Biography
Charles Walters' earliest Broadway years were spent as a chorus dancer. His made his screen bow as a performer in RKO's
Seven Days Leave (1942), then forsook acting to serve as choreographer for such MGM musicals as Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) and
Ziegfeld Follies (1945). Though he directed certain scenes of the latter film without credit, Walters' "official" directorial debut was the 1947 remake of
Good News. He subsequently directed and helped choreograph such musical films as
Easter Parade (1948), The Barkeleys of Broadway (1949),
Lili (1952), Jumbo (1962), and
The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964); he also helmed the non-musical efforts
Torch Song (1953) (in which he appeared onscreen as
Joan Crawford's clumsy dance partner),
Don't Go Near the Water (1957), and
Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960). After spending virtually his entire cinematic life at MGM, Walters bade "adios" to movies with Columbia's Walk, Don't Run (1966), which was also the final film of
Cary Grant. Charles Walters emerged from a long retirement to direct a brace of 1970s TV specials starring
Lucille Ball. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide