Thrill of a Romance (1945) watch online HD

I didn't recognize Esther Williams when I saw her with her hair down, and had to look here to see who the actress was...what a beautiful woman! And the costumes were wonderful, along with the scenery of Yosemite, making this movie the perfect diversion for a lazy Sunday afternoon. The plot was a bit slow, and at today's standards left a lot to the imagination, however the innocence of post-WWII "romance" made this an absolutely charming tale. Van Johnson was good (as always, in my opinion), but the tenor actually stole the show and provided the perfect sounding board for both characters so that we could see that they weren't really philanderers -- just caught up in a difficult situation. My husband and I both enjoyed this movie, and I got a lot of great costume ideas, as well! I recommend this movie to anyone who is nostalgic for a simpler time and doesn't want to have to think too much -- just watch and be entertained!

MGM could always depend on an ESTHER WILLIAMS movie to be breezy fun for movie fans who wanted escapism during the '40s in the form of light entertainment. And that's what they get here. VAN JOHNSON, a war hero she meets at a mountain resort, is her romantic interest and occasional swimming partner while her husband, CARLTON G. YOUNG, is neglecting her by performing his business duties.

And, of course, you have to have music in an Esther Williams movie. So, they have LAURITZ MELCHIOR, the chubby tenor from the Met, serving as a sort of S.Z. Sakall type providing gentle humor and suave charm in between some robust songs. Then they have TOMMY DORSEY and his Orchestra for fans of contemporary music with Buddy Rich beating on the drums.

The other standard ingredient is lush Technicolor that makes the most of some stunning scenery as well as some gorgeous shots of Esther in various swimming suits doing her thing in a pool of Olympic proportions. She also looks good on land in a series of smart outfits.

The weakness is a thin story that needs all the padding it gets. But for Esther Williams/Van Johnson fans, this had all the standard ingredients they looked for in this sort of musical.

The glorious voice of Wagnerian Tenor Lauritz Melchoir adorns this formulistic film, crafted by MGM staff writers.

After dominating the Met and international operatic stages along with colleague Soprano Helen Traubel, Melchoir along with Traubel and Ezio Pinza signed MGM contracts. The three appeared in light musicals for this studio, singing arias, light ballads and specialty numbers, which were incorporated into the plotlines.

Here Melchoir's role is quite gratuitous, yet all is forgotten when he opens his mouth and sings several varied selections.

His voice rings out like a bell, and he possesses a welcome warmth and humor in his screen presence. Joined by studio regulars Esther Williams, Van Johnson, and Bandleader Tommy Dorsey, Melchoir manages to punctuate the slightly sub-par plot with charm.

It's as though the project was cast first, then writers were called upon to write for each personality. While the proceedings may be a bit routine, the music, color and trappings are quite enjoyable, and a pleasant reminder of a gentle era of movie making.

Enjoyed this 1945 film with young stars like Van Johnson and Esther Williams starting out on a brilliant career in the entertainment of swimming and musicals. Esther Williams,(Cynthia Glenn) was a swimming instructor at a pool and was noticed by a very rich business man who immediately swept her off her feet and got married to Cynthia. There honeymoon was a complete disaster because her husband had a business meeting in Washington, D.C. and he left her all alone without even making love. Van Johnson,(Major Thomas Milvaine) has a room next door to Cynthia and notices her crying on her balcony and gets acquainted with her and they begin to start seeing each other off and on. Cynthia finds out her husband will be gone for a whole week and in the meantime decides to teach Tom Milvaine some swimming lessons and they start dancing and taking long walks in the woods. Lauritz Melchior,(Nils Knudsen) sings many songs since he was a great opera star. You will even see Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra and Buddy Rich burning up his set of drums. Enjoyable musical with plenty of romance and entertainment from 1945.

For 1945 with the Code firmly in place this film was quite daring in its subject matter. But the Esther Williams audience only wanted to see Esther in a bathing suit in or out of the water and Thrill of a Romance gave the viewer plenty of both.

Esther is a swimming instructor at a public pool in Los Angeles and driving by one day is Howard Hughes like tycoon Carleton G. Young. He puts on quite the campaign and they wed.

But Young is far more interested in business and while at a resort hotel on their honeymoon, Carleton gets called away to Washington on a big deal. We know what his priorities are. So Esther is an unconsummated bride alone on her honeymoon, when up pops war hero Van Johnson.

So for a week she and Van keep each other company and look pretty sad all the while.

