Love Letters to Old Hollywood

When Esther Williams died in 2013, I was only blithely aware of her so when TCM aired a tribute to the million dollar mermaid a few days after her death, I snatched up the opportunity to see just what Ms. Williams was all about. Thrill of a Romance was my first introduction to the wondrous world of Williams, where Technicolor astounds, musical numbers pop up like little surprises, and Esther mesmerizes with the seemingly simple feat of swimming. I fell in love with it all, and the presence of Van Johnson certainly contributed to my feelings, him being a great partner for Williams. Shall we take a dip? Cynthia Glenn (Williams) is your average girl-next-door. She lives with her amusingly absentminded aunt and uncle (Spring Byington and Henry Travers), whom she sweetly reminds to pay the bills and look in the icebox for a pair of glasses. Working as a children's swimming instructor, Cynthia is noticed one day by businessman Bob Delbar (Carleton G. Young). Despite his flirt...