Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)
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- Approved
- 1h 55min
- Biography, Drama
- 13 Mar 1953 (Australia)
- Movie
Biopic of Australian swimming champ and entertainer Annette Kellerman. After overcoming polio, Kellerman achieves fame and creates a scandal when her one-piece bathing suit is considered indecent.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Esther Williams | ... |
Annette Kellerman
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| Victor Mature | ... |
James Sullivan
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| Walter Pidgeon | ... |
Frederick Kellerman
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| David Brian | ... |
Alfred Harper
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| Donna Corcoran | ... |
Annette - 10 years old
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| Jesse White | ... |
Doc Cronnol
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| Maria Tallchief | ... |
Pavlova
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| Howard Freeman | ... |
Aldrich
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| Charles Watts | ... |
Policeman
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| Wilton Graff | ... |
Garvey
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| Frank Ferguson | ... |
Prosecutor
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| James Bell | ... |
Judge
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| James Flavin | ... |
Conductor
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| Willis Bouchey | ... |
Director
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Faye Antaky | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Jessie Arnold | ... |
Bather (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Aubrey | ... |
Pawnbroker (uncredited)
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| Joan Barton | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Guy Bellis | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Wilson Benge | ... |
Caretaker (uncredited)
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| Gail Bonney | ... |
Outraged Woman at Revere Beach (uncredited)
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Eugene Borden | ... |
Cameraman on Movie Set (uncredited)
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George Boyce | ... |
Banker (uncredited)
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| Marshall Bradford | ... |
Skeptic in Rector's Restaurant (uncredited)
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Paul Bradley | ... |
Defense Attorney (uncredited)
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| Chet Brandenburg | ... |
Crew Member (uncredited)
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Carol Brewster | ... |
Showgirl (uncredited)
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| Benny Burt | ... |
Bum (uncredited)
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Collin Campbell | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Danny Casabian | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Sue Casey | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Diane Cassidy | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Ann Cavendish | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Mack Chandler | ... |
Robbie - Prop Man (uncredited)
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Bill Chatham | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Edward Clark | ... |
Manin Train Compartment (uncredited)
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Dorinda Clifton | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Lillian Culver | ... |
Wife on Beach (uncredited)
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| Adrienne D'Ambricourt | ... |
Marie, Kellerman's Housekeeper (uncredited)
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Herbert Deans | ... |
English Reporter (uncredited)
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Frankie Dee | ... |
Man at Rector's Restaurant (uncredited)
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| Leslie Denison | ... |
Purser (uncredited)
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| Tom Dillon | ... |
Process Server (uncredited)
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Vernon Downing | ... |
Newspaper Man (uncredited)
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David Dunbar | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Mary Earle | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Jerry Elliott | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Al Ferguson | ... |
London Bobby (uncredited)
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| Pat Flaherty | ... |
Policeman at Montauk Point (uncredited)
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James Fowler | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Stanley Fraser | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Paul Frees | ... |
Bandleader (uncredited)
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Ben Frommer | ... |
Beachgoer (uncredited)
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| James Gonzalez | ... |
Beachgoer (uncredited)
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Alex Goudovitch | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Arthur Gould-Porter | ... |
English Reporter (uncredited)
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A. Cameron Grant | ... |
Cockney Seaman on Barge (uncredited)
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| Dabbs Greer | ... |
Movie Set Engineer (uncredited)
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Michael Hadlow | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Bobbie Hale | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Creighton Hale | ... |
Husband on Beach (uncredited)
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| Charlie Hall | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| John Hamilton | ... |
Skeptic in Rector's Restaurant (uncredited)
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| Sam Harris | ... |
Club Patron (uncredited)
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Whitey Haupt | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Chester Hayes | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Charles Heard | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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Clarence Hennecke | ... |
