“Neptune’s Daughter” (1949) / Z-View

Neptune’s Daughter (1949)

Director:  Edward Buzzell

Screenplay by:  Dorothy Kingsley, Ray Singer (additional dialogue), Dick Chevillat (additional dialogue)

Starring:  Esther Williams, Red Skelton Ricardo Montalban, Betty Garrett, Keenan Wynn, Xavier Cugat, Mike Mazurki and Mel Blanc

Tagline:  With a Great Cast of Stars! Bathing Beauties! Songs and Spectacle!

The Overview:  Beware of spoilers…

It’s a case of mistaken identity when Betty Barrett (Garrett) falls for Jack Spratt (Skelton) thinking he is super-suave, Jose O’Rourke (Montalban).  When Betty’s sister, Eve (Williams) finds out that the Latin lover has her sister in his sights, she steps in only to find herself falling for the real Jose O’Rourke!

Meanwhile, gangsters plan to kidnap O’Rourke who is in town for a polo match. They figure to make a bundle with the star player out.  Of course there’s that little problem of mistaken identity…

Red Skelton has some funny scenes.  “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” gets a new meaning when Williams & Montalban followed by Garrett and Skelton perform it.  Mike Mazurki is great as the dumb thug and Keenan Wynn makes every movie better.

Neptune’s Daughter rates 3 of 5 stars.