Thrill of a Romance
Encyclopedia
Thrill of a Romance was an American
romance film
released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
in 1945, starring Van Johnson
, Esther Williams
and Carleton G. Young
, with musical performances by opera singer Lauritz Melchior
. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe
and written by Richard Connell
and Gladys Lehman.
The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. However, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away to Washington, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with a war hero, Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson.
This was the second of five films that paired Williams and Johnson together. Made over a period of eight years, those that followed were Easy to Wed
(1946), Duchess of Idaho
(1950) and Easy to Love
(1953).
Thrill of a Romance was a box office success, becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 1945.
, California
, where she lives with her scatterbrained aunt and uncle Nona and Hobart (Spring Byington and Henry Travers). While demonstrating a dive to her students, she catches the eye of an interested stranger, Bob Delbar (Carleton G. Young). Cynthia returns home to find that she has received flowers from the stranger. The two court for one month, and then get married.
They leave immediately after the wedding on their honeymoon to the hotel Monte Belva, where they encounter the famous opera singer, Nils Knudsen (Lauritz Melchior). Major Thomas Milvaine (Van Johnson), who is also staying at the hotel, notices Cynthia. J.P. Bancroft, a rich colleague, calls Bob and insists that he come to Washington to complete a deal. While Cynthia cries over Bob's departure, Tommy, who is staying next door, comforts her.
The next day, Cynthia ventures down to the pool, where she and J.P.Bancroft's daughter, Maude (Francis Gifford) speculate as to which hotel guest is Major Thomas Milvaine, the decorated war hero, who shot down "16... or was it 26 war planes?" and was stuck on a deserted island for a month. After Maude teases Cynthia about being at the hotel without her husband on her vacation, Cynthia performs an elaborate dive and swims around the pool, where she proceeds to run into Major Milvaine himself, who can't actually swim, so she teaches him how.
For the rest of the week, Cynthia and Tommy continue accompanying each other to dinner and other activities around the hotel, including swimming. On the last day, Cynthia receives a telegram from Bob informing her that he will not be able to come back to the hotel for another week. However, Tommy is leaving the next morning, and Cynthia is distraught, so she retires to her room. Tommy realizes he loves her, rushes to their adjoining balcony,confesses his love for her and tells her that he is planning on staying for another week. However, Cynthia reiterates that she's a married woman, therefore, she won't let him hop over the hedge separating their two balconies and make love to her
. She calls Bob in Washington and begs him to return, but he tells her that he can't.
Cynthia looks for Tommy the next morning, but is told that he has checked out the hotel after their conversation the previous night, so she goes for a walk on her own on the Sunset Trail
. Tommy returns to the hotel, learns where Cynthia has gone, and sets off after her on the trail. Meanwhile, Bob telephones the hotel and leaves a message indicating that he will be arriving the following morning. Tommy finds Cynthia and they proceed to walk together until they come across a tree with initials engraved on it. Cynthia tells Tommy that she loves him as well, but wants to give her marriage to Bob a chance, and lets him know that once they get back to the hotel, they should say their goodbyes and never see each other again. However, on the return trip, they lose their way and are forced to spent the night in the woods.
The next morning, Bob arrives and finds that his wife isn't anywhere in the hotel. When they do return, Tommy tries to explain their disappearance, while Bob realizes that the two are in love. He becomes angry with Cynthia, and announces he wants an annulment after Cynthia admits that she fell in love with Tommy. Bob calls his lawyer, he finds out that he was never actually divorced from his previous wife
. Tommy leaves to become an instructor at Darwin Field, and Cynthia returns home to her aunt and uncle. Nils Knudsen telephones Tommy, and later, the two arrive at Cynthia's house late at night with a full band and orchestra, where they serenade the Glenn house, as well as the rest of the neighborhood. Tommy lip-synches Knudsen's voice to a love song to Cynthia. The two share a kiss while Knudsen continues singing, leaving Nona and Hobart to wonder how Tommy can sing and kiss at the same time.
In her autobiography, Williams said that the studio attempted to put her and costar Van Johnson together in public as much as possible, even though she was involved with future husband (and ex-husband) Ben Gage. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals."
