Neptune's Daughter (B or 3/4 stars)
'Neptune's Daughter' (directed by Edward Buzzell) is one of, if not the best, of Esther Williams' swim-musicals from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Aquatic ballet dancer Eve Barrett (Williams) accepts the offer to become business partner to Joe Backett (Keenan Wynn) at the Neptune suit design co., hoping to get some publicity. Eve's man-hungry sister begs her into taking her along for this business trip so she can meet a South American polo team.
Meanwhile, Jose O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), the playboy captain of said polo team, asks the team's inept masseur, Jack Spratt (Red Skelton) to aid his injured arm. When Betty comes in the locker room, she mistakes Jack for Jose, & Jack fails to correct this error. When Betty tells Eve about her upcoming date with the 'Spanish speaking' captain of the team, Eve is alarmed that she'll be taken advantage of. The next day, while giving a tour of the Neptune swimsuit factory, Eve meets the real Jose -- wanting him to steer clear of her sister.
Refusing to believe him when he says that he doesn't know Betty, she agrees to go out with him when he promises not to see her sister. Reluctant to fall for him, she does anyway. When crooked nightclub owner Lukie Luzette (Ted de Corsia) learns of the polo team's presence in town, he plots to bet on the other team and, to ensure that he wins, he kidnaps Jose. But then, shocker, Lukie's henchmen mistakenly kidnap Jack, instead. More mix-ups ensue - including romantic ones - culminating in an expected happy ending for all.
Director Edward Buzzell keeps the proceedings moving at a good clip, with fun, breezy, harmless happenstance. The plush Technicolor doesn't hurt, either. Esther Williams is as genial & lovely, as always. Her swimming - and the Busby Berkeley-like pool sequences - is fabulous. And interestingly, Williams kept it secret that she was pregnant for the making of this film; having to squeeze into some of her bathing suits later on in the shoot.
There are a handful of slapsticky set pieces that entertain; including a wild polo horse riding routine. And Frank Loesser's iconic "Baby, its Cold Outside" won the Academy Award for Best Song; ironic that it is 1st known from this swimming film. 'Neptune's Daughter' isn't a masterpiece, by any stretch {the plot is utter nonsense}. But it is agreeably light-hearted and easy to enjoy.
Meanwhile, Jose O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), the playboy captain of said polo team, asks the team's inept masseur, Jack Spratt (Red Skelton) to aid his injured arm. When Betty comes in the locker room, she mistakes Jack for Jose, & Jack fails to correct this error. When Betty tells Eve about her upcoming date with the 'Spanish speaking' captain of the team, Eve is alarmed that she'll be taken advantage of. The next day, while giving a tour of the Neptune swimsuit factory, Eve meets the real Jose -- wanting him to steer clear of her sister.
Refusing to believe him when he says that he doesn't know Betty, she agrees to go out with him when he promises not to see her sister. Reluctant to fall for him, she does anyway. When crooked nightclub owner Lukie Luzette (Ted de Corsia) learns of the polo team's presence in town, he plots to bet on the other team and, to ensure that he wins, he kidnaps Jose. But then, shocker, Lukie's henchmen mistakenly kidnap Jack, instead. More mix-ups ensue - including romantic ones - culminating in an expected happy ending for all.
Director Edward Buzzell keeps the proceedings moving at a good clip, with fun, breezy, harmless happenstance. The plush Technicolor doesn't hurt, either. Esther Williams is as genial & lovely, as always. Her swimming - and the Busby Berkeley-like pool sequences - is fabulous. And interestingly, Williams kept it secret that she was pregnant for the making of this film; having to squeeze into some of her bathing suits later on in the shoot.
There are a handful of slapsticky set pieces that entertain; including a wild polo horse riding routine. And Frank Loesser's iconic "Baby, its Cold Outside" won the Academy Award for Best Song; ironic that it is 1st known from this swimming film. 'Neptune's Daughter' isn't a masterpiece, by any stretch {the plot is utter nonsense}. But it is agreeably light-hearted and easy to enjoy.