Thrill of a Romance

Thrill of a Romance

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Produced by Joe Pasternak
Written by Richard Connell
Gladys Lehman
Starring Van Johnson
Esther Williams
Frances Gifford
Carleton G. Young
Lauritz Melchior
Music by Calvin Jackson
George Stoll
Cinematography Harry Stradling
Edited by George Boemler
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
 May 23, 1945 (1945-05-23)
Running time
 105 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1,410,000[1]
Box office $7,205,000[1]

Thrill of a Romance (also known as Thrill of a New Romance)[2] was an American romance film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1945, starring Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by opera singer Lauritz Melchior. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe and written by Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman.

The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. However, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away to Washington, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with a war hero, Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson.

This was the second of five films that paired Williams and Johnson together. Made over a period of eight years, those that followed were Easy to Wed (1946), Duchess of Idaho (1950) and Easy to Love (1953).[3]

Thrill of a Romance was a box office success, becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 1945.

Plot

Cynthia Glenn (Esther Williams) is a swimming instructor in Los Angeles, California, where she lives with her scatterbrained aunt and uncle Nona and Hobart (Spring Byington and Henry Travers). While demonstrating a dive to her students, she catches the eye of an interested stranger, Bob Delbar (Carleton G. Young). Cynthia returns home to find that she has received flowers from the stranger. The two court for one month, and then get married.

They leave immediately after the wedding on their honeymoon to the hotel Monte Belva, where they encounter the famous opera singer, Nils Knudsen (Lauritz Melchior). Major Thomas Milvaine (Van Johnson), who is also staying at the hotel, notices Cynthia. J.P. Bancroft, a rich colleague, calls Bob and insists that he come to Washington to complete a deal. While Cynthia cries over Bob's departure, Tommy, who is staying next door, comforts her.

The next day, Cynthia ventures down to the pool, where she and J.P.Bancroft's daughter, Maude (Frances Gifford) speculate as to which hotel guest is Major Thomas Milvaine, the decorated war hero, who shot down "16... or was it 26 war planes?" and was stuck on a deserted island for a month. After Maude teases Cynthia about being at the hotel without her husband on her vacation, Cynthia performs an elaborate dive and swims around the pool, where she proceeds to run into Major Milvaine himself, who can't actually swim, so she teaches him how.

Bob (Carleton G. Young) returns to his honeymoon to see his wife Esther Williams with another man Van Johnson

For the rest of the week, Cynthia and Tommy continue accompanying each other to dinner and other activities around the hotel, including swimming. On the last day, Cynthia receives a telegram from Bob informing her that he will not be able to come back to the hotel for another week. However, Tommy is leaving the next morning, and Cynthia is distraught, so she retires to her room. Tommy realizes he loves her, rushes to their adjoining balcony, confesses his love for her and tells her that he is planning on staying for another week. However, Cynthia reiterates that she's a married woman, therefore, she won't let him hop over the hedge separating their two balconies and make love to her. She calls Bob in Washington and begs him to return, but he tells her that he can't.

Cynthia looks for Tommy the next morning, but is told that he has checked out the hotel after their conversation the previous night, so she goes for a walk on her own on the Sunset Trail. Tommy returns to the hotel, learns where Cynthia has gone, and sets off after her on the trail. Meanwhile, Bob telephones the hotel and leaves a message indicating that he will be arriving the following morning. Tommy finds Cynthia and they proceed to walk together until they come across a tree with initials engraved on it. Cynthia tells Tommy that she loves him as well, but wants to give her marriage to Bob a chance, and lets him know that once they get back to the hotel, they should say their goodbyes and never see each other again. However, on the return trip, they lose their way and are forced to spend the night in the woods.

The next morning, Bob arrives and finds that his wife isn't anywhere in the hotel. When they do return, Tommy tries to explain their disappearance, while Bob realizes that the two are in love. He becomes angry with Cynthia, and announces he wants an annulment after Cynthia admits that she fell in love with Tommy. Bob calls his lawyer, he finds out that he was never actually divorced from his previous wife. Tommy leaves to become an instructor at Darwin Field, and Cynthia returns home to her aunt and uncle. Nils Knudsen (Lauritz Melchior) telephones Tommy, and later, the two arrive at Cynthia's house late at night with Dorsey and a contingent of his orchestra, where they serenade the Glenn house, as well as the rest of the neighborhood. Tommy lip-synches Knudsen's voice to a love song to Cynthia. Cynthia runs outside to Tommy, and the two share a kiss while Knudsen continues singing, leaving Nona, and a bemused Hobart, to wonder how Tommy can sing and kiss at the same time.

