A startling start, a bubbling story.
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I have come to know the films of Esther Williams through the BBC2 and Channel 4 re-runs in the afternoons, very much in the way she says a lot of younger people have come to know her through Turner Classic Movies in America. Being a keen swimmer myself, I thought this book might not only be a gossip fest about her career, but be useful to me too. Correct on both counts. She talks through her more memorable underwater scenes (I tried a few of her moves and they are incredibly hard, it made me appreciate what an Olympic class swimmer she was) and then she through in lots of affairs and divorces and worrying detail (a couple of the crew on one film tied from typhoid when they were in Mexico - it wasn't all limos and champagne). The start of this book really shook me - not at all what I expected and made sure I carried on reading (no, I won't spoil it by saying what it is!).
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An engaging biography from a film legend!
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Esther Williams, though not the most widely remembered golden era stars, writes a throughly enjoyable guide to Hollywood in it's hey day.
The book starts out with William's description of her rather poverty stricken background and recounts her rise from shop assistent to MGM star.
William's book contains lots of gossip on such legends as Lana Turner and other co stars; but what really stands out is William's strength through her gruelling schedule and numerous studio related accidents. She is more a admiral star than those who may be better remembered than her.
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Enchanting, a book that really takes you on a journey
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having started reading books about stars of this hollywood era, this was one of the best, she tells of how she was guided from a normal life as a salesgirl and swimmer to a star of the golden screen, I could not put it down.
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A fantastic book with some suprising hollywood gossip!
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I absolutely loved this book. Esther Williams gives her bad moments as well as her good & engages your attention with the first page with a bit of a shocker! She was an amazing lady & tells her story so well. I was gripped. I am about to start reading it again, once I get it back from the long list of people who couldn't wait to read it. Also some lovely pictures are included to put some faces to the names.
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A self-deprecating and funny autobiography of a lovely woman
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Ths book starts on an odd note, telling of the author's introduction to LSD by Cary Grant, but it soon hits its pace, recounting the childhood and magical career of swimming star Esther Williams. Esther started out as a swimming champion, but was spotted by a talent scout and recruited to a water show called the Aquacades. From here, the movies beckoned, and she starred in water-based musical hit after hit. Along the way she married four times and had some enviable affairs with leading men. Her first screen test was with a very dashing Clark Gable, who kept kissing her to disguise the fact that he hadn't learnt his lines, and gave her the nickname "The Mermaid". Throughout, Esther retains her sense of proportion and wonderment at her success, and by the end of the book I felt that I really wanted to meet her. I love showbiz biographies, and this is one of the best of recent years.
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