Now Thrill of a Romance was not advertised to be Hamlet, but I found the premise here to be way to silly. But with lots of shots of Esther wet and dry and music by Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra and Lauritz Melchior of the Metropolitan Opera we had a whole lot of music of every taste. A highlight is a drum solo by Buddy Rich who after Frank Sinatra left as the band's vocalist, was Dorsey's main attraction.

Young Jerry Scott who plays Lyonel a bellboy at the hotel gives a nice lyric tenor interpretation of Because which that year was revived in a big hit record by Perry Como.

Speaking of Sinatra, he recorded a song written for this film I Should Care which was authored by his personal arranger Axel Stordahl and Sammy Cahn. Also sold a few platters back in the day.

Melchior sung a wide range of both classical and popular tunes. And he sort of functioned in the role of a father confessor to both Johnson and Williams. Had this been done at Warner Brothers, Melchior's part would have been played by S.Z. Sakall. Melchior even had the cheeks for it.

It's a nice film, maybe a little too light and too silly for today's audience. But Esther Williams fans got what they wanted.

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.

Viewed as a talent showcase this rates high because of the talent of some of the participants. For example, Buddy Rich's drum solo is pure dynamite captured on the screen.

Melchior was a talented singer, but only in opera. He was not an actor, but he has the happiest looking "happyface" you ever saw when he smiles. There is also a young man named Jerry Scott who displays good talent singing "operetta" style, which seems a bit misplaced in the resort setting.

Of course, Esther Williams displays her aquatic talents. In a couple of scenes, you will notice that Van Johnson had some true acting ability (on display here but unexpectedly so in this movie). Johnson and Williams worked well together.

The plot is bland and predictable (I said the word "annullment" about one hour before it was uttered on the screen). This movie could have been too "cutesy" (Spring Byington, a bunch of kids), but is rescued by the individual talent, nice color photography and some good scenery.

Fun and easy flowing movie. Good old film but would LOVE to know the name of the girl playing piano with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the movie. This is not considered a "heavy" movie but light weight and one the kids could watch with mom and dad in today's society. Some typical water scenes of Esther Williams that all of us can enjoy and of course dream we could do the same in our pool. Costuming is tastefully done and this brings back some great music and actually there are several genres covered. Not for Head Bangers or Hip Hoppers but for those that want to hear what the good old stuff really was meant to sound like. Abit more actual acting in this movie than a lot of those that Esther was in. Watch and enjoy!

Thrill of a Romance is such a VERY nice film. I watched it last night and totally enjoyed this cute and entertaining film. Nice swimming scenes with both Esther and Van together. Wonderful diving from Esther in this film and the music was wonderful.

This film is a wonderful way to end any romantic evening. MonaK

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!

It is difficult to discern the main theme of this film because the script is in itself confusing. Most likely it has to do with the extraordinary number of hasty marriages which took place in America during World War Two. The problems surrounding such marriages seemed insurmountable. For example, need marriages of convenience be honored as Cynthia Glenn (Esther Williams) attempts to do when her husband goes to Washington for a week-long meeting during their Honeymoon? Tens of thousands of real life soldiers did in fact leave their new wives shortly after the ceremony, many times leaving unresolved domestic problems as well. Cynthia, a swimming instructor, falls in love with a Major Milvaine (Van Johnson) the non-swimmer, and the complication begins. The value of this film is that a Homefront problem is addressed within the frame of fairly good acting by both Johnson and Williams. Can Cynthia keep swimming with the Major without sinking her marriage?

Esther is the brand-new bride of a wealthy businessman on her honeymoon. She apparently packed 4 swimsuits complete with matching colored plastic flowers for her hair. Her clothes, particularly one green gown with white flowers, are captivating. It's also fun to compare this time's concept of the "manly physique" with ours. Van is most appealing when in his tight officer's jacket that shows broad (padded?) shoulders tapering to a flat waistline. But when he's swimming... he has the muscle definition of an office worker. Gorgeous mountain scenery, and the tenor can really belt it out. Has a young black teen tenor, too, and although they do the "shaky knees and rolling eyes" bit - isn't that what all black people do when they're nervous? - they don't condescend to him and the white older tenor pays for his voice lessons. The plot line is so weak, it's funny - you can see a song set-up a mile away, but if you suspend disbelief, you'll enjoy it!

