Duchess of Idaho 1950

     Ellen Hallit is a secretary for her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison.  She’s too shy and timid to say anything to him about having a relationship with him.  Douglas has Ellen pretend to be his fiancée when his dates get too attached.  Christine Duncan is a roommate and friend of Ellen and she cooks up a plan to get Douglas to notice Ellen.  Douglas is going to Sun Valley, Idaho and Christine decides she will also go on the train.  She manages to meet Douglas but she also meets Dick Layne.  He is a bandleader with singers and instrumentalists also traveling to Sun Valley.  Christine and Dick begin to like each other but Christine still needs to play up to Douglas for Ellen?  A lot of complications begin between Christine, Douglas and Dick.

     Esther Williams performs in water ballets, she can ski and she can dance!!  She has a sense of humor and she can handle difficulties.  Everything seems like it is following a formula check off list for the screenplay.  Nice woman loves boss but he doesn’t notice her.  Girlfriend comes up with a plan.  Things start to go correctly but the plan messes everything up.  All this is thrown in with swimming, skiing, music, singing, dancing and a contest.  2 ½* (This movie is so-so)

98 min, Musical directed by Robert Z. Leonard with Esther Williams, Van Johnson, John Lund, Paula Raymond, Clinton Sundbery, Connie Haines, Mel Torme, Amanda Blake, Tommy Farrell, Sig Arno, Dick Simmons, Lena Horne, Eleanor Powell.

Note:  Imdb 6.3 out of 10, 60% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 37 reviews.

Special Note:  Three musical numbers were deleted.  Eleanor Powell had not been in a film for six years and this was her last film appearance.  Lena Horne’s contract with MGM ended but she made later made several more appearances.