During this time, she meets and falls in love with a war hero, Tommy Milvaine, played by Van Johnson.

Cynthia Glenn (Esther Williams) is a swimming instructor in Los Angeles, where she lives with her scatterbrained aunt and uncle Nona and Hobart (Spring Byington and Henry Travers).

On their honeymoon at the hotel Monte Belva, they encounter the famous opera singer, Nils Knudsen (Lauritz Melchior).

For the rest of the week, Cynthia and Tommy continue accompanying each other to dinner and other activities around the hotel, including swimming.

Cynthia reiterates that she's a married woman, and therefore won't let him hop over the hedge separating their two balconies and make love to her.

Drummer Buddy Rich (uncredited, except for the 'BR' logo on his bass drum) notably performs a short solo in one scene, as well as playing with the Dorsey Orchestra in several others.

[7] In her autobiography, Williams said that the studio attempted to put her and costar Van Johnson together in public as much as possible, even though she was involved with future husband (and ex-husband) Ben Gage.

[7] When filming the backstroke scenes in the swimming pool, Williams had to place her hand under Johnson's back to keep him afloat.

[7] The Office of War Information voiced concern that the film, set in an elegant resort, would pose problems with overseas distribution.

A memo from the agency claimed that films boasting of American opulence would be resented by the allies closer to the fighting front.

They also yanked his tie, tore his collar and ripped his red hair from his head, leaving his scalp bleeding.

[8] Bosley Crowther's review in The New York Times claimed that "the minutes drag on here unthrillingly" and that "as for Miss Williams, she models a bathing suit handsomely and cuts a fine figure in the water.

"[9] A reviewer for the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Thrill of a Romance is all bright colors but the luster is only glaze deep.

"[8] When the film opened at the Capitol Theater in Manhattan, the critic from the New York Herald Tribune remarked that Johnson gave "the type of performance that has endeared him to the younger set.

[1] On October 6, 2009, Turner Entertainment released Thrill of a Romance on DVD as part of the Esther Williams Spotlight Collection, Volume 2.