weezeralfalfa
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!
Hot 888 Mama
. . . decades before typecast film mermaid Esther Williams ("Katy Higgins" here) essays something dozens of real life females ALREADY had accomplished by DANGEROUS WHEN WET's 1953 release date. Women of the early 1950s were much more polite than today's female set. Many of them had built tanks and bombers as "Rosie the Riveters" to help America win WWII, and were then content to vacuum in their pearls and high heels while waiting for their husbands to take them out for dinner and a movie. None of them were likely to shout out, "Chicks have been doing THAT for years!" at the Big Screen, as the radio commentators heard in DANGEROUS WHEN WET breathlessly extol "Katy's" tortured final yards of a 20-mile-plus swim. If some film studio nowadays tried to promote a flick along similar lines, say a woman becoming America's first female president, they'd be booed out of the multiplex by scads of ladies shouting, "Been there, done that!" In large part, Hilary's loss in 2008 can be attributed to the plethora of distaff presidents previously seen on film and TV. So this movie is even more dangerous if you see it when you're dry.