While filming, Williams and Thorpe rarely got along. After Willliams forgot several lines during one take and the cast and crew began to leave for lunch, Williams notified Thorpe of her mistake. He called the entire crew back to the stage, saying "Turn the lights back on, boys. This lady wants to act." Williams locked herself in her dressing room for the rest of the day. After that episode, Thorpe stopped picking on her.
When filming the backstroke scenes in the swimming pool, Williams had to place her hand under Johnson's back to keep him afloat.
The Office of War Information voiced concern that the film, set in an elegant resort, would be pose problems with overseas distribution. A memo from the agency claimed that films boasting of American opulence would be resented by the allies closer to the fighting front.
."
The film premiered at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
in Hollywood, with the proceeds going to the war wounded. Johnson was overcome by female fans upon his arrival and exit to the theater. Fans stole his handkerchief, boutonnière
and buttons from his shirt. They also yanked his tie, tore his collar and ripped his red hair from his head, leaving his scalp bleeding.
A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times
wrote, "Thrill of a Romance is all bright colors but the luster is only glaze deep. But its gaudiness will carry it through, especially with the fans."
When the film opened at the Capitol Theater in Manhattan, the critic from the New York Herald Tribune
remarked that Johnson gave "the type of performance that has endeared him to the younger set. He is the antithesis of the 'wolf'...clean cut, amiable, a little shy, and needing aid and comfort."
(1947), This Time for Keeps
(1947), Pagan Love Song (1950), Million Dollar Mermaid
(1952) and Easy to Love
(1953).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
romance film
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
in 1945, starring Van Johnson
Van Johnson
Van Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
, Esther Williams
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
and Carleton G. Young
Carleton G. Young
Carleton G. Young From January 10, 1942 until August, 1943, he had the title role on The Adventures of Ellery Queen, and from 1943 to 1952, he had the role of Edmond Dantes in Mutual's The Count of Monte Cristo. In 1951, he played the leading character on NBC's The Whisperer...
, with musical performances by opera singer Lauritz Melchior
Lauritz Melchior
Lauritz Melchior was a Danish and later American opera singer. He was the pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and has since come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type.-Biography:...
. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe
Richard Thorpe was an American film director.Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and onstage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred...
and written by Richard Connell
Richard Connell
Richard Edward Connell Jr. was an American author and journalist, probably best remembered for his short story "The Most Dangerous Game". Connell was one of the most popular American short story writers of his time and his stories appeared in the Saturday Evening Post and Collier's Weekly...
and Gladys Lehman.
The film tells the story of Cynthia Glenn, who, after a whirlwind romance, marries a rich businessman. However, on the first day of their honeymoon, her new husband is called away to Washington, leaving her alone at a resort. During this time, she meets and falls in love with a war hero, Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson.
This was the second of five films that paired Williams and Johnson together. Made over a period of eight years, those that followed were Easy to Wed
Easy to Wed
Easy to Wed is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell. The screenplay by Dorothy Kingsley is an updated adaptation of the screenplay of the 1936 film Libeled Lady by Maurine Dallas Watkins, Howard Emmett Rogers, and George Oppenheimer.-Plot:Financier J.B...
(1946), Duchess of Idaho
Duchess of Idaho
Duchess of Idaho is a musical romantic comedy produced in 1950 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, it was the fourth film pairing Esther Williams and Van Johnson...
(1950) and Easy to Love
Easy to Love (film)
Easy to Love is a 1953 musical film directed by Charles Walters. It stars Esther Williams and Van Johnson.-Cast:*Esther Williams as Julie Hallerton*Van Johnson as Ray Lloyd*Tony Martin as Barry Gordton*John Bromfield as Hank...
(1953).
Thrill of a Romance was a box office success, becoming the eighth-highest grossing film of 1945.
Plot
Cynthia Glenn (Esther Williams) is a swimming instructor in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where she lives with her scatterbrained aunt and uncle Nona and Hobart (Spring Byington and Henry Travers). While demonstrating a dive to her students, she catches the eye of an interested stranger, Bob Delbar (Carleton G. Young). Cynthia returns home to find that she has received flowers from the stranger. The two court for one month, and then get married.
They leave immediately after the wedding on their honeymoon to the hotel Monte Belva, where they encounter the famous opera singer, Nils Knudsen (Lauritz Melchior). Major Thomas Milvaine (Van Johnson), who is also staying at the hotel, notices Cynthia. J.P. Bancroft, a rich colleague, calls Bob and insists that he come to Washington to complete a deal. While Cynthia cries over Bob's departure, Tommy, who is staying next door, comforts her.
