Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Having survived polio as a child (Donna Corcoran), an Australian swimmer (Esther Williams, who doesn't bother with the Aussie accent) relocates to London and later New York in her rise to fame. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy (QUO VADIS), this highly fictionalized movie biography of Annette Kellerman is one of Esther Williams' better vehicles. The storyline is a smidge more than the usual fluff she did and the aquatic production numbers are truly spectacular, thanks to Busby Berkeley's audacious eye. MGM imported Victor Mature from 20th Century Fox so she has a stronger leading man than usual although their pairing never quite catches fire. George Foley's vivid three strip Technicolor lensing got an Oscar nomination. If you've never seen an Esther Williams movie, this is a good a place as any to start. With Walter Pidgeon, David Brian, Jesse White, Frank Ferguson and Maria Tallchief as Anna Pavlova.