An exceptionally lovely film offering a wide spectrum of tastes in music, viz.the best of the big band era (Tommy Dorsey) along with the Metropolitan Opera's greatest Heldentenor, Lauritz Melchior. The plot, while rather predictable, is far from boring and stars Esther Williams doing her thing along with one of the biggest male heart throbs of the time, Van Johnson. What a delight in this year of 2006 to see a Hollywood production without a leftist twist, a secret agenda or graphic sex scenes seconds after the lovers first meet. It's just pure entertainment on an emotionally mature level. Sadly this film will be seen as trite and somewhat saccharine by most of today's viewers. For that reason I would recommend it only for older, more mature audiences or for the exceptional younger person who finds himself interested in what the world was like before the widespread corruption of moral values took place.

Abandon all hope ye who enter here. Hope of a meaningful or interesting story, that is. The film starts out as a typical vehicle for Esther Williams to swim and dive through. I am a fan of hers, and I would have been content with that. Immediately, though, the film has her getting married to an unromantic businessman who is no more a leading man than Robert Q. Lewis. Gee, I wonder where this is going? They go to a resort for their honeymoon and he immediately leaves for a business meeting on the east coast, leaving poor Esther all alone with nothing to do, except maybe meet the GI (Van Johnson) who has the room (and balcony) next to hers. There is no point in describing the rest of the plot. It is interrupted every minute or so by a "comedy" bit or a musical number.

My advice is to ignore the plot and just watch the film for the musical numbers (and the occasional shots of the glorious Ms. Williams that are in focus). Unfortunately the musical interludes are often abbreviated. But there are many of them.

Enjoy Tommy Dorsey and his band. They somehow pop up everywhere. Buddy Rich delivers a killer drum solo that--though it is brief--shows why he was the best.

15-year-old Helene Stanley portrays Dorsey's daughter Susan, who plays piano and sings with some serious chops. Too bad they did not let play more jive. (Interesting fact: later, she would marry Johnny Stompanato.)

A young boy named Jerry Scott sings "Please Don't Say No (Say Maybe)" for just a few bars before they cut him off and have him sing the less enjoyable "Because". (Apparently this would be Jerry's only film appearance.)

Lauritz Melchoir displays his serious operatic talents in four or five musical numbers.

The plot is sappy, silly and requires no acting skills. Jettison any concern for it and you can enjoy the musical treats of Thrill of a Romance. In wartime USA, I am sure the GIs overseas loved this piece of fluff. And in their absence, American women somehow found Van Johnson appealing. But some of the gushing reviews for this film on IMDb are, I feel, unfathomable.

Esther Williams is a beautiful, sweet old fashioned girl from Hollywood's golden age. Her specialties have been those glamorous, spectacular water ballet numbers, but she doesn't have much of one in this film though.(My very favorite Esther swimming water ballets are in "Million dollar mermaid", " This time for keeps", and "Bathing beauty". But I've enjoyed all of them. I also loved Esther's skiing show in "Easy to love")

This film is more of just a romance, but a good one. Esther has just gotton married, and they take their honeymoon to a resort at Yosemite national park. But Esther's husband leaves her on their first day of the trip to do a business deal. I don't care how good a business deal looks, if it would leave me earning even a little under a million dollars, I would never ditch my newly married wife on our honeymoon. When he leaves, Esther is sobbing on her hotel room balcony and is overheard by Van Johnson in the room next door. They start talking, they hit it off and start spending time together. And Esther, (who was an Olympic swimmer in real life) even teaches Van how to swim. There are some good supporting characters here. Professional opera singer Lauritz Melchior who is singing for the hotel, struggles (humorously) to stay on a diet, willing to do almost anything for a steak, potatoes, and a beer, including singing for it which gets him close, but not quite. Melchior sings a very good song with Esther and others in a bar, "Viva la Compangnie" while drinking. Esther looked so sweet next to him there, you can see that she and Melchior are just wanting to drink and have fun, unlike the "stuffed shirt" husband who leaves their vacation to work after just one phone call. I also kinda liked the scene where Melchior, with that other guy (who was a doctor), gives in from the diet and simply enjoys himself endulging himself with food and beer while singing about it. I agree, let loose and enjoy life, eat and drink what you want if it feels good. Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra provide the background music, and a girl, about 9 or 10 plays Lizts Hungarian Rhapsody on the piano almost as good as Franz Liszt. Then she jazzes it up and Dorsey plays the trombone, and she starts singing. What talent she had in both piano and singing. I wonder what became of her after this film. Then later, she has to start the music up of a song Lauritz sings because the rest of the orchestra doesn't know it. There's a lot of feel good chemistry between Esther and Van and you know **SPOILER** they'll end up together. Well I sure hope so because I would feel sorry for Esther if she was dumb enough to go back to that neglectful jerk husband of hers. Anyway, I'm glad Van gets with Esther. That's what he really deserved.

