Main Cast: Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Marge Champion, Gower Champion, George Sanders
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
Esther Williams' long association with MGM came to an abrupt end with Jupiter's Darling, which even she will admit was her silliest film. Based on Robert Sherwood's satirical play The Road to Rome, the film cast as Williams as Amytis, fiancee of vacillating Roman statesman Fabius Maximus (George Sanders). When it appears as though the forces of Hannibal (Howard Keel) will conquer Rome, Amytis takes it upon herself to halt the invasion. In the process, she and Hannibal embark upon a tempestuous romance, much to the consternation of the barbarian general's aide-de-camp Mago (William Demarest) and the bemusement of Hannibal's official chronicler Horatio (Richard Haydn). A subplot concerns the romance between Varius (Gower Champion), who tends Hannibal's fabled elephants, and spunky slave girl Meta (Marge Champion). Somewhere along the line Williams performs a water ballet with "living statues", and Varius and Meta come up with a herd of pink elephants. The Burton Lane-Harold Adamson songs are as forgettable as the film itself. Curiously, Jupiter's Darling opened to good reviews, but the film was killed by word of mouth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
An enormous financial failure that resulted in many of its principals being released from their contracts, Jupiter's Darling is a curious mixture of styles and genres that just doesn't come together -- but which nonetheless provides a moderate amount of entertainment value. As in most Esther Williams vehicles, the aquatic sequences (in this instance, a living statues ballet and an underwater chase) are highlights. Seen by themselves, they're quite impressive; unfortunately, they're surrounded by a musical that lumbers more than it dances, unsure of exactly what it is doing and, even more so, why it is doing it. Thus, there's a little bit of everything but not a whole lot of something. The Burton Lane-Harold Adamson score is serviceable but so-so; the screenplay has a few witty lines but not enough. The cast is generally good, although Williams and Howard Keel fail to really click; much better are George Sanders, smooth as always, and a supporting cast of reliable character actors such as Richard Haydn and William Frawley. Marge and Gower Champion aren't given enough to do, but they work a little magic with what they have; those who view the version of the film that includes the deleted "I Have a Dream" reprise will get to enjoy some stunning, hot work from the duo, as well as the surprisingly attractive vocals of Sanders. Any version, however, features the lavish production values -- that even include colored elephants! ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
