Flying Down to Rio (1933)

Director:

Thornton Freeland

Writers:

Cyril Hume (screenplay) &
H.W. Hanemann (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 December 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

A musical extravaganza staged in the clouds!

Plot:

Aviator and band leader Roger Bond is forever getting his group fired for flirting with the lady guests...

Plot Keywords:

Rio De Janeiro Brazil | Aviation | Airplane | Dancing | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Dolores del Rio	...	Belinha De Rezende (as Dolores Del Rio)
Gene Raymond	...	Roger Bond
Raul Roulien	...	Julio Ribeiro
Ginger Rogers	...	Honey Hale
Fred Astaire	...	Fred Ayres
Blanche Friderici	...	Dona Elena de Rezende
Walter Walker	...	Senhor Carlos de Rezende
Etta Moten	...	The Carioca Singer
Roy D'Arcy	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Maurice Black	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Armand Kaliz	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Paul Porcasi	...	The Mayor
Reginald Barlow	...	Alfredo Vianna, The Banker
Eric Blore	...	Mr. Butterbass, Asst. Hotel Manager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luis Alberni	...	Rio Casino Manager (uncredited)
Rafael Alvir	...	(uncredited)
Alyce Ardell	...	Maid (uncredited)
Carmen Bailey	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Don 'Red' Barry	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Leon Beaumon	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Eddie Boland	...	Airplane Mechanic (uncredited)
Eddie Borden	...	Eddie, Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Harry Bowen	...	Airport Mechanic (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey	...	Rodrigues, the Chauffeur (uncredited)
Mary Bracken	...	Dancer (uncredited)
The Brazilian Turunas	...	Musical Ensemble (uncredited)
Lucile Browne	...	Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Alex Chivra	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Helen Collins	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ray Cooke	...	Yankee Clipper Banjo Player (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Sue Curtis	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Grace Davies	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Henry De Silva	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Amapola Del Vando	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Armand Delmar	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Juan Duval	...	Dancer (uncredited)
John Eberts	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Celeste Edwards	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Emilio Fernández	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Betty Furness	...	Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Vina Gale	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Alice Gentle	...	Singer - 'Carioca' Number (uncredited)
Jack Good	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Margaret Harding	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Pauline High	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Shep Houghton	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Grace Walston Jester	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Harvey Karels	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Mary Kornman	...	Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Martha La Venture	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Wallace MacDonald	...	Airplane Pilot (uncredited)
Francisco Marán	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Helen McAllister	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Rex Moore	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Laura Morse	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
Movita	...	Singer - 'Carioca' Number (uncredited)
Clarence Muse	...	Caddy in Haiti (uncredited)
Margaret Nearing	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Franklin Pangborn	...	Hammerstein - the Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Manuel París	...	Man at Aviator's Club (uncredited)
Pedro Regas	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Jack Rice	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Ruth Riley	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Antônio - Billboard Worker (uncredited)
Gladyce Roberts	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Adrian Rosley	...	Hotel Atlântico Manager (uncredited)
Audry Savage	...	Dancer on Wing (uncredited)
Ruby jo Savage	...	Dancer on Wing (uncredited)
Harry Semels	...	Billboard Worker (uncredited)
Barbara Sheldon	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Marla Shelton	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Mary Stewart	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jerome Storm	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Eddie Tamblyn	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Carol Tevis	...	Blindfolded Blonde (uncredited)
Doris Toddings	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Alma Travers	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joe Venuti	...	Violinist in Orchestra (uncredited)
Dick Webster	...	Band Member (uncredited)
Douglas Williams	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Howard Wilson	...	Yankee Clipper (uncredited)
Dorothy Young	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Thornton Freeland

Writing credits
Cyril Hume		(screenplay) &
H.W. Hanemann		(screenplay) and
Erwin S. Gelsey		(screenplay) (as Erwin Gelsey)
Anne Caldwell		(play)
Lou Brock		(original story)
Adele Comandini		contract writer (uncredited)
Joseph Fields		contract writer (uncredited)
Thomas Lennon		contract writer (uncredited)
Fred Niblo Jr.		contract writer (uncredited)
Gilberto Souto		contract writer (uncredited)
Harvey F. Thew		contract writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Lou Brock	....	associate producer
Merian C. Cooper	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Vincent Youmans

Cinematography by
J. Roy Hunt		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Jack Kitchin

