It’s typical for most Esther Williams‘ films to start with some sort of swimming number.
The film doesn’t necessarily need it, but since Williams was an ex-swimmer it’s shoehorned into the film anyway.
On an Island With You is no different.
Directed by Richard Thorpe, and co-starring a talented cast that boasts the likes of Cyd Charisse, Peter Lawford, Richardo Montalban, Leon Ames, and Xavier Cugat, On an Island With You is your quintessential MGM musical.
With a flowery set, endless musical numbers and an impromptu cameo from a bandleader, the movie tells the story of a swimming star Rosalind Reynolds (Williams) and her efforts to film a movie in the lush jungles of Hawaii.
Stringing along her fiancé, Ricardo Montez (Montalban), on the island (hehe) the movie’s technical director, Lt. Lawrence Y. Kingslee (Lawford) falls in love with her instead. If the plot can’t get any wackier, Rosalind’s best friend, Yvonne Torro (Charisse) gets enamored with her friend’s almost husband, thus leading to a love rectangle, of sorts.
The rest of the movie sees Lawrence attempting to wine and dine Rosalind despite her being very involved with another man. It isn’t until he kidnaps her on a prop jet, whisking her away to different Hawaiian island that the plot really starts to kick into high gear.
While this is happening, Rosalind’s fiancé and the search party he brings together gets kidnapped by a group of cannibals who inhabit the island Lawrence took Rosalind on. Luckily, by the time Lawrence confesses his feelings for Rosalind and her fiancé finds them, in traditional classic Hollywood fashion, the problem gets fixed in the end.
Yvonne gets involved with Ricardo and Lawrence finally has his love reciprocated by Rosalind.
To be quite frank, when I initially watched this film, I really enjoyed it. Re-visiting it 3 years later, it didn’t leave the same impression it did a couple of years earlier.
I will admit, it’s a great movie, but compared the classic MGM greats, it’s hard to have On an Island with You stick out in your head.
Of course, there are people who enjoy the film, I can’t say I’m one of them. That’s not to say this movie doesn’t have great moments – because it does. Peter Lawford, for example, is a great actor. I’ve always loved him in whatever role he took on, this film is no different.
All in all, On an Island with You has a great premise but fails to make any lasting impact. Maybe, I’ll revisit it again in the future, who knows?
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Never seen this one before. If it has Ricardo Montalban in it, then I must watch it. 😉
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Haha! Do it!
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[…] On an Island with You (1948) | Anybody Got A Match? […]
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I find it suitable for a pleasant Sunday afternoon matinee, but if there is a choice between this and … say, Neptune’s Daughter … well, I’m going with the alternate selection.
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Haha. I agree!
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It’s certainly not a great musical, but I have always enjoyed it as a pleasant diversion once in a while. But like Paddy said, if I had a choice between it and Neptune’s Daughter, I’d probably choose the latter!
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I agree. I’ll watch it again, eventually. Maybe I’ll like it again.
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Thanks so much for participating in the MGM Musical Magic Blogathon! Admittedly, this is a film that I have not yet seen. I’ll have to check it out soon! Thanks again!
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Thank you!
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Great post! I actually haven’t seen this movie yet, but I love Esther Williams. It’s now next on my list! I actually participated in the blogathon too 🙂
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Thanks! I may not have enjoyed it, but I certainly will give it another try.
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Not every movie can be a homerun. I acrually really enjoy her in Neptune’s Daughter though, which is kind of a silly movie really.
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Haha! Yes I prefer it actually….
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*actually
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PS I love Peter Lawford too! Have you seen It Happened in Brooklyn? He sings! Not as good as Sinatra, of course, but he tries and it’s a pretty cute song.
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YESSSSS. I absolutely love that film! haha. I had such a crush on him, haha.
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