Hoping to win back his estranged swim coach wife (Esther Williams), a lovesick songwriter (Red Skelton) enrolls in a women’s college and graduates with honors in comedy! In this delightful musical farce, Red makes a rare appearance and Esther wears a skin-tight bathing suit. Beauty bathing begins with a splash of water. Xavier Cugat plays, the red clown and Esther jump into the pool. And things go smoothly from there. The university is praised for having many beautiful MGM stars. Cugie shakes up the hot rhythms of South America even more. Harry James is committed to supporting the North American sound, and an excellent cast including Basil Rathbone, Donald Meek, Janice Page and Margaret Dumont provide expert support. The finale is a stunning water ballet featuring Hollywood’s favorite swimsuit beauties gracefully swimming through alternating jets of water and flames. But Esther is not the only one who is artistically beautiful.
When production began, the film was titled “Mr. Skeleton was at the center of attention in “Coed,” but as filming progressed, MGM soon realized that the film was the one that would catapult Esther Williams to screen superstardom, and the film It was published under the title ‘Bathing Beauty’. Esther has become one of the studio’s biggest stars on the Technicolor® aquatic entertainment series for over a decade.
For more thoughts on Bathing Beauty, check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required.
video quality
Warner Archive presents Bathing Beauty with a dazzling new 1080p master transfer sourced from a 4K restoration of a nitrate Technicolor negative. Warner Archive has released another fantastic presentation that has been a godsend for Esther Williams fans. There doesn’t seem to be any digital annoyances like compression artifacts, banding, or other similar drawbacks. Natural film grain is expertly rendered with no locales causing problems. Restoration will erase all traces of previous dirt and damage, giving you a flawless viewing experience. The film spotlights the vibrant colors of the costumes and set design, which instantly shine from the screen. Black levels are deep and incredibly stable throughout. All background elements contain so much texture that the level of detail and clarity is amazing. Warner Archives knocked it out of the park.
audio quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 master audio track that perfectly captures the story. The dialogue is slightly more important than a typical Esther Williams painting, as it includes Red Skelton’s witty sayings. From start to finish, every interaction is crisp and clear. The presentation balances interaction with the university’s lively environment with musical breaks with great clarity. Music is an important part of the story, and the tracks brilliantly reproduce these elements with maximum fidelity. Warner Archive provides a solid audio track that shows no obvious signs of age-related wear. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided.
special features
Mouse Trouble: Here you will find approximately 8 minutes of Tom and Jerry cartoons in HD. In this short story, Tom reads a book to finally catch Jerry, but things don’t go as planned. Main Street Today: A 20-minute live-action short that takes a patriotic look at wartime production and how everyone must come together to make a contribution. Esther Williams Private Screening: A 48-minute TCM special about the career of Esther Williams. Legends are interviewed and share amazing stories from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Theatrical Trailer: A two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.
final thoughts
In Bathing Beauty, Red Skelton’s comedic talents join Esther Williams’ effortless grace. Although the story is far from the realm of reality, the film allows it to be conveyed to the audience without the slightest hint of irony. Although the film is dated in many ways, it’s still upbeat and fun with catchy musical numbers and fun banter. This movie has a good pace and never gets boring. It’s not perfect, but it’s comfortable enough. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray with an excellent A/V presentation and various special features. If you’re a fan of the talent involved, this release is worth having on your shelf. Recommended
Bathing Beauty is available for purchase directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.
Note: The images shown in this review do not reflect the quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: The Warner Archive provided a free copy of this disc for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