The next day, Cynthia ventures down to the pool, where she and J.P.Bancroft's daughter, Maude (Francis Gifford) speculate as to which hotel guest is Major Thomas Milvaine, the decorated war hero, who shot down "16... or was it 26 war planes?" and was stuck on a deserted island for a month. After Maude teases Cynthia about being at the hotel without her husband on her vacation, Cynthia performs an elaborate dive and swims around the pool, where she proceeds to run into Major Milvaine himself, who can't actually swim, so she teaches him how.
For the rest of the week, Cynthia and Tommy continue accompanying each other to dinner and other activities around the hotel, including swimming. On the last day, Cynthia receives a telegram from Bob informing her that he will not be able to come back to the hotel for another week. However, Tommy is leaving the next morning, and Cynthia is distraught, so she retires to her room. Tommy realizes he loves her, rushes to their adjoining balcony,confesses his love for her and tells her that he is planning on staying for another week. However, Cynthia reiterates that she's a married woman, therefore, she won't let him hop over the hedge separating their two balconies and make love to her
Flirting
Flirting is a playful, romantic, or sexual overture by one person to another subtly indicating an interest in a deeper relationship with the other person, and can involve verbal communication as well as body language...
. She calls Bob in Washington and begs him to return, but he tells her that he can't.
Cynthia looks for Tommy the next morning, but is told that he has checked out the hotel after their conversation the previous night, so she goes for a walk on her own on the Sunset Trail
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
. Tommy returns to the hotel, learns where Cynthia has gone, and sets off after her on the trail. Meanwhile, Bob telephones the hotel and leaves a message indicating that he will be arriving the following morning. Tommy finds Cynthia and they proceed to walk together until they come across a tree with initials engraved on it. Cynthia tells Tommy that she loves him as well, but wants to give her marriage to Bob a chance, and lets him know that once they get back to the hotel, they should say their goodbyes and never see each other again. However, on the return trip, they lose their way and are forced to spent the night in the woods.
The next morning, Bob arrives and finds that his wife isn't anywhere in the hotel. When they do return, Tommy tries to explain their disappearance, while Bob realizes that the two are in love. He becomes angry with Cynthia, and announces he wants an annulment after Cynthia admits that she fell in love with Tommy. Bob calls his lawyer, he finds out that he was never actually divorced from his previous wife
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
. Tommy leaves to become an instructor at Darwin Field, and Cynthia returns home to her aunt and uncle. Nils Knudsen telephones Tommy, and later, the two arrive at Cynthia's house late at night with a full band and orchestra, where they serenade the Glenn house, as well as the rest of the neighborhood. Tommy lip-synches Knudsen's voice to a love song to Cynthia. The two share a kiss while Knudsen continues singing, leaving Nona and Hobart to wonder how Tommy can sing and kiss at the same time.
Cast
- Esther WilliamsEsther WilliamsEsther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
as Cynthia Glenn - Van JohnsonVan JohnsonVan Johnson was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II....
as Major Thomas Milvaine - Carleton G. YoungCarleton G. YoungCarleton G. Young From January 10, 1942 until August, 1943, he had the title role on The Adventures of Ellery Queen, and from 1943 to 1952, he had the role of Edmond Dantes in Mutual's The Count of Monte Cristo. In 1951, he played the leading character on NBC's The Whisperer...
as Robert G. Delbar - Frances GiffordFrances GiffordMary Frances Gifford was an American actress who played leads and supporting roles in many 1930s and 1940s movies.-Career:...
as Maude Bancroft - Henry TraversHenry TraversHenry Travers was an English actor. His most memorable role was that of the angel, Clarence, in the 1946 motion picture It's A Wonderful Life.-Early life:...
as Hobart 'Hobie' Glenn - Spring ByingtonSpring ByingtonSpring Byington was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of December Bride. She was a key MGM contract player appearing in films from the 1930s through the 1960s.-Early life:Byington was born Spring Dell Byington in Colorado Springs,...
as Nona Glenn - Lauritz MelchiorLauritz MelchiorLauritz Melchior was a Danish and later American opera singer. He was the pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and has since come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type.-Biography:...
