I remember seeing this film as a kid and being impressed that it was one of the most fun movies not directed primarily at children. Finally, I got a video copy and play it every Christmas season. If a musical romantic comedy is what you are in the mood for, this is one of the best, from a time when these were churned out in sizable numbers, serving to entertain the GIs far from home, as well as the home crowd. How could you miss with such talents as Sonja Henie, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, John Payne, Lynn Bari, Milton Berle, the Nicholas Brothers, and Dorothy Dandridge. Most of the action and some of the filming takes place at the Sun Valley ski resort in Idaho, developed only a few years before this film was made. I've seen clips of a few other films including Sonja,the reigning ice queen of the times, and this is by far her most entertaining performance. While Berle is trying to romance her, she definitely has her eye on a reluctant John Payne, who becomes engaged to the band's singer, played by perennial loser Lynn Bari. Payne was often paired with Betty Grable or Alice Faye in their 20th Century Fox musical romantic comedies of this era. Fox again paired Payne and Sonja in the film "Iceland". I haven't seen it, but apparently there was too much ice skating and too little development of the romance. It fell flat compared to the present film.
Of course, the Glenn Miller orchestra added much to this film. They performed several of their classic numbers. In addition, several new songs were composed for this film by the prolific tunesmith Harry Warren and his then lyricist Mack Gordon. Their collaboration produced such memorable songs in this film as "It Happened in Sun Valley", "I Know Why", "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "At Last". Unfortunately, the vocal version of the latter was cut, apparently to shorten the film; but Sonja and her retinue skated to the tune near the end of the film. The vocal version was resurrected in the second Fox film featuring the Miller orchestra, "Orchestra Wives", which also introduced the Warren-Gordon song "Serenade in Blue". Chattanooga Choo Choo" would go on to become the first certified Gold Record, with more than 1 million sold in the first year.. Ironically, when the Miller orchestra first practiced this song, they generally were not impressed with its potential. Surprisingly, at the Harry Warren web site, where browsers can choose to hear renditions of many of his songs, spanning from the 1920s to the 1950s, the most requested song is "At Last", which I would rate as #10, at most.
The comedy content of this film was carried by several of the principles. This was supposed to be the forte of Berle; however, his chief talent seemed to be smoking cigars. I would have much preferred Bob Hope or Jack Oakie, for example. That would have made it just about a perfect film. Miller was rather stiff off the bandstand, not surprisingly. Like the Cheshire Cat, Sonja kept popping up unexpectedly, scheming how to land her chosen man before he became unavailable. Her frequent Cheshire Cat-like smile belied her need to act fast. The chemistry between Sonja and Payne appeared to be very good, her impishness serving to loosen up his typical serious demeanor.
3/17 update : Now available at YouTube, along with "Orchestra Wives"
Of course, the Glenn Miller orchestra added much to this film. They performed several of their classic numbers. In addition, several new songs were composed for this film by the prolific tunesmith Harry Warren and his then lyricist Mack Gordon. Their collaboration produced such memorable songs in this film as "It Happened in Sun Valley", "I Know Why", "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "At Last". Unfortunately, the vocal version of the latter was cut, apparently to shorten the film; but Sonja and her retinue skated to the tune near the end of the film. The vocal version was resurrected in the second Fox film featuring the Miller orchestra, "Orchestra Wives", which also introduced the Warren-Gordon song "Serenade in Blue". Chattanooga Choo Choo" would go on to become the first certified Gold Record, with more than 1 million sold in the first year.. Ironically, when the Miller orchestra first practiced this song, they generally were not impressed with its potential. Surprisingly, at the Harry Warren web site, where browsers can choose to hear renditions of many of his songs, spanning from the 1920s to the 1950s, the most requested song is "At Last", which I would rate as #10, at most.
The comedy content of this film was carried by several of the principles. This was supposed to be the forte of Berle; however, his chief talent seemed to be smoking cigars. I would have much preferred Bob Hope or Jack Oakie, for example. That would have made it just about a perfect film. Miller was rather stiff off the bandstand, not surprisingly. Like the Cheshire Cat, Sonja kept popping up unexpectedly, scheming how to land her chosen man before he became unavailable. Her frequent Cheshire Cat-like smile belied her need to act fast. The chemistry between Sonja and Payne appeared to be very good, her impishness serving to loosen up his typical serious demeanor.
3/17 update : Now available at YouTube, along with "Orchestra Wives"