This romantic comedy was the final film appearance of Esther Williams, the American competitive swimmer and actress. She had set national records in her late teens in Los Angeles, but was unable to compete in the 1940 Olympics because of the outbreak of World War II. She joined Billy Rose's Aquacade dance and swimming show and spent five months swimming alongside Olympic gold-medal winner and Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller. Williams caught the attention of MGM scouts, and she made a series of popular films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as "aquamusicals," which featured elaborate synchronised swimming. (Wikipedia)
La Fuente Mágica (Magic Fountain) was shot in Spain in 1961-62. Esther Williams' co-star and director was Fernando Lamas, with whom she had starred at MGM ten years earlier in Dangerous When Wet, a big success. It's safe to say they were both still sex symbols in the early sixties, and they married in 1969.
The plot involves Alberto, a wealthy financier on a quiet vacation in a southern Spanish village, embracing a simple life. His encounter with Hyacinth, an idealistic American sociologist dedicated to empowering women, leads him to change some of his attitudes.
The first thing that most of us notice in the scene where they meet on the road, is of course the homemade "Willys" plaque on the radiator guard, replacing the WILLYS-VIASA badge that would have originally been on the Spanish-built Jeep.
They discover they're both heading to the village of San Aniceto, where she plans to spend a few days studying the local women and modernizing their outlook.
Here we see the Jeep's only rear-view mirror, and what is apparently the windshield wiper motor, both located in the middle of the windscreen.
One of Alberto's boots was stolen by a dog, who later brings it to his owner, a young woman. She turns out to be the hotel maid, who takes a fancy to Alberto.
Just visible in this shot is the full-floating rear axle hub which confirms that this is a VIASA Jeep.
We get a look at the Jeep from every direction, and the rear view makes it clear that there's no spare tire on board.
Unlike some films where a Jeep is featured in one scene and never appears again, Hyacinth's 3B continue's to be important throughout Magic Fountain.
They arrive in the beautiful white village of San Aniceto, and pull up at the inn where they're both staying.
This lobby card is for the Mexican release of La Fuente Mágica. The cheesecake illustration of Esther Williams actually has nothing to do with this film.
In the top left corner of the large copy (260K JPEG) you can see Spanish text promising "Captivating melodies! Extravagant stars! Hot romanticism!" (Surprising that they didn't mention "Cool Jeep!"
Alberto hangs around the Jeep waiting for Hyachinth to show up. We get a good look at the ventilating windscreen and the VIASA 3B's metal and rubber bumpers resting on the hood.
Alberto talks her into letting him drive, and they head out with the windscreen up and open. They take in a bullfight and some flamenco, and go for a swim. It's a fairly lengthy swimming scene but with nothing as dramatic as the dive on the poster (at the top of this page.) Hyacinth is finally warming up to him.
But after she sees him with the hotel maid and misinterprets what she sees, she jumps in the Jeep and with a tear in her eye heads to the nearby city (Seville) where a big festival is underway. She does a pretty slick job of backing into a tight parking space.
Alberto follows her on horseback, and manages to find her in the crowd. They make up and head back to San Aniceto with the horse trotting behind.
The Jeep is prominent in the last shot of the film, as Alberto and Hyacinth kiss in front of the magic fountain.
Thanks to Federico Cavedo for finding this obscure CJ-3B movie. -- Derek Redmond
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