New York Newsboy (uncredited)
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Harry Hines | ... |
Andy, Sideshow Watchman (uncredited)
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| Robin Hughes | ... |
English Reporter (uncredited)
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T. Arthur Hughes | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Olaf Hytten | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Lilyan Irene | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Dick Johnstone | ... |
Contest Spectator (uncredited)
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James L. Kelly | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Dorothy Kennedy | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Colin Kenny | ... |
Ship Passenger on Deck (uncredited)
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| Skelton Knaggs | ... |
Cheering Man on Tower Bridge (uncredited)
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| Mike Lally | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Janet Lavis | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Percy Lennon | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Queenie Leonard | ... |
Mrs. Graves - John's Mother (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Lewis | ... |
Violinist (uncredited)
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James Logan | ... |
English Reporter (uncredited)
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Jack Lomas | ... |
Manon Revere Beach (uncredited)
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| Louise Lorimer | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Betty Lynn | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Louis Manley | ... |
Fire Eater (uncredited)
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Lock Martin | ... |
Giant (uncredited)
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| John Maxwell | ... |
Doctor Vance (uncredited)
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Joan McKellen | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Walter Merrill | ... |
Cameraman (uncredited)
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| Frank Mills | ... |
Roustabout (uncredited)
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Eleanor Moore | ... |
Bather (uncredited)
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Clive Morgan | ... |
Championship Swim Judge (uncredited)
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Edith Motridge | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| William J. O'Brien | ... |
Banker (uncredited)
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Vesey O'Davoren | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Patrick O'Moore | ... |
Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
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Betty Jean Onge | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Frankie Park | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Mary Parker | ... |
Woman at Rector's Restaurant (uncredited)
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| Regis Parton | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Genevieve Pasques | ... |
Pavlova's Maid (uncredited)
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Frank Pharr | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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| Dorothy Poynton | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Maudie Prickett | ... |
Grace - Nurse / Receptionist (uncredited)
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| Jean Ransome | ... |
Ballet Teacher (uncredited)
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Kathryn Reed | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Gordon Richards | ... |
Casey (uncredited)
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Alice Richey | ... |
Bather (uncredited)
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Robert Robinson | ... |
Spectator on Bridge (uncredited)
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| Rod Rogers | ... |
Marcellino the Clown (uncredited)
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Peter Roman | ... |
Small Boy (uncredited)
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| Cosmo Sardo | ... |
Waiter (uncredited)
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Audrey Saunders | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Ray Saunders | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Russell Saunders | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Scott Seaton | ... |
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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| Charles Sherlock | ... |
Banker (uncredited)
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| Elizabeth Slifer | ... |
Soprano (uncredited)
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| Dean Smith | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Cap Somers | ... |
Spectator on Bridge (uncredited)
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| Rosemarie Stack | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Murray Steckler | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Ship Passenger on Deck (uncredited)
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| Cy Stevens | ... |
Man in Suit (uncredited)
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Gene Summers | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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| Larri Thomas | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Stuart Torres | ... |
John Graves (uncredited)
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Arthur Tovey | ... |
Circus Attendant (uncredited)
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| Nancy Valentine | ... |
Harper's Secretary (uncredited)
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| George D. Wallace | ... |
Bud Williams - Stunt Pilot (uncredited)
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Margaret Wells | ... |
Floor Nurse (uncredited)
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| Patrick Whyte | ... |
Barge Man (uncredited)
