The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography
by Esther Williams
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Description
The author offers her perspective on life during Hollywood's Golden Age, chronicling her youthful idealism, her training to be a star, and her own tempestuous personal life. Rarely has one of Hollywood's golden-age stars written with such genuine wit and candor about what it was like to work in the movie factories where actors were pampered and coddled, yet expected to work without complaint for long, hard hours; what it was like to be young and sexy and to be turned into an object of desire show more for millions of moviegoers; what it was like to live in a world of almost total unreality, yet be expected to go about the business of finding a mate and raising a family, and avoiding personal scandal at all costs. Here is Esther Williams' witty, fresh, and frank autobiography, all about an eighteen-year-old girl who reluctantly answers the siren call of MGM--at the time, the most powerful and prestigious movie studio in the world--and who soon finds herself launched on a career that will last more than twenty years, during which time she will help to create a genre of film that seems almost unimaginable today, yet which still holds all its original freshness and fascination, and who becomes during those years one of the world's top box-office stars. Williams calls MGM her "university," and the education she got there was one in how to project glamour and femininity, how to make yourself desirable while always, always playing the lady. No one who went through that university has ever written before with such absolute candor about what it was really like--the affairs, the gossip, the tricks of the trade, the competition, the deals. the fights; and the methods the studios had for keeping their stars in line. With a sharp mind and a rapier wit, Esther Williams brings to life those times and those bigger-than-life people, telling her stories with respect, yet with clear-eyed candor.--Adapted from dust jacket. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
There are not enough books about swimming! This one is good. Esther's story is told with a sense of humor. If you didn't respect the things she did in her movies before, you will after reading about some of the things she had to go through to make them.
I loved reading about her childhood and her swimming career as well.
I loved reading about her childhood and her swimming career as well.
Autobiography by Esther Williams who was known for swimming extravaganza movies. Really is a candid look at her life. The book chronicles her movies including stuff about her co-stars as well as problems encountered. Her start at MGM and LB Mayer throwing temper tantrums. Some of her lovers and or admirers, Johnny Weismueller, Lorenzo Lamas, Jeff Chandler. Her early marriages, a young Jewish dr who didn't want children, an alcoholic and also the father of her children. Was an interesting look back on when the Hollywood studios seemed to control everything.
A well-written autobiography of Esther Williams. Titillating tidbits of old Hollywood.
Candid look back "All American Girl"
GREAT CONDITION!
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Books Read in 2001
194 works; 4 members
Author Information
4+ Works 304 Members
All Editions
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Esther Williams; Fernando Lamas; Victor Mature; Jeff Chandler; Louis B. Mayer; Johnny Weissmuller
- Important places
- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Sports and Leisure
- DDC/MDS
- 791.43 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Movies, TV, Video Motion pictures, radio, television, podcasting Motion pictures
- LCC
- PN2287 .W472 .A3 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Drama Dramatic representation. The theater Special regions or countries
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 291
- Popularity
- 110,118
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.96)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 6
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 11
