Dangerous When Wet

Dangerous When Wet is an entertaining and catchy movie from 1953, directed by Charles Walters and starring Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, and Jack Carson. This Technicolor musical tells the story of a wholesome and pretty girl, Katy Higgins (Esther Williams), who lives on a farm with her parents and siblings. Despite her simple and hard-working life, Katy dreams of something more, specifically of swimming the English Channel.

Katy’s adventure starts when she and her family are selected to be the feature of a sponsored television show, where they demonstrate how great their farm products are. While at the television studio, Katy meets handsome and charming André (Fernando Lamas), a famous French swimmer who is also trying to conquer the English Channel. Naturally, Katy is smitten with André and becomes even more determined to pursue swimming as a career.

Katy’s parents are against the idea, fearing the dangers of the ocean and the possibility of losing their daughter. However, Katy is persistent and convinces them to let her go to a swim camp in Miami to train with the best coaches. At the camp, Katy meets the hilarious and helpful Windy (Jack Carson), a fellow swimmer who later becomes her love interest. Katy trains hard, and her naturally talented swimming abilities impress her coaches, including Olympian and real-life swimmer Johnny Weissmuller, who makes a cameo appearance.

As Katy prepares for her big swim across the Channel, she must also contend with the selfish André, who tries to discourage her from swimming and instead wants her to marry him and become a model. Katy’s resolve is tested when she comes down with a fever just before the swim. But with the help of her family, Windy, and André (who has a change of heart and becomes supportive), Katy attempts to make history by swimming the Channel.

One of the highlights of the movie is Esther Williams’ incredible synchronized swimming scenes, which are breathtakingly beautiful and gracefully choreographed. Williams, a former Olympic swimmer herself, was known for blending swimming and dancing, and her iconic swim scenes in Dangerous When Wet showcased her talents to the fullest.

Overall, Dangerous When Wet is a delightful feel-good movie that will leave you captivated with its charming characters, catchy tunes (including a memorable duet performed by Williams and Lamas), and stunning scenery. The movie exudes an innocent and wholesome atmosphere, typical of its time period, and it’s a perfect choice for anyone looking for a low-stress musical comedy.