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Kay Wiley | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Harry Wilson | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Eric Wilton | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Robert Winans | ... |
Small Boy (uncredited)
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Sally Yarnell | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Fred Zendar | ... |
Swimmer (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Mervyn LeRoy | ||
Written by
| Everett Freeman | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Arthur Hornblow Jr. | ... | producer |
Music by
| Adolph Deutsch | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| George J. Folsey | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| John McSweeney Jr. | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Ballbusch | ... | montage |
| Alvord Eiseman | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
| Henri Jaffa | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| Jack Martin Smith | ||
Set Decoration by
| Richard Pefferle | ||
| Edwin B. Willis | ||
Costume Design by
| Walter Plunkett | ||
| Helen Rose | ... | (musical numbers) |
Makeup Department
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair stylist |
| William Tuttle | ... | makeup artist |
| Betty Pedretti | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Eddie Polo | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Lee Katz | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Howard W. Koch | ... | assistant director |
| Fletcher Clark | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Anders Gullberg | ... | poster artist : Sweden (uncredited) |
| Don Scannavinni | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | sound |
| Robert B. Lee | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | special effects |
| Warren Newcombe | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Fred Carson | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Helen Crlenkovich Morgan | ... | stunt diver for esther williams (uncredited) |
| Connie Tilton | ... | stunt double (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Richard Browner | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| C.A. Philbrick | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Jack Willoughby | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Morris Brown | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Florence Hackett | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
| Gertrude Kirkwood | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Tommy Thompson | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Alexander Courage | ... | orchestrator |
| Adolph Deutsch | ... | musical director |
| Alexander Courage | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| William J. Hole Jr. | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Busby Berkeley | ... | choreographer |
| Audrene Brier | ... | choreographer |
| Annette Kellerman | ... | technical advisor (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (United States) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1953) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Metro (1954) (Norway) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD) (included in the "TCM Spotlight: Esther Williams, Volume 2" collection)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Million Dollar Mermaid tells the story of Australian swimming sensation Annette Kellerman, who overcame childhood polio to go on and achieve fame as a professional swimmer and film star in the early decades of the 20th century. At the same time, she scandalized the world by wearing a one-piece bathing suit on public beaches long before the style was accepted in polite company, and made waves in other ways as well. The story was a perfect vehicle decades later to showcase the star quality of Esther Williams in the 1950s, and Kellerman's moniker was picked up by Life Magazine when it named Ms. Williams the "Million Dollar Mermaid" herself. Written by Tedosan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Inspired by the true story of bathing beauties! (Million Dollar Mermaid) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In an interview Esther Williams said that she met and spoke with Annette Kellerman before filming began, while attempting to get Kellerman's approval of Williams in the lead role. After the meeting Kellerman gave her complete approval and said she was pleased with the casting choice, though she good-naturedly complained that Williams was much prettier than her. See more » |
| Goofs | Annette Kellerman (Esther Williams) tells the judge that her swimsuit "will cover the entire body except the *forearms* and the head." However, the swimsuit she exhibits in court and which she wears in the following scenes does not cover *any part of her arms*. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in That's Entertainment, Part II (1976). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Let Me Call You Sweetheart See more » |
| Quotes |
James Sullivan:
Baby, somewhere along the line, we got our signals crossed. You've got it into your head that you're Joan of Arc. Well, get it out fast. You're a swimmer doing a tank act in Sullivan's water carnival, and not a bad show either. Annette Kellerman: And how long can it last? After all, all we're doing is capitalizing on a lot of cheap bathing suit publicity. James Sullivan: Well, what do you think this Aldrich thing is anyway? All he's trying to do is cash in on the same dodge, a ballyhoo that I arranged. Annette Kellerman: That you arranged? James Sullivan: Sure. Who do you think got that cop to arrest you? Annette Kellerman: Oh no, Jimmy, you didn't. James Sullivan: Didn't I? Annette Kellerman: Can you stand there... what about all that talk of a crusade and how... James Sullivan: Bunk. Who cares what a lot of females wear on the beach, as long as I can keep you in a one-piece bathing suit? Baby, you're a swimmer. You belong in the water. Wet, you're terrific. Dry, you're just a nice girl who ought to settle down and get married. Annette Kellerman: Thank you very much for the advice. One thing I know for sure, if and when I do get married, it will never be to a cheap, stubborn, flea circus proprietor. James Sullivan: This flea circus does alright for the fleas in it, except when they jump out of their cages. See more » |