Steven Wagner - Stevan Vagner, Podrum COLLEGIUM MELODIUM, World music museum in BELGRAD, BANE DRAGAN, KRLE and GREAT Edit Makedonska, present, Bathing Beauty a 1944 musical starring Red Skelton, Basil Rathbone and Esther Williams and directed by George Sidney.
Although this was not Williams' screen debut, it was her first Technicolor musical. The film was initially to be titled "Mr. Co-Ed" with Red Skelton having top billing. However, once MGM executives watched the first cut of the film, they realized that Esther Williams' role should be showcased more, and changed the title to "Bathing Beauty," giving her prominent billing and featuring her bathing-suit clad figure on the posters .
The film is also Janis Paige's film debut. After this film Paige would go to Warner Brothers to make such films as Of Human Bondage, Hollywood Canteen, and Romance on the High Seas. In later years, Paige would return to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in few films.n Los Angeles, popular songwriter Steve Elliott (Red Skelton) prepares to marry Caroline Brooks (Esther Williams), who has pledged to give up her job as a college swimming instructor once she has wed. Likewise, Steve plans to quit his songwriting career, even though New York producer George Adams (Basil Rathbone) has already hired him to write new songs for a water ballet show. IN film YOU ,ll hear "Magic is the Moonlight (Te quiero, dijiste)" - Carlos Ramírez (in Spanish) with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra
"I'll Take the High Note" - played during the opening credits, then Red Skelton, Jean Porter, Janis Paige, Carlos Ramírez and Helen Forrest
"Bim, Bam, Bum" - Lina Romay with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra
"Trumpet Blues and Cantabile" - Harry James and His Music Makers with Harry James on trumpet
"By the Waters of Minnetonka: an Indian Love Song" - Ethel Smith
"Tico-Tico no Fubá" - Ethel Smith
"Alma llanera" - Lina Romay with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra
"Hora staccato" - Harry James, Harry James and His Music Makers