Films at The Library

Miami Beach Regional Library. From Jul 12th through Dec 13th, 2008.The Miami Beach Regional Library is presenting a series of screenings starting this summer on July 12th and culminating on December 13th, 2008. The library is located at  227 22nd Street in Miami Beach and the screening series are free and open to the public.

Bathing Beauty. July 12th, 2008. 11:00 a.m. Directed by George Sidney, 1944

Esther Williams in her first starring role, plays a teacher at a women's college, to which Red Skelton enrolls (as its only male student) just to be near her. The movie was initially to be titled The Co-Ed with Skelton having top billing. However, once MGM execs watched the first cut of the film, they realized that Esther Williams' role should be showcased more, and so changed the title to Bathing Beauty, giving her top billing and featuring her bathing-suit clad figure on the posters. The film's finale features a flames-and-fountains aqua ballet that had audiences clamoring for more.

Easy To Wed. August 9th, 2008. 11:00 a.m. Directed by Edward Buzzell, 1946

A spiffy remake of the screwball classic Libeled Lady, with Esther Williams as the lady libeled. J.B. Allenbury, a rich businessman, is suing the The Morning Star for an article which says that his daughter Connie (Williams) chases after married men. Editor Haggerty (Keenan Wynn) sends reporter Bill Chandler (Van Johnson) after Connie to prove that the story was true. The only problem is resisting Connie's charms.

On An Island With You. September 13th, 2008. 11:00 am. Directed by Richard Thorpe, 1948

Paradise for musical-comedy fans! Esther Williams (in a series of swimsuits and sarongs) plays a film star on a tropical location shoot, staying in a fantastic MiMo-style hotel. Xavier Cugat and his band provide the musical accompaniment, while Ricardo Montalban, Peter Lawford, Cyd Charisse, and Jimmy Durante provide the laughs and loves.

Neptune’s Daughter. October 11th, 2008. 11:00 a.m. Directed by Edward Buzzell, 1949

The polo team's in town and so is the fun for Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Red Skelton, and Betty Garrett. Eve Barrett (Williams) designs bathing suits in a stunning MiMo office, while being wooed by both Montalban and Skelton (who engages in some of his best physical comedy!) Includes songs by Frank Loesser and one of Esther's greatest splash-happy finales. 1949 Academy Award winner for Best Song for Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Million-Dollar Mermaid. November 8th, 2008. 11:00 a.m. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, 1952

Cartoon legends Tom and Jerry join Esther in this light-hearted extravaganza about a girl from Arkansas who swims the English Channel—and meets a dashing Frenchman (Fernando Lamas.) Charlotte Greenwood and William Demarest head the family of fitness buffs that help her along the way.

Dangerous When Wet. December 13th, 2008. 11:00 a.m. Directed by Charles Walters, 1953

Esther Williams stars (along with Victor Mature and Walter Pigeon) as Annette Kellerman, the turn-of-the-century Australian swimming star who shocked the world with her one-piece bathing suits. As a special treat, the spotlight here is on spectacular aqua-dance sequences choreographed by the legendary Busby Berkeley.

For more information, please call: 305.535.4219