as Nils Knudsen - Jane IsbellJane IsbellJane Isbell was a minor actress, a bit player and extra who appeared in some major films produced during Hollywood's Golden Era in the 1930s-40s....
as Giggling Girl
Production
When attempting to create the right shade of blue for the swimming pool, the set decorator discovered that the paint he had used to color the cement had dissolved after adding the chlorine to the pool, creating a mess with the consistency of homogenized milk. The pool had to be drained and refilled.In her autobiography, Williams said that the studio attempted to put her and costar Van Johnson together in public as much as possible, even though she was involved with future husband (and ex-husband) Ben Gage. When asked why they didn't date, Johnson replied "because I'm afraid she can't get her webbed feet into a pair of evening sandals."
While filming, Williams and Thorpe rarely got along. After Willliams forgot several lines during one take and the cast and crew began to leave for lunch, Williams notified Thorpe of her mistake. He called the entire crew back to the stage, saying "Turn the lights back on, boys. This lady wants to act." Williams locked herself in her dressing room for the rest of the day. After that episode, Thorpe stopped picking on her.
When filming the backstroke scenes in the swimming pool, Williams had to place her hand under Johnson's back to keep him afloat.
The Office of War Information voiced concern that the film, set in an elegant resort, would be pose problems with overseas distribution. A memo from the agency claimed that films boasting of American opulence would be resented by the allies closer to the fighting front.
Release
The film wrapped on October 1, 1944, and was released the following year. It was previewed in a small neighborhood outside of Los Angeles. Cards filled out by the audience were filled with comments such as "Van is a darling" and "I love that boy...I love him more than FrankieFrank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
."
The film premiered at the Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre
Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, is one of the world's most famous movie theatres. Opened in 1922, it was the venue for the first-ever Hollywood premiere.- History :...
in Hollywood, with the proceeds going to the war wounded. Johnson was overcome by female fans upon his arrival and exit to the theater. Fans stole his handkerchief, boutonnière
Boutonniere
A boutonnière is a floral decoration worn by men, typically a single flower or bud. The word comes from the French word for buttonhole, which is the British term....
and buttons from his shirt. They also yanked his tie, tore his collar and ripped his red hair from his head, leaving his scalp bleeding.
Critical response
A 1945 New York Times review of the film claimed that "the minutes drag on here unthrillingly" and that "as for Miss Williams, she models a bathing suit handsomely and cuts a fine figure in the water. But right there her talent ends."A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
wrote, "Thrill of a Romance is all bright colors but the luster is only glaze deep. But its gaudiness will carry it through, especially with the fans."
When the film opened at the Capitol Theater in Manhattan, the critic from the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
remarked that Johnson gave "the type of performance that has endeared him to the younger set. He is the antithesis of the 'wolf'...clean cut, amiable, a little shy, and needing aid and comfort."
Box office
Thrill of a Romance was the eighth top grossing film of 1945, earning $4,338,000.Home media
On October 6, 2009, Turner Entertainment released Thrill of a Romance on DVD as part of the Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 2. The 6 disc set was a follow up to the company's Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 1, and contains digitally remastered versions of several of Williams's films including FiestaFiesta (1947 film)
Fiesta was an American Technicolor musical-drama film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1947, starring Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalbán, Mary Astor and Cyd Charisse. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe and written by George Bruce and Lester Cole...
(1947), This Time for Keeps
This Time for Keeps
This Time for Keeps is an American romantic musical film released in 1947 and produced by MGM. It is about a soldier, returning home from war who does not wish to work for his father's opera company or to continue his relationship with his pre-war lover. It stars Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante,...
(1947), Pagan Love Song (1950), Million Dollar Mermaid
Million Dollar Mermaid
Million Dollar Mermaid is a 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer biographical musical film of the life of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Arthur Hornblow Jr. from a screenplay by Everett Freeman. The music score was by Adolph Deutsch, the...
(1952) and Easy to Love
Easy to Love (film)
Easy to Love is a 1953 musical film directed by Charles Walters. It stars Esther Williams and Van Johnson.-Cast:*Esther Williams as Julie Hallerton*Van Johnson as Ray Lloyd*Tony Martin as Barry Gordton*John Bromfield as Hank...
(1953).