Cast

Drummer Buddy Rich (uncredited, except for the 'BR' logo on his bass drum) notably performs a short solo in one scene, as well playing with the Dorsey Orchestra in several others.

Sixteen-year-old Jerry Scott sings a beautiful rendition of Because (You Come to Me with Naught Save Love).

Production

It was Esther Williams' first film following her debut as a star in Bathing Beauty. MGM described the film as "primarily a human comedy with musical trimmings".[4] Johnson's casting was announced in March 1944.[5] Robert Z. Leonard was meant to direct but he fell ill so Richard Thorpe took over.[6]

When attempting to create the right shade of blue for the swimming pool, the set decorator discovered that the paint he had used to color the cement had dissolved after adding the chlorine to the pool, creating a mess with the consistency of homogenized milk. The pool had to be drained and refilled.[7]

In her autobiography, Williams said that the studio attempted to put her and costar Van Johnson together in public as much as possible, even though she was involved with future husband (and ex-husband) Ben Gage. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals." [7]

While filming, Williams and Thorpe rarely got along. After Williams forgot several lines during one take and the cast and crew began to leave for lunch, Williams notified Thorpe of her mistake. He called the entire crew back to the stage, saying "Turn the lights back on, boys. This lady wants to act." Williams locked herself in her dressing room for the rest of the day. After that episode, Thorpe stopped picking on her.[7]

When filming the backstroke scenes in the swimming pool, Williams had to place her hand under Johnson's back to keep him afloat.[7]

The Office of War Information voiced concern that the film, set in an elegant resort, would pose problems with overseas distribution. A memo from the agency claimed that films boasting of American opulence would be resented by the allies closer to the fighting front.[8]

Release

The film wrapped on October 1, 1944, and was released the following year. It was previewed in a small neighborhood outside of Los Angeles. Cards filled out by the audience were filled with comments such as "Van is a darling" and "I love that boy...I love him more than Frankie." [8]

The film premiered at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, with the proceeds going to the war wounded. Johnson was overcome by female fans upon his arrival and exit to the theater. Fans stole his handkerchief, boutonnière and buttons from his shirt. They also yanked his tie, tore his collar and ripped his red hair from his head, leaving his scalp bleeding.[8]

Critical response

A 1945 New York Times review of the film claimed that "the minutes drag on here unthrillingly" and that "as for Miss Williams, she models a bathing suit handsomely and cuts a fine figure in the water. But right there her talent ends."[9]

A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Thrill of a Romance is all bright colors but the luster is only glaze deep. But its gaudiness will carry it through, especially with the fans." [8]

When the film opened at the Capitol Theater in Manhattan, the critic from the New York Herald Tribune remarked that Johnson gave "the type of performance that has endeared him to the younger set. He is the antithesis of the 'wolf'...clean cut, amiable, a little shy, and needing aid and comfort." [8]

Box office

Thrill of a Romance was the eighth top grossing film of 1945 in the US and Canada, earning $4,338,000.[10][11] It also earned $2,682,000 in other countries, resulting in a profit of $3,259,000.[1]

Home media

On October 6, 2009, Turner Entertainment released Thrill of a Romance on DVD as part of the Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 2. The 6 disc set was a follow up to the company's Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 1, and contains digitally remastered versions of several of Williams's films including Fiesta (1947), This Time for Keeps (1947), Pagan Love Song (1950), Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) and Easy to Love (1953).[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
  2. ↑ TCM Database listing for Thrill of a Romance
  3. ↑ TCM article on Thrill of a Romance
  4. ↑ Crown as Hollywood's Zip Girl of 1944 Goes to Esther Williams: Bathing Beauty Possessed of More Than Pulchritude Bathing Girl Has Film Zip Title for 1944 Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 16 July 1944: C1.
  5. ↑ Of Local Origin New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 01 Mar 1944: 17
  6. ↑ 'Balloon Man' Secures Contract at Long Last: Dudley Murphy to Glorify Mexican Resort; Melton May Star in 'Martha' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 22 July 1944: 7.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Williams, Esther (1999). The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography (1st ed.). ISBN 9780156011358. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Davis, Ronald L. (2001). Van Johnson: MGM's Golden Boy (1st ed.). ISBN 9781578063772. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  9. ↑ New York Times review
  10. ↑ Box Office Report listing for 1945
  11. ↑ Parish, James Robert (1980). The Forties Gals (Illustrated ed.). ISBN 9780870004285.
  12. ↑ TCM listing for the Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 2
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