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark
Van Nest Polglase

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett
Irene		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Ray Romero	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Tillie Starriett	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Bert Gilroy	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry D'Arcy	....	assistant director: additional scenes (uncredited)
Bert Gilroy	....	assistant director: additional scenes (uncredited)
Ben Holmes	....	third unit director (uncredited)
Edward Killy	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Ray Lissner	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Wallace MacDonald	....	assistant director: second unit (uncredited)
Mark Sandrich	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harry Cornbleth	....	props (uncredited)
Ernie Thompson	....	assistant propman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Philip Faulkner Jr.	....	recordist (as P.J. Faulkner)
George Marsh	....	sound cutter
Jack Beamish	....	assistant recordist (uncredited)
Bob Hess	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Paul F. Wiser	....	recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	photographic effects (as Vern Walker)
Donald Jahraus	....	miniatures (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lucien N. Andriot	....	photographer: second unit (uncredited)
Kent Fox	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Carl Lawrence	....	best boy (uncredited)
Art Losey	....	grip (uncredited)
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)
H.A. Shelton	....	assistant grip (uncredited)
Albert Wetzel	....	second camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Edward Eliscu	....	lyrics by
Gus Kahn	....	lyrics by
Max Steiner	....	musical director
R.H. Bassett	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Eddie Sharpe	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Murray Spivack	....	music recordist (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Dave Gould	....	dance director
George Nichols Jr.	....	associate director (as George Nicholls Jr.)
Earl Gordon	....	pilot (uncredited)
Gloria Gottschalk	....	script clerk (uncredited)
H.W. Hanemann	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Herb Hirst	....	location manager (uncredited)
Stanley Kramer	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Garland Lincoln	....	pilot (uncredited)
J.D. Lockhart	....	stand-in: Gene Raymond (uncredited)
Elizabeth McGaffey	....	research director (uncredited)
Hermes Pan	....	assistant dance director (uncredited)
Josefina Ramos	....	stand-in: Dolores Del Rio (uncredited)
Frank Tomick	....	pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Radio Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• CEL Home Video (198?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Cult & Classic (Brazil) (VHS)
• Turner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Portuguese | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

UK:U (tv rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1986) (1997) (1999) (2007) | Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Company:

Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The role of Honey Hale was to be played by Dorothy Jordan, but she dropped out to marry the film's producer, Merian C. Cooper; the role was then given to Ginger Rogers. Source - Ginger: My Story.

Goofs:

Continuity: While Fred and Ginger are seated watching the Carioca, their position changes; first she is on his right, then she is on his left, and before they get up to dance, she is back on his right.

Quotes:

Fred Ayres:Nothing of the kind. He's landed us a job in Rio. Rio de Janeiro. The Hotel Atlantico. We'll be flying down any morning now.
Honey Hale:And swimming back in the afternoon. I'm taking my water-wings.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Let's Dance (2009/II)

Soundtrack:

Music Makes Me

A run of the mill musical except for the obvious addition.

By the time Flying Down to Rio was released in 1933, It was Warner Brothers who had been having the success as far as musicals were concerned.

Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell were the uncrowned King and Queen of song and dance land and in films like 42nd Street, Footlight Parade and Gold Diggers and the later movies Dames and Flirtation Walk they were paving the way for a motion picture genre that would continue in much the same vein for the next twenty years.

With kaleidescope routines expertly directed by Busby Berkeley via overhead cameras, the movie musical was finally taking shape bearing little or no resemblance to earlier dismal efforts like MGM'S Broadway Melody of 1929 or their equally unimpressive Hollywood Review from the same year.

RKO was at the time a struggling studio with huge debts and was on the verge of going bankrupt. However they decided to capitalize on this medium in an effort to pull themselves back into the black.

Flying Down to Rio was in all respects no different to any other of the films they produced at the time and I'm sure this film would have sank into obscurity and be long forgotten had it not been for the movie milestone it boasts.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were cast as only 3rd and 4th billed performers, to all intents and purposes, the token dance act, a novelty. Neither of them had done much before. Ginger of course was beginning to make a name for herself. She had featured in both the fore-mentioned 42nd Street and Gold Diggers and was slowly working her way out of chorus lines into bit parts and the occasional solo number.

Fred had done less still. Already a well known stage star in America and Britain, he had just one previous film under his belt. A natural dancer of extraordinary talent, Fred was signed on as RKO's secret weapon in their efforts to make the best musicals.

However, no matter how dull the storyline to "Rio" is (and it is believe me) it is soon forgotten when Fred and Ginger perform their first ever screen dance, The Carioca, a musical number with Latin- American tempo complete with stunning costumes, guest singers and the very kaleidoscopic shots of which Busby Berkeley himself would have been proud. It is their only dance together in the film and their actual dancing is given very limited screen-time, but it was enough to cause Astaire/Rogers mania.

Forgive the cliche but the rest is history as they say.

So successful were they that they went on to appear in a further nine films together making them one of the most beloved and cherished screen partnerships ever.

Alone the Astaire/Rogers musicals of the thirties saved the studio from closure and they helped push Warner's, Keeler and Powell into second place, at least as far as musicals were concerned.

Astaire is given further opportunity to shine in two stunning solos which will leave the viewer in no doubt whatsoever why he was the very best at his chosen craft.

Complete with the now famous 'girls-strapped-onto-aeroplane-wings' scene and with the added talents of Delores Del Rio and Gene Raymond adding the romance, It all helps to make an otherwise dull film into a legendary silver screen gem.