Dangerous When Wet is a 1953 swimming musical comedy film directed by Charles Walters. The film stars Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas and it is based on a story written by Dorothy Kingsley. In modern times Dangerous When Wet is best known for featuring an animated sequence in which a live-action Esther Williams interacts with cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.
Director: Charles Walters
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cast: Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack Carson, Charlotte Greenwood, Denise Darcel, WIlliam Demarest, Donna Corcoran, Barbara Whiting
US Box Office: $5,575,000 ($88,900,000 adjusted for inflation)
Film Format: Technicolor
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Release Date: June 18, 1953 (premiere); July 3, 1953 (general release)
Plot Summary: Katie Higgins (Esther Williams) lives on a farm in Arkansas with her fitness-obsessed family: her father (William Demarest), mother (Charlotte Greenwood), and younger sisters (Barbara Whiting and Donna Corcoran). One day traveling salesman Windy Weebe (Jack Carson) meets Katie and, admiring her swimming skills, decides he wants to enter her into a swimming competition to cross the English channel. Initially the plan is to have her whole family swim as a team, but circumstances force Katie to do it by herself. While training Katie meets, and eventually falls in love with Frenchman Andre Lanet (Fernando Lamas), which threatens to distract her and derail her training progress.
Production: In early 1951, MGM writer and producer George Wells began working on a new swimming-themed musical comedy film to star actress and swimmer Esther Williams. Wells worked for MGM as a screenwriter and recently signed a new contract with the studio to also work as a producer. The film was based on a story by musical and comedy writer Dorothy Kingsley. MGM liked the story, bought it and hired Kingsley to turn it into a screenplay. The project was initially titled Everybody Swims, but was the title was later changed to Dangerous When Wet. Charles Walters, a musical director for MGM, was hired to direct the film. Walters notably recently directed The Barkley’s of Broadway (1949), the last film to pair Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers together.
Dangerous When Wet was always intended as a vehicle for Esther Williams, who was cast as the lead character Katie Higgins. Williams was a competitive swimmer before she signed an acting contract with MGM in 1941, most of her films at the time were musicals or comedies, and she frequently swam in them. Walters previously directed Williams in Texas Carnival (1951). Argentine actor Fernando Lamas played Andre Lanet, Katie’s French love interest. Lamas initially declined the role because he thought that the part was too small, but agreed to take it once Williams convinced him that the part would be rewritten to be larger. Debbie Reynolds was initially chosen to play Katie’s sister Suzie but she declined the part, which was later given to Barbara Whiting.
Primary filming on Dangerous When Wet began in August of 1952 and went till October. The film was primarily shot on set at MGM Studios. The scenes set on England’s coast were shot on location at Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles. Dangerous When Wet famously features an animated dream sequence in which a live-action Esther Williams swims underwater with MGM’s cartoon characters Tom and Jerry. The scene was animated by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera (who created the Tom and Jerry short film series) and was supervised by Fred Quimby. Williams convincingly interacts with Tom and Jerry as well as other cartoon characters and objects. The scene was expensive to produce, the bubbles that come out of Williams’ mouth when she speaks allegedly cost $50,000 alone.
Fun Facts and Trivia: In 1969, many years after the release of Dangerous When Wet, Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas married in Europe. They stayed together until Lamas died in 1982. Dangerous When Wet was Charlotte Greenwood’s first appearance in an MGM film since Flying High (1931). Williams and Donna Corcoran (Junior Higgins) had previously appeared together in Million Dollar Mermaid (1952). Dangerous When Wet is shown being played on television in the film The Tender Trap (1955), starring Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds.
Reception: Dangerous When Wet had its premiere on June 18, 1953 and went into general release the next month. Dangerous When Wet and Easy to Love (Williams’ other “swimming musical” from 1953) were both hits at the box office, and each earned a profit for MGM. Dangerous When Wet was released at the height of Esther Williams’ popularity. Audiences liked Williams for her personality, beauty, and swimming talent. The animated segment in Dangerous When Wet was also popular with viewers. Unfortunately, 1953 was Esther Williams’ last year as a top star. Her next musical film Jupiter’s Darling (1955) was a failure, and her career declined after that.
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times gave Dangerous When Wet a mildly positive review. He thought that it was fine-enough entertainment but nothing special. However, Crowther did have strong praise for the animated segment which he described as “outstanding.” Clyde Gilmour of Maclean’s also gave Dangerous When Wet a positive review, as did the critics at Variety magazine. Dangerous When Wet has received somewhat positive reviews in retrospect. Matt Brunson of Film Frenzy gave the film a mildly positive review. He thought that Dangerous When Wet was at its strongest during the film’s dramatic climax in the English Channel. Laura Grieve and Derek Winnert also gave the film positive reviews. Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mildly negative review.
Why You Should See It: Dangerous When Wet is a mostly good romantic comedy film. The film has plenty of cute and funny moments. William Demarest (Pa) and Charlotte Greenwood (Ma) are both funny in their roles. Esther Williams does a great job swimming and gives a good performance. The animated dream sequence where Williams swims with Tom and Jerry is charming and really well-made. Williams’ interactions with the animated characters are convincing. The finale where Williams swims the English Channel is exciting and remarkably dramatic (so in some ways it almost feels like a missed opportunity for MGM to make the film’s premise into a comedy rather than a drama).