Jamais deux sans toi

Watching this movie made for a very pleasant Sunday morning. It's a typical boy-gets-girl...boy-loses-girl...etc., film, but wholesome in its content and dialog. How refreshing to see Esther Williams portray a thoughtful friend in trying to assist in her roommate's quest for her bosses affection, with no malice or self serving interest. The chef to this boss provides some amusing lines - but some real smiles come when you see that Van Johnson's band isn't really playing their instruments (if you look close, you will see that the piano player only taps the tops of the keys!). Of course, there are the gratuitous swimming scenes to showcase Esther Williams ~ but you find yourself watching her movies to see how they'll weave in this angle each time! This movie serves the purpose for which it was intended - a little light hearted fluff to put a smile on your face. All in all, a pleasant way to accompany a cup of coffee on a Sunday morning.

Of the Esther Williams films seen so far, which is a vast majority of them, 'Duchess of Idaho' stands out as one of the best ones. As well as having one of her best performances.

Its only real faults are the story, which is very flimsy and with the odd implausible moment, and the waste of Mel Torme, a very talented performer with a beautiful voice with very little to do which is pretty shameful.

Conversely, Williams is captivating in a role that suits her perfectly, one of her best performances as aforementioned without a shadow of a doubt.

She is well supported by an appealing John Lund, charming Paula Raymond and a more at ease than usual Van Johnson, and she shares great chemistry with all three. 'Duchess of Idaho' is significant for being the last film of Eleanor Powell, who dances up a storm, while Lena Horne sings sublimely in one of the film's better songs.

'Duchess of Idaho' is shot in glorious Technicolor and sumptuously designed (the costumes are of the usual MGM glamour), while the direction goes at a bright and breezy pace and the film is full of jolly fun and emotive charm. The songs are pleasant and lively, and choreographed with grace and enthusiasm, and the script is amusing.

In summary, very entertaining and well done. Not a great film, but a very good one. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Esther really shows off her flair for light comedy in this one, and for me - a lover of Esther Williams musicals - this one has the best music of them all...one great tune after another. Former band singer Connie Haines delivers two swinging songs and joins Van for another, and Lena Horne is in top form singing the hot number "Baby,Come Out Of The Clouds" in her glamorous style. Eleanor Powell tap dances to boogie woogie.

This is one of the films where we're supposed to believe that there is a huge nightclub with a giant swimming pool surrounded by chorus girls and filled with muscle men who strike poses with Esther...preposterous Hollywood fantasy, but that makes it all the more fun. A Technicolor delight.

"You always have to have a plot. There's never an easy way of doing things." So says JOHN LUND in this typical ESTHER WILLIAMS movie based on the familiar mix-ups involved when nobody tells the truth.

The mix-ups begin when Esther offers to help secretary PAULR RAYMOND catch a rich playboy (Lund), suggesting a trip to romantic surroundings in Sun Valley, Idaho would help. Esther, in the meantime, is pursued by VAN JOHNSON, a bandleader at the resort, who soon melts her heart. In the interim, there are guest appearances by RED SKELTON (at a potato square-dance contest that is deftly done) and ELEANOR POWELL, who does a guest spot in the usual MGM manner of at first coyly refusing to dance when requested. Then she rips into an impromptu routine that had to be rehearsed for at least three weeks. So much for reality.

It's a strictly fun, escapist musical, which is all it pretends to be. ESTHER WILLIAMS and PAUL RAYMOND look gorgeous in their various Technicolor outfits and Esther gets to do a couple of swimming numbers in her usual charming manner. JOHN LUND and VAN JOHNSON do nicely in the romantic comedy department as the love interest for the gals.

If you like Esther, this one is for you.

If you want to Esther Williams in one of her better roles check this one out. While she still has two very nice water ballet sequences, the best parts of the movie involve the funny antics of its players. The cast is very good especially Williams and Van Johnson who have a great chemistry. It's no wonder they made 3 other movies together. Johnson is absolutely charming and Williams shows that she can do more than just swim. She definately holds her own.

Of course it is pretty easy to perdict what will happen, but it's still a lot of fun. It will definately puts a smile on the face. It's also very neat to see a very young Mel Torme as a messenger.