Skirts Ahoy!
| Skirts Ahoy! | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster | |
| Directed by | Sidney Lanfield |
| Written by | Isobel Lennart |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Starring | Esther Williams |
| Cinematography | William Mellor |
| Edited by | Cotton Warburton |
Release date | September 8, 1952 |
Running time | 109 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,003,000[1] |
| Box office | $4,049,000[1] |
Skirts Ahoy! is a 1952 MGM musical film directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Esther Williams, Vivian Blaine and Joan Evans. It was shot in Technicolor.[2] The film follows the adventures of several women who join the WAVES with sequences filmed on location at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. It also features the film debut of Billy Eckstine.
Cast
- Esther Williams as Whitney Young
- Joan Evans as Mary Kate Yarbrough (singing voice was dubbed by Joan Elms)
- Vivian Blaine as Una Yancy
- Barry Sullivan as Lt. Cmdr. Paul Elcott
- Keefe Brasselle as Dick Hallson
- Billy Eckstine as Himself
- Dean Miller as Archie O'Conovan
- The DeMarco Sisters as the Williams sisters
- Juanita Moore as Black Drill Team Member
Bobba and Kathy Tongay, better known as the Aquatots, made an uncredited cameo appearance in the movie. Kathy was murdered by their father in 1953; Bobba became a lifeguard in Miami in adulthood.
Production
In March 1951 MGM announced that Isobel Lennart was writing Skirts Ahoy! for Esther Williams, Vic Damone and Vera-Ellen with Joe Pasternak producting. Williams would make the movie following Texas Carnival.[3]
By July the film was going to star Williams, Sally Forest (replacing Vera Ellen) and Viviane Blaine. Blaine was going to take a leave of absence from the Broadway production of Guys and Dolls.[4] Sidney Lanfield signed to direct.[5] Then Forest was out of the film.[6]
Keefe Brasselle replaced Vic Damone.[7]
Filming started September 1951.
Reception
Box Office
According to MGM records the film earned $2,585,000 in the US and Canada[8] and $1,464,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $342,000.[1]
References
- ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ^ http://www.allmovie.com/movie/skirts-ahoy%21-v45039
- ^ Drama: 'Skirts Ahoy' Shaped for Sparkling Trio Los Angeles Times 19 Jan 1951: 18.
- ^ MOVIELAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times 4 July 1951: A2.
- ^ Drama: Brando, Clift Sought Anew as Costars; Los Angeles Times (1923-1995); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]12 July 1951: B9.
- ^ Francis, Talking Mule, to Try New Adventure: Looking at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 14 July 1951: a2.
- ^ FULLER PLANNING OWN PRODUCTIONS New York Times 3 Aug 1951: 11.
- ^ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
External links
- Skirts Ahoy! at IMDb
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