This Time for Keeps (1947)

Interesting facts

This Time for Keeps is a 1947 American romantic musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Esther Williams, Jimmy Durante, Johnnie Johnston and opera singer Lauritz Melchior. Produced by MGM, it is about a soldier, returning home from war, who does not wish to work for his father's opera company or to continue his relationship with his pre-war lover.

Production

The film was announced in January 1946, with Jose Iturbi and Xavier Cugat to star. Van Johnson was originally announced as Esther's co-star. He was eventually replaced by Johnny Johnston, who had just appeared in MGM's Till the Clouds Roll By.

This was the third of four films Williams made with director Richard Thorpe. Williams disliked Thorpe from the start, and the feeling was mutual. "Dick didn't like people who were too cheerful, which meant that he took an instant dislike to me", wrote Williams in her autobiography.

Filming took place in July 1946 and included location shooting on Mackinac Island.

Esther Williams was pregnant during the filming of This Time for Keeps, but later suffered a miscarriage.

To convey the sense of outdoorsy, country small-town life in the film, Irene decided to use a lot of plaid in the costumes. She designed a swimsuit for Williams made out of lumberjack plaid flannel. "It absorbed water like crazy. I dove into the pool and tried to swim, but the suit just dragged me to the bottom. It was like trying to swim while wrapped in an old army blanket.

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