Who could ever forget Esther Williams? Well, as it turns out, there are a lot of people that could easily forget about her — and some probably did. And so, in 
order to put a stop to this, the devoted cinephiles at Turner Classic Movies saw fit to assemble a collection of five classic Esther Williams films in a box set. Released in 2007, the set received rave reviews from young and old critics alike, and helped introduce a new generation (or two) to the aquatic charms of America’s musical mermaid.
Yes, you read right: Esther Williams made aqua-musicals. Therefore, it’s easy to see why the star is straightforwardly looked over — especially when you stop to consider how modern filmgoers practically shun the musical in general.
Well, obviously the world must’ve been set to forget about poor Esther once again, so the folks at TCM have put together another beautiful box set. Entitled TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams, Vol. 2, this collection brings us six more Technicolor antiquities from the MGM archives.
Disc 1 features one of the best from the entire lot (in my opinion), Thrill Of A Romance. The 1945 spectacle tells the story of young swimming teacher, Cynthia Glenn (Esther), who catches the eye of a rich businessman Robert Delbar (Carleton G. Young) one day as he’s driving around. Wooing her to the nth degree, Delbar soon persuades Cynthia to marry him, and they take residence up at a secluded lodge in the Rockies (several exterior shots give us a few gorgeous views of Yosemite Park). In no time at all, the “all-business, all the time” Delbar is rushing off to Washington — leaving the post- nuptial bride all alone for several days! Fortunately, Cynthia’s beauty and charm attracts the attention of everyone around her, from a kindly Metropolitan Opera star (Lauritz Melchior, who is absolutely perfect in his role), to handsome, down-to-earth, and equally lonely World War II vet (Van Johnson). It’s only a matter of time before love begins to fill the air — but how well will it all work out, especially considering Cynthia’s already married? Big band legend Tommy Dorsey and Henry Travers co-star.
Next up is Fiesta (1947), on Disc 2. Sure, modern audiences may have a hard time swallowing whiter-than-white stars like Esther Williams, John Carroll, Mary Astor, Cyd Charisse, and Akim Tamiroff portraying Mexicans, but it’s a delightful movie nonetheless. And, in order to give the movie that authentic Mexi feel, it was filmed in Mexico (somebody probably figured out how cheap it was to do so and said “What the hell!”) and co-stars Fortunio Bonaonva (who was actually Spanish-born, but most Americans wouldn’t know the difference anyway) and the great Ricardo Montalban. In the film, twin siblings Maria (Williams) and Mario (Montalban, making his official American debut) are the offspring of Mexico’s great (retired) matador, Don Antonio Morales (Bonanova). While Don Antonio raises his son to be the next greatest bullfighter, Mario grows up to be an accomplished composer as well — and yearns to pursue music instead of following his father’s dream. As is typical in a case like this, the son becomes thoroughly disgusted with his father when he learns Mexico’s greatest composer wants him to come study music under him — and promptly walks out of the ring during a fight. Newspapers across the country brand Mario a “coward,” something his feisty sister Maria will not tolerate. Unable to find her now-missing brother in time, Maria dons Mario’s clothes, and passes herself off as him in the ring.
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