Duchess of Idaho

1950
Approved
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

668

YOUR RATING

Van Johnson, John Lund, and Esther Williams in Duchess of Idaho (1950)

Play trailer2:39

1 Video

15 Photos

Romantic Comedy Comedy Musical Romance

Ellen Hallet is in love with her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison, but too timid to do anything about it. Her roommate Chris devises a plan to help her: she follows Morrison on his trip to Sun... Read allEllen Hallet is in love with her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison, but too timid to do anything about it. Her roommate Chris devises a plan to help her: she follows Morrison on his trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and plays the overattentive female, hoping he'll send for Ellen, who often ... Read allEllen Hallet is in love with her playboy boss, Douglas Morrison, but too timid to do anything about it. Her roommate Chris devises a plan to help her: she follows Morrison on his trip to Sun Valley, Idaho and plays the overattentive female, hoping he'll send for Ellen, who often plays his "fiancée" when he has a female he can't discourage otherwise. Complications aris... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

668

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Although conventional everyday pantyhose would not be invented until 1959, sheer stage tights, such as Eleanor Powell wears in her dance number, had been in use for decades by those in the entertainment industry.

Goofs
When Christine first spots Ellen dancing with the robe, the boom mic is barely visible.

Quotes
Ellen Hallet: I don't want him to go. I want him to stay.
Christine Riverton Duncan: What?
Ellen Hallet: You can live your own life if you want to, but leave - mine - alone.

Crazy credits
In the opening credits, each actor's name is sung as part of the opening song.

Connections
Featured in American Masters: Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice (1996)

Soundtracks
Let's Choo Choo Choo to Idaho
Written by Al Rinker and Floyd Huddleston
Sung by Van Johnson, Connie Haines and The Jubalaires

User reviews20

Review

Featured review

6/10

Better than usual Esther Williams in plush Sun Valley surroundings...

"You always have to have a plot. There's never an easy way of doing things." So says JOHN LUND in this typical ESTHER WILLIAMS movie based on the familiar mix-ups involved when nobody tells the truth.

The mix-ups begin when Esther offers to help secretary PAULR RAYMOND catch a rich playboy (Lund), suggesting a trip to romantic surroundings in Sun Valley, Idaho would help. Esther, in the meantime, is pursued by VAN JOHNSON, a bandleader at the resort, who soon melts her heart. In the interim, there are guest appearances by RED SKELTON (at a potato square-dance contest that is deftly done) and ELEANOR POWELL, who does a guest spot in the usual MGM manner of at first coyly refusing to dance when requested. Then she rips into an impromptu routine that had to be rehearsed for at least three weeks. So much for reality.

It's a strictly fun, escapist musical, which is all it pretends to be. ESTHER WILLIAMS and PAUL RAYMOND look gorgeous in their various Technicolor outfits and Esther gets to do a couple of swimming numbers in her usual charming manner. JOHN LUND and VAN JOHNSON do nicely in the romantic comedy department as the love interest for the gals.

If you like Esther, this one is for you.