It's the timeless story of Dick Johnson, a young man returning home from war who doesn't want to sing opera like his dad or marry his social-climbing fiancée. Instead he wants to sing in a nightclub and romance a beautiful swimmer. We've seen it all before.A tired musical comedy that's more of a showcase for Jimmie Johnston than Esther Williams. Technicolor goddess Esther does get in the water a few times but there are no lavish swimming numbers here. Jimmie Johnston is as bland and vanilla as they come. In some scenes he looks less like an actor and more like a tourist who just wandered onto set and seems awestruck by the lights and cameras. Not surprising this is the biggest role of his career. Jimmy Durante provides the film's laughs. Child actress Sharon McManus steals every one of her scenes. The music is fine. "S'No Wonder They Fell in Love" is the best number. It's worth a look for Esther completists or anyone who might giggle every time they hear Dick Johnson.

This movie is a waste of talent and time - yours if you watch it. The script often makes no sense - nor does the title, as one reviewer pointed out - and it sinks the whole enterprise. Esther Williams' swim numbers aren't at all interesting, nothing like those in movies like Jupiter's Daughter. Melchior gets to sing a lot, but he doesn't sing very well - it's often just loud, as in M'appari. He is much better in Thrill of Romance. The best performance in the movie is, to my mind, Durante's - though it's not one of his better movie appearances. The best number is his The Lost Chord, and that's not a great number.All of these performers have given much better performances elsewhere. Go watch those, and leave this unfortunate mistake to rest in peace.

Esther Williams stars in "This Time for Keeps," costarring Johnny Johnston, Dame May Witty, Jimmy Durante, and Lauritz Melchior. I guess the Third Reich was still a little too close for comfort, because the magnificent Heldentenor Melchior only sings Italian repertoire in this film, albeit magnificently. He was, of course, one of the all time great, if not the greatest, Wagnerian tenor in history.Williams is the beautiful star of aquatic ballet when ex-GI Richard Johnson (Johnston) falls for her, having met her once while he was in the service. His father (Melchior) has other plans for him, and they include singing with an opera company and marrying the girl he left behind.It's a thin story - after all, there has to be room for lots of swimming and singing. Esther is a goddess both in and out of the water, and Durante is terrific as her protective friend and work partner. Although referred to as a handsome man and a magnificent singer, Johnny Johnston makes a goofy looking leading man with a pleasant voice that only a father could think was suitable for opera, though he had some pretty high notes. Melchior rips up the sound system with "La Donna e Mobile" and "M'appari." Gorgeous. Durante's big number is "The Lost Chord," a real delight.Entertaining, but a little draggy, with some beautiful location shots of Mackinac Island.

Many scenes are filmed on Michigan's Mackinac Island, which to this day bans cars in favor of horses and bicycles. After seeing the movie, you can walk down every street and note that nearly 60 years later, nothing has changed.