The Million Dollar Mermaid: An Autobiography

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Summary: that's entertainment!
Review: After the book was over I felt like I knew Esther Williams I liked her pick yourself back up attitude and do the best you can.Even after all of these horrible things happened to her during childhood she never felt sorry for herself.I also liked the funny little stories she threw in.

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Summary: The Million Dollar Mermaid
Review: Kept my interest though out the entire book. Although I haven't seen many of the movies mentioned, I do remember my own mother talking of how glamorous the stars of yesterday were. I do remember seeing my mother reading magazines all about the Hollywood stars & starlets. This was her era & reading this book put me right their & really understand more about that era. I'm sending the book to my mother-in-law as I know she will enjoy it as much as I did. Ms.Williams (Mrs.Bell) what an inspriation you still are in your fans lives to this day. (and now I can speak about you & feel I really know you & your trials & tribulations. Sincerely and God Bless you, a new fan, Karen

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Summary: One of the best sho bix autobiographies
Review: Esther Williams really tells it like it is. I like her honesty and her fascinating stories. You will too. Well worth the investment. I recommend this book very highly.

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Summary: A Real Person
Review: This book has been an inspiration. I expected a book with Hollywood gossip but got so much more! Esther's courage in very difficult situations and her down to earth attitude really impressed me. I related especially to her feelings about marriage and children. You make your own choices in life - Esther made hers and stuck by them as long as possible. This a story about a real person who refused to get carried away by Hollywood hype.

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Summary: A Fishy Tale?
Review: I really enjoyed the "dishiness" of M$M. I couldn't put it down until I finished it (2 days) and especially enjoyed reading about the MGM "Golden Years". MGM history is one of my hobbies as I believe it was the greatest studio and made the best movies ever. However, I began to doubt the veracity of some of William's anecdotes and was especially puzzled regarding the story of her dressing room at MGM. She wrote that she inherited Greer Garson's dressing room in 1945 when Garson left MGM to return to England after she won her Oscar in 1942. Garson made at least half a dozen more movies from 1943 to the early 1950's and all at MGM. Perhaps I should assume that Williams' co-writer, Digby Diehl, wrote this section and got his facts wrong. Either that, or Greer got a better and bigger room somewhere else on the lot after she won her Oscar. Is anyone else out there an MGM archivist? Can you shed some light here?

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Summary: Fernando Lamas Driving Naked
Review: For anyone who likes old(er) movies, this book is a joy to read. Ms. Williams was groomed by the MGM studio system and lived to write an infectious tribute to movies of old, and the characters who made them. She writes honestly and with great humor about the movies, her marriages (to none other than Fernando, among others), as well as various and sundry other relationships, both professional and personal.

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Summary: Good Bio if a bit egocentric
Review: Esther Williams biography is a very descriptive story of Hollywood's heyday, well written and very detailed. I just wasn't aware that Williams was the center of the universe. Her anecdotes are for the most part very interesting, but she was a star and the only stories that reflect badly on her show her as the victim. I also wish that she had started the book with something other than her LSD trip. The details about her family are very sketchy. Why is she supporting her parents when her mother was a psychologist in Hollywood. Her sister June took care of her kids quite often, but other than in this context, she barely mentions her--enjoyable but buy it in paperback.

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Summary: Disapointed
Review: I was always a huge fan of Ms Williams, along with a lot of actors of that era. I was looking forward to reading her book. It was well written...but...I was shocked to realize that she is the type of woman who HAS to have a man in her life. Even to the point of choosing Fernando Lamas over her children.I'm not sure that I believe the story about Jeff Chandler in the dress, but who cares. It seems that a lot of other actors and friends dispute Ms. Williams' story. Either way it was very tacky to write about it. Actually, I had a hard time giving it even one star.

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Summary: million dollar mermaid
Review: a superb account of the life of Esther Williams- she appeared on a t.v show in England as I was reading her book and she was just as charming as the book portrays. A must for any film fans library.

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Summary: Dive In!
Review: My interest to read the book began when she was recently a guest on the Larry King show. Thought I'd read the book because Ester Williams seemed like an intriguing star. And what an exciting life she has led! Miss William's strength to endure the obstacles in her personal and professional life reflects a very strong women. She should be in the top 100 list for Women Pioneers. Perhaps she is a role model because as I was reading about her gumption, strength (both mental and physical), I realized that as a woman she had to overcome many, many obstables. Most of those obstacles were men who tried to bankrupt her spiritually, and financially. There were instances throughout the book when I wanted to stand up and shout "You Go Girl"! Yet at times I wanted to reach in and shake her! I was absolutely astounded by her capacity to put up with the constant abuse from all three of her husbands. Perhaps back then women did not leave alcoholics; yet the reader must acknowledge that alcoholism was ignore/overlooked in Miss William's time. She most definitely fits the "caretaker" role in dysfunctional families, yet she always seemed to come to terms with the abusive situations by turning to her work: swimming. Swimming was her salvation, mentally and financially. As the book progresses through her life and the stories told about filming her swimming movies, the strength to endure the pressures from the MGM Big Boys, as well as inpinging female executives and movie starts, reflects a core an amazing belief in herself. And that is what I would want other readers to embrance from this book. I think Ester Williams wanted to show her fans that despite all the odds against her, she became a successful Star. But not without physical and mental pain. I have to ask the questions: how many woman today would quit their job because their husband wanted the "little women" at home. How many would put up with an alcoholic who spent her hard-earned money on booze and gambling? And would you be tethered by Fernando Lamas and agree to be the "little women"? In reference to being a Pioneer for women: she was and continues to be a very successful businesswoman; pioneered synchronized swimming for the Olympics; and paved the way for other woman swimmers. As a warning to the prudish: beware, Miss Williams was no saint! But I think you'll have to agree: she has lived a very exciting life, and has told us about it in a vivid, sexy, and honest way!