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Million Dollar Mermaid

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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A musical romantic drama, this biopic tells the story of influential Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman (Esther Williams), who broke gender barriers while becoming a pioneer of synchronized swimming. Following her father (Walter Pidgeon) from Australia to London, Kellerman combines her passion for dance with her talents as a swimmer, coming of age while learning about love and show business, and working against the inherent repression of female expression in the early 20th century.

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Million Dollar Mermaid

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 08/05/2020
3/4
Esther Williams, cinema's singular swimming sensation, landed one of her best roles in this biopic about aquatic Australian star Annette Kellerman. Go to Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row 08/01/2020
3/4
Truly one of the most beautiful films of the 1950s, and it's a pleasure to watch Berkeley indulge his more expressionistic tendencies with a full palate of breathtaking color. Go to Full Review Bill Newcott Movies For The Rest Of Us 07/29/2020
4/5
If you know [Esther] Williams only from clips in That's Entertainment, see this splashy epic to get an idea of what all the excitement was about. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 10/07/2019
The renowned Australian swimmer, Annette Kellerman, gets Hollywood's respectful biographical salute in a draggy but spectacular water-musical, starring Esther Williams. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 03/14/2013
B
Susan Granger www.susangranger.com 05/30/2007
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Franky L @kungfugrandma 02/23/2024 Esther Williams brings swimming to the forefront in the wonderful account of the ture story of Anette Kellerman, the Australian swimmer who is credited with creating Synchronized swimming. Lovely sets, cinematography, and sweet story of love and devotion. See more 10/08/2019 While this movie does contain some great swimming sequences, I wouldn't say that they are the best of all of the movies Esther Williams starred in. But, they are good enough to support the excellent storyline. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader 02/01/2019 The best inspiring movie ever made! See more 03/20/2017 Oh my. Just go on youtube and watch find the clip of the water ballet. I have been trying to watch all the Esther Williams films...but I may have reached the wall. It's getting too painful. See more 09/08/2015 The idea of putting swimming starlet Esther Williams in a biography of champion Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman must have seemed like a can't-miss concept for a splashy matinée item which would pay-off no matter what the outcome. Unfortunately, the concept itself is underused, as Williams performs in a handful of extravagant water routines but does very little dramatic acting. Producer Arthur Hornblow Jr. and the requisite M-G-M brass do not appear to have any inspiration that goes beyond the standard glitz and glamor (the script being somewhat expendable). That's too bad, for Kellerman's life story had aspects of both high drama and nostalgic value (being the first woman to wear a one-piece swimsuit on America's shores!). Mervyn LeRoy's direction is quite capable, and Williams is amiable, however Busby Berkeley's lavish, gaudy production numbers are what most people end up remembering. See more 04/16/2015 There is nothing spectacular about the story and the biopic in general, but the film provides plenty of great water numbers by Esther Williams. It's an old-fashioned MGM extravaganza and a joy to watch See more Read all reviews
Million Dollar Mermaid

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Cast & Crew

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Esther Williams

Annette Kellerman

Victor Mature

James Sullivan

Walter Pidgeon

Frederick Kellerman

David Brian

Alfred Harper

Donna Corcoran

Annette Kellerman

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Million Dollar Mermaid

Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A musical romantic drama, this biopic tells the story of influential Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman (Esther Williams), who broke gender barriers while becoming a pioneer of synchronized swimming. Following her father (Walter Pidgeon) from Australia to London, Kellerman combines her passion for dance with her talents as a swimmer, coming of age while learning about love and show business, and working against the inherent repression of female expression in the early 20th century.
Director
Mervyn LeRoy
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Screenwriter
Everett Freeman
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 4, 1952, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2017
Runtime
1h 55m
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