TheLittleSongbird Even in films with not-much-to-write-home-about stories (though a good deal of her films are still worth watching), Esther Williams was always watchable and more, with her swimming talent on film second to none. Tom and Jerry are two of my favourite animated characters, as a lifelong fan of animation, and a legendary animated-comic duo. Have always loved musicals too.Williams is captivating in how fetching she is and she radiates in charm, her swimming talent hardly wasted. She has very clear chemistry with Fernando Lamas (though she has had partners with a little more charisma than he), and wonderfully supported by a peppy Barbara Whiting, an energetic Jack Carson and a perfectly cast William Demarest and Charlotte Greenwood.'Dangerous When Wet's' highlight is the sequence with Williams and Tom and Jerry, which is simply ingenious in every sense. Very close behind are Whiting's "I Like Men" and the very determined and moving English Channel swim scene.Furthermore, 'Dangerous When Wet' looks great, being beautifully photographed and designed and the colours are rich and colourful. The songs are not exceptional but they are very pleasant and put one in a good mood, but it's the way they're staged that elevate them to a better level.The script is lively and perky enough, while Charles Walters directs competently. The story while meandering a little in pace towards the end makes for by far one of the more eventful, more plausible and more atmospherically warm and likable Esther Williams films.Overall, great fun and charming, anybody who like Williams and Tom and Jerry shouldn't miss it. 8/10 Bethany Cox

JLRMovieReviews Get ready to be wet and happy all over! William Demarest and Charlotte Greenwood are head of this family that practices healthy habits: eating right and plenty of exercise, which of course includes swimming. Enter Esther Williams who is in her element in this feel-good lightweight comedy musical. Fernando Lamas is an added plus to this story of a family that tries to swim the English Channel. Their chemistry and good looks make for much of this film's appeal. But, it works on so many other levels, too, with enjoyable and peppy songs and great acting by its supporting character actors William Demarest, Charlotte Greenwood (who has a very memorable dance number), and Jack Carson as her agent. Plus, a famous cat-and-mouse team is featured to good use. With that much talent, you can't go wrong. So, jump in and get wet all over. You'll feel better.

joseph952001 O.K.; so it's not a classic! So, it's not one of Esther's best, but - considering the over-all movie - it IS very entertaining! When I first saw this movie as as a teenager, I found myself singing "I Got Out of Bed on the Right Side" so much that the family finally said, "For God's sake! Will you SHUT UP?" So, sense of humor! No respect for Esther whom I adored and was in love with as ever other red-blooded American Teenager was at the time! Recently, I was happy to see it play on Turner Classics and the charm of the film has not diminished! I guess the best part of the film was when the whole cast got in on the song "Ain't Love So Grand"! And there's Charolotte Greenwood doing her dancing specialty at the end of the number. I guess this was the second to last that she ever danced in a film with "Oklahoma" being the last in which she played Aunt Eller. Originally, she was the first pick for playing Aunt Eller in Oklahoma on Braodway, but other commitments stopped her from doing it, so Rogers and Hammerstien were thrilled when they finally signed her up for the movie version. Greenwood was known for her eccentric dancing in which she had been a hit in an old move called "The Pip From Pittsburg". It's sad to see many of our characters in the business gone, but it's wonderful that we still have their performances on film to enjoy forever.It's true that Esther married Fernando in real life, but from what I remember, Lana Tuner was married to Lex Barker, and Arlene Dahl was married to Fernando Lamas, and they were a happy foursome so much that Turner divorced Barker, Dahl divorced Fernando, and then Dahly married Lex Barker and Lana Turner married Fernando Lamas, but before the divorces Arlene Dahl gave birth to Lorenzo Lamas who would go on to a somewhat fame in movies and T.V. but not with the stature and popularity of his father. Then much later, after filming Dangerous When Wet Fernando started dating Esther and Esthers film career was beginning to go downhill, and she was pretty well tired of making movies and when Fernando asked her to marry him, he asked her, "Can you stop being Esther Willimas?" and she gladly said, "Yes!" and she kept her word to the day Fernando died and didn't have anything to do with a career in show-business! Much later, Lorenzo was on, I believe, The Johnny Carson Show, and Carson asked him what is was like having Esther as a mother, and he proudly answered, "How many kids can claim they were taught to swim by Esther Williams?"

Greg Couture For those who haven't seen this one there are, perhaps, a couple of mini-SPOILERS to follow:This bit of fluff opens with the Higgins family, Dad, Mom and their three daughters, rising and shining on the family's farm, for an early morning swim. Esther, the eldest daughter, seems to be reluctantly following the parade to the swimming hole, and the audience is in for a bit of a surprise. Each family executes a dive into a rustic backlot pool until Esther is at water's edge. But she dips a toe in the H2O and decides, naw!, opens the book she's been carrying, and curls up at the water's edge, contentedly immersed in her reading material! When I smiled at this clever way of postponing our expectations, I thought we were in for one of Esther's more rewarding vehicles, and it does have some rather good chuckles in store. Overall, though, it's not up to the best that the mermaid was required to do during her reign as one of M-G-M's box office queens.Some of the better moments include Esther slithering from the amorous clutches of Fernando Lamas (whom she eventually married a few years after this one was filmed) as he croons an insistent love song; Tom and Jerry, M-G-M's animated feline/rodent duo, joining Esther for an underwater ballet (this film's only equivalent of the usually extravagant production numbers in Esther's previous efforts); Denise Darcel, all impenetrable French accent and looking far-too-zaftig to ever be credible as Esther's rival in a crossing-the-English Channel swimming contest (Mlle. Darcel IS funny though!); and Jack Carson once again amusingly embodying a con man with a touch of lechery. Charles Walters directs with his usual lack of distinction and the production values aren't as luxurious as are on display in some other Esther aquacades. Several scenes occur at night, lending a rather dark look to a good portion of the proceedings, in contrast to the normally sunny Technicolor that radiates from the screen when Esther flashes her dazzling smile.As for who wins the Channel swimming contest, do you have to ask?!? I enjoyed its modest ninety-five minute running time and you probably will too.