Esther Williams plays a swimming teacher who marries a rich guy after a whirlwind courtship. But he abandons her on their honeymoon to go tend to business matters, leaving her to fall in love with soldier Van Johnson. Lackluster vehicle for Esther and Van. Esther in Technicolor is radiant, as always. The scenes of her in a bathing suit are among the film's highlights. Van does fine with a role he could sleepwalk through. The nice supporting cast includes Spring Byington, Henry Travers, and Frances Gifford. Carleton G. Young plays the reptilian-looking husband. There was something off-putting about this guy from the first time I saw him. He really crept me out. The romance is tepid and I often found myself waiting for the next musical number, some of which are by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra (which I like) and others are opera (which I didn't like). See it for Esther or the music, if you must, but keep expectations low. It's pretty forgettable and corny.
Review of Thrill of a Romance
