weezeralfalfa The first of a series of musical romances over the next decade that centered around the ice skating or skiing of Norway's Sonja Henie. Most of these films included at least one charismatic supporting talent, in addition to a leading man to become her paramour. Here, we have the up and coming leading man Don Ameche as her new beau. He exuded easy charm, looks, and a good singing voice. Former big band singer Leah Ray was the lead female singer in several songs......Adolphe Menjou, as Ted Spencer, was the ever present owner and promoter of a traveling girl's band, traveling in Switzerland, which soon added comedic talent in the form of the Ritz Brothers, and Borrah Minevitch, with his harmonica rascals. Lastly, Adolphe added Sonja and other ice skaters to his shows.......The first part of the film is relatively tame, introducing the various characters. At first, Adolphe fails to grasp the importance of Sonja winning the 1936 Olympic skiing gold metal(Never mind that, in reality, she had already won that honor in the previous 2 Olympics!). Adolphe wants her to join his program immediately, until his wife, Billie(Arline Judge) points out the long term benefit of having a lead skater who can claim to be an Olympic champion. Unfortunately, her participation in an exposition sponsored by Adolphe seemed to jeopardize her status as an amateur, even though she personally didn't receive any money or other perks. This issue would again crop up after she had apparently won the title. The authorities went back and forth as to whether this disqualified her, until it was decided this didn't mark her as a professional skater........The three Ritz brothers put on 2 appearances on ice. In the first, they are dressed up as Charles Laughton(playing Cpt. Bligh), Boris Karloff(playing Frankenstein's monster), and Peter Lorre, respectively. They clown around, singing some wacky songs. Later, during the post-Olympic show, 2 don a bull partial costume, and the third is dressed as a matador. They then have a wacky bull fight on ice skates........Before Sonja skates for the title, Leah Ray sings the best song in the movie: "Who's Afraid of Love". Ameche then follows with his rendition, which is clearly directed at blushing Sonja. Then, Minevitch and his harmonica rascals comically play a variety of songs, which may be too long for you. Previously, Minevitch, alone, had played his harmonica on several occasions......After winning the title, Sonja tells Adolphe she wants to compete in the 1940 Olympics, instead of joining his troupe. But, he says, if that's the case, he will bring up her participation in his exposition, which may disqualify her for the present Olympics, as well as the ones in 1940. She toes the line, and joins his show in Madison Square Garden. ...... The film was a hit with contemporary audiences. But, today, Olympic skaters can do some more difficult tricks, and we see it in color. But, if you want to see the lady who started the modern age of show ice skating, check out one or two of her films. Although seldom shown on TV, nearly all her films are currently available on expensive DVDs. A few, including this one, are also available free, at YouTube. I prefer Sun Valley Serenade, which has the big advantage of including Glenn Miller's orchestra, in a rare film appearance. However, it more features her skiing than ice skating. That film is currently available at YouTube.

JohnHowardReid This talkative Sonja Henie musical comedy is saddled with a cornball script by Leonard Praskins and Mark Kelly. In addition to its so-so comedy routines, it also features a number of musical numbers directed by Jack Haskell. Other credits are likewise inviting, but don't actually amount to anything much, even though Sidney Lanfield was the director and Raymond Griffith, the producer. Alas, for some unknown reason, this movie is well below their best work. In fact, it could justly be described as a completely undistinguished programmer, that manages to end up as a really terrible waste of a talented support cast led by Adolphe Menjou, Arline Judge, Don Ameche, Ned Sparks, Dixie Dunbar and Montagu Love.

Neil Doyle SONJA HENIE made a few very dazzling skating films but this is not one of them. The only saving grace for watching this is to see DON AMECHE as her singing co-star who does nicely with an uninspired song number and gives his usual charming and natural performance.Unfortunately, surrounding Henie with a talented supporting cast did not work in this case. THE RITZ BROS. routines wear thin pretty fast and carry on for much too lengthy a time. The Harmonica Gang is a clever act but, again, too much footage devoted to their antics which, I believe, were shown to better advantage later on by The Ed Sullivan Show TV appearances.The thin story is loosely based on Henie's own beginning as an Olympic Champion but is strictly formulaic in the telling. Henie's skating routines are hardly the best she ever offered on film. Indeed, one has to sit through long stretches of film dominated by the supporting actors in order to see even a glimpse of her on ice.Adolphe Menjou must have thought the microphones weren't carrying his voice properly. He shouts all of his lines in what has to be one of his poorest performances in a comedy role. Arline Judge has some snappy one-liners to throw at him, but most of them are so mild that they fall flat. Fortunately, Jean Hersholt gives a nice, low-key performance as Sonja's caring dad.Sorry to be so negative, but I did look forward to seeing Sonja in her American debut on film. She was later given much better material in her subsequent films--especially in SUN VALLEY SERENADE and WINTERTIME.Her camera style had not yet been developed. The make-up artist has given her an unflattering hairdo (the plastered down curls in typical '30s style) and the cameraman did not capture the Henie personality as was done in all of her later films. Zanuck obviously decided to keep her lines to a minimum and throw most of the story and routines to the supporting cast. It doesn't work.Strictly thumbs down on this one. Thankfully, there were better films in her future.

David (Handlinghandel) This is a truly unappealing movie. The humor is as broad as a barn. The Ritz Brothers? Well, apparently they have their fans. Count me as not one (on just this one viewing.) I had never seen Sonja Henie before tonight. Her skating is certainly good but kind of dull to watch. I guess this was her debut so no comment on her acting skills. Now, about that Olympic Games she is preparing for .... Didn't someone named Leni do a whole movie about those games? A very good movie but extremely controversial Games? Adolph Menjou could never carry a movie. He was a reliably capable performer. The same goes for Don Ameche, whose best is "Midnight." Arline Judge is amusing here. But is that a reason to sit through an hour and a half of pratfalls, corny jokes, and clichés?