Duchess of Idaho ** (1950, Esther Williams, Van Johnson, John Lund, Paula Raymond) – Classic Movie Review 10,516

The glossy, insubstantial 1950 MGM Technicolor musical romantic comedy Duchess of Idaho gets in the swim with a triangular romance between Esther Williams (‘wet she’s a star’) as roommate Chris Duncan, Van Johnson (as the band leader Dick Layn) and John Lund (as the playboy Doug Morrison Jr) set against varied backgrounds of skiing and swimming. Paula Raymond is also in the romantic mix as Ellen Hallet, who is in love with her boss Doug, prompting Chris’s help.

There is much added oomph from guest appearances by Lena Horne (as Herself), Red Skelton (as Himself), Mel Tormé (as Cyril the Bellhop), Connie Haines (as Peggy Elliot), The Jubalaires (as Train Porters) and Eleanor Powell (as Herself), who pops back from six years of retirement (she married Glenn Ford) for a sizzling dance number. Williams said Powell practised her dance routine until her feet bled, saying it had to be perfect.

Williams recalled Duchess of Idaho as a ‘re-hash of the Esther Williams formula: the mismatched lovers plot. It was enough to give one a case of cinematic deja vu.’ However, it was a hit, earning $2,851,000 in the US and $1,385,000 abroad, making MGM a profit of $921,000 on a budget of $1,705,000.

Robert Z Leonard directs and Jack Donohue directs the numbers. The original screenplay is by Dorothy Cooper and Jerry Davis.

Also in the cast are Clinton Sundberg, Amanda Blake, Sig Arno, Tommy Farrell and Dick Simmons.

The fourth pairing of Williams and Johnson, it was shot between October and December 1949 at the MGM Studios, 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, California, with exteriors shot in Sun Valley, Idaho. Williams and Johnson made five films together: A Guy Named Joe, Thrill of a Romance, Easy to Wed, Duchess of Idaho, and Easy to Love.

It was Horne’s last film under her contract with MGM but she made several more MGM musical appearances later in Fifties.

Powell was married to Ford from 23 October 1943 to 23 November 1959. After her marriage she was not seen on film except for the number in Duchess of Idaho, but after her divorce she started a night-club career.

Three musical numbers filmed for the movie were cut from the cinema release that finally appeared on a DVD in a 2004 box set of the That’s Entertainment! films.

Four songs survived: Let’s Choo Choo Choo to Idaho (written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston) is sung by Van Johnson, Connie Haines and The Jubilaires; You Can’t Do Wrong Doin’ Right (written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston) is sung by Van Johnson and Connie Haines; Of All Things (written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston) is sung by Connie Haines; and Baby Come Out of the Clouds (written by Henry Nemo and Lee Pearl) is sung by Lena Horne.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,516

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