to swim in a race across the English Channel as part of a health drink promotional campaign. MGM musical isn't smothered with the usual studio-gloss, and Esther Williams is spunky and likable, but the plot is still pretty thin. Esther's on-screen romance with Fernando Lamas generated sparks off-screen (they were soon married in real-life), yet only a smidgen of this chemistry makes it into the movie. It is probably best remembered for the wonderful dream sequence wherein Williams swims with various cartoon characters, including Tom and Jerry. Not too bad: **1/2 from ****