Wintertime was the last of the nine Sonja Henie skate-musicals made by the Fox studios, and basically the last notable film in her career. It was also the last film the indefatigable Cesar Romero made for Fox before shipping off to the Pacific theater. (He was already enlisted when the film was shot, and shippedContinue reading “Wintertime (1943)”
Category Archives: Fox jazz comedies
Dance Hall (1941)
I love Dance Hall pretty much unreservedly. It is as pure and perfectly made a B-comedy of the period as one could imagine. Made just at the start of 20th Century Fox’s jazz-comedy heyday, it displays all the elements that made them so interesting and fun. All the more puzzling why it’s nearly impossible toContinue reading “Dance Hall (1941)”
Swing Soundtracks
One of the things I love most about Swing Era comedies is the music. That might seem obvious, but it has hidden dimensions. Musical comedies of the period depended a lot on the continuous threading through of themes in the background score — the atmospheric accompaniment of the dialogue and the action. Not only comediesContinue reading “Swing Soundtracks”
Orchestra Wives (1942)
Orchestra Wives is one of the 20th Century Fox musicals of the 40s that were made on B-budgets, but are elevated to A-status by their music and cinematography. It’s a dreamy jazz band movie with almost zero narrative — but very funny and erotic, with great music and the best routine by The Nichols BrothersContinue reading “Orchestra Wives (1942)”
Happy Landing (1938)
Happy Landing was the third film Sonja Henie made for 20th Century Fox. She was a monster star in her day, the first female professional skater to become an international sensation. 20th Century Fox was a maverick studio in the 1930s that tended to make low-budget musical comedies that featured some unusual, and unusually good,Continue reading “Happy Landing (1938)”