Esther Williams plays a swimming teacher who marries a rich guy after a whirlwind courtship. But he abandons her on their honeymoon to go tend to business matters, leaving her to fall in love with soldier Van Johnson. Lackluster vehicle for Esther and Van. Esther in Technicolor is radiant, as always. The scenes of her in a bathing suit are among the film's highlights. Van does fine with a role he could sleepwalk through. The nice supporting cast includes Spring Byington, Henry Travers, and Frances Gifford. Carleton G. Young plays the reptilian-looking husband. There was something off-putting about this guy from the first time I saw him. He really crept me out. The romance is tepid and I often found myself waiting for the next musical number, some of which are by Tommy Dorsey's orchestra (which I like) and others are opera (which I didn't like). See it for Esther or the music, if you must, but keep expectations low. It's pretty forgettable and corny.

A very typical musical of the 1940s. Boy and girl marry quickly, and while on a honeymoon, he has to speed off for business ventures, and she finds love. Esther Williams again proved that she was no actress whatsoever.

Henry Travers, so memorable in Mrs. Miniver, and Spring Byington play the dithering aunt and uncle. The real good job here goes to Lauritz Melchior, the opera tenor, who gives good advice to Williams. He voice was as charming as ever and he proved that he could do some acting, especially in scenes with Ethel Griffies, who spent 37 years in the family of 8 years before in the memorable Oscar winning "How Green Was My Valley."

A routine but enjoyable movie. Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra really liven things up as well.

Thrill of a Romance Esther Williams Van Johnson

I did not see the movie but my father saw it last night and said it was wonderful and he especially liked the song by Lauritz Melchiore. He wants to find a copy of the recording that Lauritz Melchiore sang in this movie---something about "please don't say no, say maybe...come back in the spring but don't say maybe..." I can download to a disc if I know where to go???? I guess I can order the movie also, but one website said not available.

Anyone know?

Thanks, Lee Ann

How great to be able to see a movie that included Tommy Dorsey, Buddy De Franco and Buddy Rich on the screen; it's a treat for an jazz lover. And when was the last time they made a movie that included an opera singer (Lauritz Melchior). Will it ever happen again? Maybe with Andrea Bochelli but he's never sung at the Met. This hodge-podge of a story and cast, set in incredibly beautiful California landscapes in hyper-Technicolor, has lots of nostalgic charm. There is a lot you can learn about life in America in 1945 watching this movie: what was salable to audiences, acceptable sex roles, what hairdos were hip, the fashions of the day. Notice how few people are fat? I can't stand Van Johnson, but I can live with is presence just to see the Yosemite scenery and the redwoods.

While this was the first time both Esther Williams and Van Johnson were the leads in a motion picture, this wasn't the first time they were in a scene together onscreen: that was in A Guy Named Joe a few years before when Ms. Williams had a brief dancing sequence with him. He's not the only man in her life here, another one played by Carleton G. Young also figures but watch the movie if you want to know what I'm talking about. There's also amusing supporting turns by Spring Byington and Henry Travers as Esther's relatives. By the way, I always think of Mr. Travers first as Clarence Oddbody, Angel 2nd Class from my favorite movie It's a Wonderful Life. While I'm not an opera fan, I did enjoy the singing of Lauritz Melchior especially when he performed with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Incidentally, Tommy introes a teen named Helene Stanley-who does a fine piano and singing-as his daughter Susan but he wouldn't have such an offspring with that name until four years after this movie's release. There's also a nice singing performance by African-American teen Jerry Scott who plays a bellhop, which emphasizes the limitation of roles for his race in Hollywood at the time. Also, a fine drum solo from Dorsey's drummer Buddy Rich. In summary, I enjoyed this fluff Thrill of a Romance represented during this time of war all over the world that must have pleased many patrons looking for some distraction...

A lot of talent displayed in 'Thrill of a Romance', and while there are many pleasures the film overall is a mixed bag and one of Esther Williams' weaker films.

The problem does not lie with Williams, she has a lot of charm and robustness to her performance, looks luminous and proves herself as ever a superb swimming athlete. Nor with her aquatic sequences, part of you wishes there were more and there are more imaginative ones in her other films but they are still beautifully filmed, elegant, fun and performed with envious poise and energy by Williams.

