Million Dollar Mermaid [VHS]
Million Dollar Mermaid, starring the incomparable Esther Williams, is the story of "the incomparable Annette Kellerman," an Australian swimming champion and water ballet artist who went on to perform in New York's Hippodrome. We start off in Sidney, Australia, where a young Annette is hampered by cumbersome leg braces. She starts swimming to strengthen her legs and before you know it, a star is born. Annette swims and dives her way through the show-biz ranks, struggling to support her musician father and fighting every woman's battle between Love and Career. The highlight ofMillion Dollar Mermaidis a jaw-dropping water ballet production number that simply must be seen to be believed. Colored smoke! Trapezes! Water slides! Water starlets making floating stars with kicking legs! And, of course, Esther herself, surrounded by sparklers and swimming in all her mermaid glory. They don't make 'em like this anymore: this blast from the past is not to be missed.--Ali Davis