The 25+ Best Esther Williams Movies
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1Esther Williams, Fernando Lamas, Jack CarsonAthletic farmer's daughter Katie Higgins (Esther Williams) and her tightly knit family all love swimming. When traveling salesman Windy Weebe (Jack Carson) comes to the farm, he spots Katie's talent and encourages her to swim the English Channel. While training she meets a charming Frenchman, Andrea Lanet (Fernando Lamas), and has a dreamy dip with cartoons Tom and Jerry. In the end, her focus is torn between the swim and deciding between her two suitors, Lanet and Weebe.
2Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Gower ChampionRome is on the verge of being conquered by Hannibal (Howard Keel). While Rome's ruler, Fabius Maximus (George Sanders), plots a defense against Hannibal's armies, Fabius' fiancée, Amytis (Esther Williams), is curious about the fearless conquerer. Amytis travels to Hannibal's camp just to get a look at him, but she ends up being captured. However, she is instantly smitten by the Carthaginian commander, so she tries to shift his attentions away from Rome -- and to her instead.
3Red Skelton, Esther Williams, Basil RathboneSongwriter Steve Elliot (Red Skelton) has just wed his sweetheart, Caroline Brooks (Esther Williams), when a scheming Broadway producer breaks up the marriage. Caroline returns to her position as a college swimming instructor at a girls' college. Desperate to set things right, Elliot enrolls at the college as its sole male student and tries to get Caroline to fall in love with him all over again. But he'll face some competition from stodgy botany professor Willis Evans (Bill Goodwin).
4Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lauritz MelchiorCynthia Glenn (Esther Williams), a beautiful swimming teacher, marries Robert (Carleton G. Young), a dull but wealthy white-collar worker. The couple travels to the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains for their honeymoon, but Robert's work gets in the way of romance, and he leaves on a business trip. Before long, Thomas (Van Johnson), a distinguished serviceman on vacation, catches Cynthia's eye -- and the more she gets to know the soldier, the more she wishes she hadn't married Robert.
5Esther Williams, Lauritz Melchior, Jimmy DuranteDuring World War II, synchronized swimming starlet Nora Cambaretti (Esther Williams) is sent overseas to entertain the U.S. troops. There she meets young serviceman Dick Johnson (Johnnie Johnston), who quickly falls in love with her. When Dick returns to the states, he is delighted to learn that Nora is performing with his father's opera company. Unfortunately, to pursue his love he must first contend with his parents' objections, Nora's bodyguard and several other suitors.
6Esther Williams, Victor Mature, Walter PidgeonA musical romantic drama, this biopic tells the story of influential Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman (Esther Williams), who broke gender barriers while becoming a pioneer of synchronized swimming. Following her father (Walter Pidgeon) from Australia to London, Kellerman combines her passion for dance with her talents as a swimmer, coming of age while learning about love and show business, and working against the inherent repression of female expression in the early 20th century.
7William Powell, Judy Garland, Fred AstaireRunning between 1907 and 1931, the Ziegfeld Follies were elaborate stage revues mounted by the great Broadway showman Florenz Ziegfeld, inspired by the Folies Bergères of Paris. In 1945, film producer Arthur Freed recreated the lavishness of Ziegfeld's shows with this all-star revue, consisting of comedy sketches and song-and-dance numbers featuring MGM Studios' musical comedy stars including Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Lena Horne and Red Skelton.
8Esther Williams, John Saxon, Jack AlbertsonThe Unguarded Moment is a 1956 drama mystery film directed by Harry Keller.
9Rita Moreno, Esther Williams, Howard KeelPagan Love Song is a 1950 musical-romance film written by Jerry Davis, Robert Nathan and William S. Stone and directed by Robert Alton.
10Esther Williams, Barry Sullivan, Whit BissellSkirts Ahoy! is a 1952 MGM musical film shot in Technicolor and directed by Sidney Lanfield. It stars Esther Williams and Joan Evans.The films follows the adventures of several women who join the WAVES with sequences filmed on location at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. The film also features the film debut of Billy Eckstein.
11Esther Williams, Jeff Chandler, Eduardo De FilippoRaw Wind in Eden is a 1958 film starring Jeff Chandler and Esther Williams.
12Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Ricardo MontalbanAquatic dancer Eve Barrett (Esther Williams), now partnered with Joe Backett (Keenan Wynn) in a swimsuit design company, tries to prevent her sister, Betty (Betty Garrett), from falling in love with Jose O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), a suave South American polo player. Unbeknownst to Eve, Betty has actually fallen for Jack Spratt (Red Skelton), a masseuse who is posing as Jose. To protect her sister, Eve finds the real Jose, agrees to a date and also falls in love.
13Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tony MartinAt the Cypress Gardens Resort in Florida, Julie Hallerton (Esther Williams) stars in a show managed by Ray Lloyd (Van Johnson), yet also does other menial work for a shockingly low salary. Frustrated when Ray demands that she work late one night, Julie announces her engagement to her partner, Hank (John Bromfield), stunning Ray, who hastily asks her to accompany him to New York. There, Julie ends up working long hours again, until she meets singer Barry Gordon (Tony Martin), who romances her.
14Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille BallWhen a newspaper runs a scandalous story about debutante Connie Allenbury (Esther Williams), her powerful broker father threatens the paper's owner, Warren Haggerty (Keenan Wynn), with a massive lawsuit. Warren believes that, if he can prove Connie truly is a home-wrecker, as the article claims, he can file a countersuit against her. Warren then enlists his own fiancee (Lucille Ball) and reporter Bill Chandler (Van Johnson) to take part in a complex plan to turn the tables on the Allenburys.
15Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Esther WilliamsDespite being key players for the Wolves, baseball players Dennis Ryan (Frank Sinatra) and Eddie O'Brien (Gene Kelly) harbor a passion for vaudeville. When a local gambler (Edward Arnold) puts a lot of money on the Wolves to lose a big game, he tries to win the bet by offering Eddie the lead role in a newly produced show. Though Eddie is tempted to accept, he risks incurring the wrath of both Dennis and the team's owner (Esther Williams), who just happens to be his girlfriend.
16Esther Williams, Akim Tamiroff, Ricardo MontalbanHandsome young man Mario Morales (Ricardo Montalban) feels great pressure to become a bullfighter, since his father, Antonio (Fortunio Bonanova), was a famous toreador. However, Mario really aspires to be a composer, and his beautiful sister, Maria (Esther Williams), is the one who wants to enter the bullring. Eventually, the clever Maria disguises herself as Mario to pursue her dream of being a bullfighter, but, despite her talent, the ruse can't last forever.
17Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli, Mickey RooneyThe last major film to be shot at MGM's world famous Hollywood backlot, "That's Entertainment!" is a star-studded traipse down memory lane. The film boasts more than 100 classic segments compiled from dozens of MGM's most popular song-and-dance numbers and features newly recorded footage hosted by a variety of familiar faces, including MGM favorites Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable and Liza Minnelli.
18Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo MontalbanIn this musical, movie star Rosalind Reynolds (Esther Williams) is filming on location in Hawaii. Co-star Ricardo Montez (Ricardo Montalban) wants to marry her, but the movie's technical adviser, Lt. Kingslee (Peter Lawford), also has eyes for Rosalind. After Kingslee sweeps Rosalind away to a deserted isle to try and win her, Ricardo's affections turn toward bit player Yvonne (Cyd Charisse). All the while, assistant director Jimmy Buckley (Jimmy Durante) tries to keep the production together.
19Esther Williams, Red Skelton, Howard KeelDebbie Telford (Esther Williams) and Cornie Quinell (Red Skelton) work at a carnival, where they meet wealthy Texan Dan (Keenan Wynn). Dan enters a drinking marathon with Cornie and asks him to deliver his car to his hotel, due to his own inebriation. When Debbie and Cornie deliver the car, people assume that they are Dan and his sister Marilla. The pair enjoy the trappings of a more luxurious lifestyle until Cornie realizes he has racked up a hefty debt, and Debbie falls for Dan's foreman.
20Robert Walker, Van Heflin, Lucille BremerOn opening night of his new Broadway musical, "Show Boat," composer Jerome Kern (Robert Walker) reflects on his long career. With the help of his mentor, composer James Hessler (Van Heflin), a young Jerry travels to Europe and soon has one of his tunes placed in a successful production. Back home, Jerry's unceasing efforts result in the production of his first show. Jerry's career blossoms and he works with the best artists of the day while guiding James' wayward but talented daughter, Sally.
21Esther Williams, Van Johnson, John LundSecretary Ellen (Paula Raymond) and dancer Christine (Esther Williams) are roommates and friends. Ellen is in love with her boss, Douglas (John Lund), who has her pretend to be his fiancée whenever his dates get too attached, but he doesn't return the feeling. Christine tries to help by following Douglas on a business trip and attempting to woo him so he'll summon Ellen. But things get complicated when Douglas is smitten by Christine, while she falls in love with a band leader (Van Johnson).
22Elizabeth Taylor, Gene Kelly, Lena HorneThe second sequel in MGM's musical compilation series, released to commemorate MGM's 70th anniversary, acts as a retrospective, featuring rare and previously unreleased footage. The film also includes alternate performances of various well-known routines such Ava Gardner's original vocals from "Show Boat" before her voice was dubbed over by Annette Warren. Like its predecessors, the film includes a series of cameos from performers such as Howard Keel, Gene Kelly and Lena Home.
23Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Esther WilliamsCollege-bound Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) sells a friend his old jalopy in order to afford to ship his new car to school. After mailing a check away, Andy discovers his friend can't cover the payment and turns to his sister, Marian (Cecilia Parker), and his father, Judge James Hardy (Lewis Stone), for help. Meanwhile, exasperated by Andy's constant flirtations, his girlfriend, Polly (Ann Rutherford), plots to teach Andy a lesson in romance with her sophisticated friend, Sheila (Esther Williams).
24Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, Howard KeelWhen marketing professionals Mike Frye (Fred MacMurray) and Deborah Patterson (Dorothy McGuire) put several Western films starring Smoky Callaway back on TV, audiences can't get enough of the classic actor. But when the studio demands new Smoky Callaway films, the advertising duo have a problem: Smoky has been missing for 10 years. In an attempt to cover up their mistakes, Mike and Deborah hire a look-alike to impersonate Smoky, and the act goes well -- until the real Smoky returns.
25Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Van JohnsonWhen adventurous World War II bomber pilot Pete Sandidge (Spencer Tracy) dies in an aerial attack after ordering the crew to safety, he meets "the General," a legendary dead pilot who assigns Pete to return to earth as a guardian angel for a new pilot named Ted Randall (Van Johnson). But when Pete learns that Ted is dating Pete's former girlfriend, Dorinda Durston (Irene Dunne), he must set aside his jealousy and prepare Ted for a dangerous bombing mission.- 26
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Esther Williams, Ann Miller, Donald O'ConnorGene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer is a documentary on the life and death of Gene Kelly. It was shown on American Masters on PBS in 2002. 
27Angela Lansbury, Esther Williams, William PowellThe Hoodlum Saint is a 1946 music and drama film written by James Hill and Frank Wead and directed by George Sidney.