Can't say anything bad about the production values, 'Thrill of a Romance' is beautifully filmed and the Technicolor is exquisite. The music, with the bonuses too of being performed by the likes of the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Xavier Cugat (with Buddy Rich providing a killer drum solo), are a great mix of classical music (Schubert's "Standchen" and "Vesti La Giubba" from 'Pagliacci' notable) and songs written for the film, the hits being "I Should Care" and "Please Don't Say No, Say Maybe".

Henry Travers and Spring Byington are marvellously dotty, and one wishes there were more of them, and Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior is in resplendent voice and lightens up the screen with his smile and cheeky but well-intentioned charm especially.

Van Johnson, on the other hand, despite a relaxed rapport with Williams (though the romance feels underwritten), looks uncomfortable much of the time, and Richard Thorpe (though not an amateur job by all means) could have directed with more verve and imagination.

It is the insipid script, with too often leaden humour and vacuous emotional elements, a pedestrian pace outside of the musical numbers and the scenes with Travers and Byington and a story that is full of ridiculous contrivances and over-stretched padding that fare worst in 'Thrill of a Romance'.

Overall, bliss in some areas, a failure in others. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Great wartime escapism. The movie trailer states the boys overseas are going to get to see the film too. One look at Esther Williams in a bathing suit and I'll bet our GI's could wind up the war the next day. Nothing taxing here, just glossy glamor MGM style with a one-note plot thrown in. Williams and Johnson make an ideal movie couple, and of course we know they'll end up together even if it takes an hour and a half.

It's still early in our mermaid's career so there's little signature water ballet, but she does do some acrobatic diving that almost gave this old guy a backache. And, surprise, operatic tenor Melchior not only does some highbrow singing, but shows he can handle dialog too. It's the kind of jocular cupid role that "Cuddles" Szakall usually got in these romantic bon-bons. Actually, I was hoping for more featured swing numbers form Dorsey's band, but at least Buddy Rich gets a mind-bending drum solo. Anyhow, if you're looking for some slick eye and ear entertainment with absolutely no demands on the brain, then catch up with this picture postcard that MGM did best.

This movie does actually have a plot, but you're better off not bothering with it. Van Johnson and Esther Williams do their best with it, but the plot is truly of no interest. They both made much better movies, and probably few others this weak.

That is not to say that the movie is not worth watching, however. But its merits are strictly musical. Tommy Dorsey gets some good numbers with his band, but the true star of the picture, much more important than his billing would lead you to believe, is Metropolitan Opera tenor Lauritz Melchior. At this point, Melchior was winding down his career at the Met - he would be one of the "old timers" to go when Rudolf Bing arrived and did a lot of "house cleaning." And perhaps the performances he was giving there were no longer what they should have been. But in this movie, he really steals the show. He plays an over-weight tenor, a part that fitted him to a T, with an affability and sense of humor that make him seem completely at ease on the screen, unlike too many of his Met colleagues who had taken their turns in Hollywood. He also sings with a voice that is still rock solid. And he has a lot of numbers, from his classical standards like Grieg's "Ich liebe dich" and "Vesti la giubba" to some pop numbers, of which the best is the closing one: "Please don't say no, say maybe." Go out to make popcorn while the plot is advancing, but make sure you come back for the musical numbers!

In this film, Cynthia (Esther Williams) is romanced by a rich industrialist, Robert Delbar (Carleton Young). After a very short courtship, they marry. However, almost as soon as they arrive at the hotel for their honeymoon, Robert is called away on business--and stays away a very long time. The new Mrs. Delbar is lonely yet oddly accepting--and I think almost every other woman would have gotten an annulment and left the jerk. During this prolonged stay, Cynthia begins spending time with a handsome war hero (Van Johnson) and it's obvious he's very smitten by her. What will become of them?

While I generally enjoyed this film, it is weak for an Esther Williams film because there is more swimming and LOTS of opera--which tended to disrupt the nice romance between Cynthia and the pilot. Still, the film is enjoyable and worth seeing. I also appreciated seeing and hearing young Jerry Scott sing--and it's amazing with such a fine voice this would be his only movie credit!

By the way, in addition to filming most of the film in a sound stage (with a VERY obvious painting serving as the 'mountains'), a bit of the film was filmed on location. Part was filmed at Big Bear Lake and part at Yosimite--two places more than five hours apart by car!

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.