This is the sort of light musical romantic comedy that Hollywood churned out on a regular basis, and in no way an exceptional or memorable example of that genre.Save for the contributions from the great Danish tenor Lauritz Melchior. The fact that he was Danish, and indeed known as "The Great Dane," is not irrelevant to this picture. See below.By 1945 when this movie came out, Melchior was near the end of a long and very distinguished career as a heroic tenor, primarily at the Metropolitan Opera, which had kept him focused almost uniquely on the works of Richard Wagner. From all reports, he wasn't much of an actor there, and audiences didn't care. He just stood on stage and sang, and the audience loved it.In the late 1940s, however, he made a few movies, and turned out to be a natural screen comedian playing the avuncular older man who offers sage advice to struggling young lovers. Very much a man who could make fun of himself, and who did not take himself too seriously.That is nowhere better demonstrated than in this movie. He offers advice to the two stars and then, every now and then, he sings an operatic aria or classical song. If you like that music, you will love his performance of it.But he is also part of the best moment in the movie, at the end. For reasons I won't go into, the male lead, Van Johnson, decides to sing his love to the female lead, Esther Williams, outside her bedroom window. Since he doesn't sing, he gets Melchior to help him out in classic Cyrano de Bergerac fashion. The scene is a stitch because Melchior sings a silly pop tune, "Please don't say no, say maybe," and hams it up to the 9s. It's also very funny to watch the young Van Johnson pretending to sing with a great and powerful voice that clearly isn't his and dwarfs him.At the end of the number, Van Johnson and Williams kiss - while Melchior still sings, leading to funny comments from Spring Byington and Henry Travers.I don't know how often I'd want to sit through an hour and 45 minutes of this movie to watch that last scene, but it's very definitely worth seeing.------------------------------------When I watched this movie again tonight on TCM, other things struck me. This movie was made during World War II, mostly before the D-Day invasion that turned the tide and brought about the defeat of Nazi Germany. We are reminded of this at the end of the movie, when we see the announcement that it had been chosen to be shown to American troops fighting the war.That gives a much deeper resonance to Melchior's part in this movie.The Germans invaded Denmark in April, 1940, and remained there until the end of the war in 1945. In other words, when this picture was made Melchior was a very famous representative of a nation still until Nazi rule.In this picture, Melchior champions the aspirations of a young Black boy with a beautiful voice who knocks everyone's socks off with his performance of the then still very popular song "Because," by Paolo Tosti. Melchior is clearly impressed with his singing, and clearly completely unbothered by his race. To put that in perspective, remember that the great Black singer Lena Horne would be passed over by the same studio, MGM, six years later when it came to casting the mixed-race character Julie the 1951 version of Show Boat. Instead, MGM chose Ava Gardner, whose singing had to be dubbed.All of which to say: in this movie, a famous Dane was chosen to sing, yes, but also to favor the aspirations a Black character. Much as the Danes had consistently refused to go along with Nazi racial policies during their 5 years of Nazi occupation.And then remember: this film was shown to American troops still fighting the war, including Black GIs - who were still serving in Blacks-only units, since Truman had yet to integrate the Armed Forces.Most of this movie is fluff. Van Johnson and Esther Williams gave better performances in other movies. But Melchior is remarkable here, both for his singing, certainly, but also for the example of racial tolerance that he, a Dane, demonstrates during an era when American soldiers were still fighting nations that were monstrous, among other reasons, because of their racist policies.And that would not have looked like fluff to a Black American GI fighting in Europe or the Pacific

Van Johnson and Esther Williams at their loveliest. Wonderful music throughout. A delightful picture for anyone who has ever been or hopes to be in love. We have beautiful Esther Williams swimming and diving. We have Van Johnson sincere and radiant. We have Melchior in fine classical voice, Tommy Dorsey playing Grieg on the trombone (!) along with other classic Dorsey hits. And a couple of new songs. The movie mostly takes place in a resort with Olympic swimming pool and a sound-stage with a view over Yosemite Valley. It's all very light, but let yourself be carried away, and it will steal your heart.

A serious issue about the issues of wealth, marriage and happiness are subterfuged in this Joe Pasternak confection. Joe Pasternak for his low ambitions with his movies liked Opera and serious classical composition; or maybe he just liked using it in his movies. Anyway, Melchior provides both comic relief and the opera singing and like Dean Martin in those movies, he slows the movie down and you have to wonder that the movie would be better without him. The movie raises serious issues and refuses to really address them; leaving poor Van and Esther without the opportunity to flex their acting chops. A big hit in the year of 1945, but you have to wonder why the filmakers did not try harder. Anyway, as entertainment, an A but as an enduring movie, a D.

This is the most fabulous movie I have ever seen. Its unfortunate that it has been discontinued and one can't but it. Anyway it is a delightfully charming movie. Its romantic, funny, and you will wish it never had to end. Esther Williams is delightful in this movie, where she plays Cynthia, and weds and very busy man, who is suddenly and unexpectedly called away during their honeymoon. Lonely she finds friendship in Van Johnson (unaware of her marriage at first), as they spend an increasing amount of time together, feelings develop and romance ensue. To see what happens, you will have to watch it!