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Easy to Love
Easy to Love
Directed by	Charles Walters
Screenplay by	Laszlo Vadnay; William Roberts
Story by	Laszlo Vadnay
Produced by	Joe Pasternak
Starring	Esther Williams; Van Johnson; Tony Martin
Cinematography	Ray June
Edited by	Gene Ruggiero
Music by	Lennie Hayton; George Stoll; Robert Van Eps
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	December 25, 1953;
Running time	96 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,831,000
Box office	$3,789,000

Easy to Love is a 1953 Technicolor musical film directed by Charles Walters with choreography by Busby Berkeley. It stars Esther Williams, Van Johnson and Tony Martin. It was Williams' final aquatic film set in the United States.

Plot

Ray Lloyd runs a successful Cypress Gardens water show, but star attraction Julie Hallerton is overworked and unappreciated by Ray who doesn't know she is in love with him. She fibs about pretending to marry her aquatic partner Hank (John Bromfield) to try make Ray jealous but is persuaded by Ray to accompany him to New York instead.

Julie is hired to pose for a magazine lipstick ad, when handsome singer Barry Gordon takes the place of a male model and kisses her instead. Barry offers to introduce Julie to a promoter who agrees to hire her for a New York water show he produces. Moreover, he will pay her more and treat her better than does Ray.

When they return to Florida, a jealous Hank tells off Ray for not realizing how Julie truly feels about him. Her roommate Nancy whacks her accidentally with a water ski, knocking Julie cold. All three men in her life rush to her side.

By the end, Ray finally realizes he is in love with Julie and they embrace and kiss. Barry quickly turns his attention to another bathing beauty while Nancy reveals a romantic interest in Hank.

Cast

Esther Williams as Julie Hallerton
Van Johnson as Ray Lloyd
Tony Martin as Barry Gordon
John Bromfield as Hank
Edna Skinner as Nancy Parmel
Carroll Baker as Clarice
Hal Borne as Melvin, the pianist
Emory Parnell as Mr. Huffnagel

Cast notes:

This was Carroll Baker's film debut.
Hal Bourne is billed as "Hal Berns".

Production

MGM announced the film in October 1952.^[2] It was shot partly on location in Cypress Gardens starting 12 February 1953.^[3]^[4]

Carroll Baker made her film debut in a small role as a once-married woman interested in Tony Martin's character, and jealous of Esther Williams.^[5]

Tony Martin's wife Cyd Charisse visited the set during filming and appears in a cameo at the end of the film.

Reception

According to MGM records the film made $2,349,000 in the US and Canada and $1,440,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $385,000.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ Thomas M. Pryor (October 21, 1952). "Lesser Acquires Tri-OPpticon Rights: Producer and Theatre Owner to Tour Country With Hour Show Using New Process". The New York Times. p. 35.
^ Schallert, Edwin (December 31, 1952). "Closer Linking Seen of Stage, Screen; Agar Named for Song Film". Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
^ Foust, Hal. (February 22, 1953). "The Tribune Travelers' Guide: Make Film of Florida Water Skiing Capital". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. D3.
^ Hopper, Hedda (July 27, 1962). "'Out-of-Towners' for Deborah Kerr: Manulis Signs Her to Play Postmistress on a Spree". Los Angeles Times. p. C10.