Charles Walters
1911 - 1982He was born in Pasadena, California, and educated at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
He is notable for directing Esther Williams' musicals involving underwater swimming and diving sequences, such as Dangerous When Wet, as well as several musicals starring Leslie Caron, such as Gigi (for which he is uncredited) and Lili. He has also directed musical remakes, including High Society, a remake of The Philadelphia Story (1940), and Bundle of Joy, a remake of Bachelor Mother (1939). Walters also directed the last pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, The Barkleys of Broadway, as well as Cary Grant in the actor's last film Walk, Don't Run.
Walters died from lung cancer at the age of 71.
According to William J. Mann's book, "Behind the Screen", Walters was gay.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Charles Walters, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Easter Parade
Charles Walters
Judy Garland, Fred Astaire
On the day before Easter in 1911, Don Hewes is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protege Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade.
Easter Parade
Lili
Charles Walters
Leslie Caron, Mel Ferrer
Members of a circus troupe "adopt" Lili Daurier when she finds herself stranded in a strange town. The magician who first comes to her rescue already has romantic entanglements and thinks of her as a little girl. Who can she turn to but the puppets, singing to them her troubles, forgetting that there are puppeteers? A crowd gathers around Lili as she sings. The circus has a new act. She now has a job. Will she get her heart's desire?
Lili
Summer Stock
Charles Walters
Judy Garland, Gene Kelly
To Jane Falbury's New England farm comes a troup of actors to put up a show, invited by Jane's sister. At first reluctant she has them do farm chores in exchange for food. Her reluctance becomes attraction when she falls in love with the director, Joe, who happens to be her sister's fiance.
Summer Stock
The Barkleys of Broadway
Charles Walters
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
Josh and Dinah Barkley are a successful musical-comedy team, known for their stormy but passionate relationship. Dinah feels overshadowed by Josh and limited by the lighthearted musical roles he directs her in. So she decides to stretch her skills by taking a role in a serious drama, directed by another man.
The Barkleys of Broadway
High Society
Charles Walters
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly
Childhood friends Tracy Lord and C.K. Dexter Haven got married and quickly divorced. Now Tracy is about to marry again, this time to a shrewd social-climbing businessman. C.K. still loves her. Spy magazine blackmails Tracy's family by threatening to reveal her playboy father's exploits if not allowed to cover the wedding. A remake of the 1940 rom com The Philadelphia Story.
High Society
Good News
Charles Walters
June Allyson, Peter Lawford
At fictitious Tait University in the Roaring '20s, co-ed and school librarian Connie Lane falls for football hero Tommy Marlowe. Unfortunately, he has his eye on gold-digging vamp Pat McClellan. Tommy's grades start to slip, which keeps him from playing in the big game. Connie eventually finds out Tommy really loves her and devises a plan to win him back and to get him back on the field.
Good News
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Charles Walters
Debbie Reynolds, Harve Presnell
The buoyant Molly Brown has survived the first crisis of her life—a flood. Sixteen years later she sets out to make her way in the world. She assures the Leadville saloon keeper that she can sing and play the piano, and learns quickly. Soon she marries Johnny Brown, who in a few years will be able to replace the original cigar wrapper wedding ring with a replica in gold and gemstones. The Browns head for Europe and bring a few crowned heads back to Denver for a party that turns into a ballroom brawl. Molly goes to Europe alone, returning on the Titanic. She didn't survive a flood as a baby for the story to end here.
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Ask Any Girl
Charles Walters
David Niven, Shirley MacLaine
Meg is a young wide-eyed girl who is endures many calamities in her search for a husband in modern-day New York. After losing her suitcase at Penn Station, being kicked out by her roommate, and changing bosses because her boss made a pass at her, she finds herself looking for work at a Manhattan motivational research agency run by punctilious Miles Doughton and his playboy brother, Evan.
Ask Any Girl
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
Charles Walters
Doris Day, David Niven
Drama critic Larry Mackay, his wife Kate and their four sons move from their crowded Manhattan apartment to an old house in the country. While housewife Kate settles into suburban life, Larry continues to enjoy the theater and party scene of New York.
Please Don't Eat the Daisies
