The one and only Miss Esther Williams is 90-something today (her exact birthyear being lost in a discreet, MGM-imposed haze - my money's on 91). She may not have been the rangiest star ever, but how many performers can say that an entire genre was created around them, and that when they were done, so was the kind of film in which they starred?
No one was more pleased with her stardom than she herself, and when she'd had enough, she went on to other things. Add her name to the Graceful Exit Club (even though, among other things, audience satiation and third husband Fernando Lamas played their parts) and think her of the next time you take a swim...
might the chlorine have helped to preserve her?
ReplyDeleteAccording to Michael Phelps they all pee in the water, so maybe it wasn't the chlorine..? Jx
DeleteHave always enjoyed her films, but her autobiography was a bit of a trash wallow IMHO. She dropped quite a few pegs in my book after that.
ReplyDeleteGee, Bill, you say "trash wallow" like that's a badthing... I thought it was unsurprisingly self-serving, but kind of fun. Perhaps you're just put off by the idea of Jeff Chancler in a twin-set and pearls...
DeleteI think I've bought into much of the MGM fantasy so completely that I expected better comportment from her. I suppose an autobio from a demure lady isn't much fun, but it might be what I had hoped for in her book.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you're quite right about the pearls. My Dad bore a slight (very slight) resemblance to Jeff Chandler back in the day. I've no doubt that has figured into my feelings about her tome.
I use to enjoy her films, they are quite the spectacles but her revelations about Jeff Chandler really put me off her. I don't think there is anything wrong with cross dressing if that is something that appeals to you but in that day and time I'm sure it was a crushing secret and a burden, one that was not hers to expose since he was gone, very tacky. Now it has come to light that she made it up when the publisher wanted her too spice up the book. That's reprehensible and irresponsible especially to do to someone with whom you were involved.
ReplyDelete