Adoptiertes Glück

You can have all the glamour and pastels of the MGM musical - for sheer fun, give me the Fox musicals, especially this one, Sun Valley Serenade, starring John Payne, Sonja Henie, Glenn Miller, Lynn Bari and Milton Berle.

For publicity, Nifty Allen (Berle), a band publicist, arranges for the band to adopt a refugee. When the refugee shows, she's a grown woman named Karen Benson (Henie) who immediately falls for her guardian, the bandleader, Ted (Payne).

She connives her way into the train that's taking the band to Sun Valley, where she quickly gets in between Ted and the band's singer, Vivian Dawn (Lynn Bari) whose claws come out in full force.

"Sun Valley Serenade" is filled with skiing, Glenn Miller music, and Henje's fabulous skating. By 1941, Henje was starring in her own ice show, and her skating in this film looks less dated technically than it does in earlier films. And there's no one today who can come close to her spin sequences.

I can't remember how it was done, but she skates on mirrored glass, and it looks great. This was an ideal role for Sonja - she gets to smile, skate and does not have to do anything too dramatic. Payne does well and sings pleasantly as her leading man.

One outstanding musical feature, "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," a Miller standard, is performed first by Tex Beneke and the Miller singers and then - brilliantly - by Dorothy Dandrige and the Nicholas Brothers. This alone makes the film worth watching.

Delightful.

If you're looking for a good Sonja Henie movie, this is the one to see--and hear. It's got Glenn Miller in full swing with some of his big toe-tapping favorites--including 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' danced by Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers, 'I Know Why' and 'In the Mood'. Sonja's skating routines seem tame compared to what's expected of today's skating competitors but she's graceful as ever on ice and not too bad in the acting scenes. Her comic timing had vastly improved by the time she did this one. Her scenes with John Payne where she deliberately has them stranded for an overnight stay in a cabin (due to her fake skiing accident)are good for laughs. Payne actually pulls off a couple of slapstick stunts while attempting to sleep across two chairs--definitely one of his best romantic comedy roles. With all of the skating, skiing and great Miller music, this one can't miss. Once you see it, you'll understand why it was such a huge hit in the early '40s. Glenn Miller fans will be grateful for all the screen time he is given. Lynn Bari plays it straight as the jealous woman trying to keep Sonja away from Payne and her singing is obviously dubbed--but her song, 'I Know Why', is given a great treatment with the Miller band. Enjoyable entertainment is probably Sonja's best film. Fans of the skating star may be interested in the career article I've written due for publication soon in FILMS OF THE GOLDEN AGE.

Milton Berle (Nifty) manages the Glenn Miller (Phil) band that includes piano player John Payne (Ted). They land a long-term gig with famous singer Lynn Bari (Vivian) in Sun Valley. Guess what – there's romance between Payne and Bari. However, before they depart for Sun Valley, Payne has to collect a war refugee child that he has undertaken to look after. Enter Sonja Henie (Karen). And she's not a child. Everyone goes to Sun Valley but Payne can only choose one woman. Or does the woman choose him?

The story is lightweight nonsense but the music is excellent. Every musical number is a highlight with the showstopper being Glenn Miller's "Chatanooga Choo Choo" which also includes a sequence with Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers. Wow! The film also serves up Sonja Henie and her ice skating spins. For me, the skating sequences aren't as powerful as the musical numbers, but they are still being performed by a 3 time Olympic gold medallist!

The film is funny and entertaining and contains some legendary performers. Definitely one to watch.

What's not to like about the movie? The great soundtrack, featuring then-new now-classic Glen Miller orchestra sounds? The bubbly Sonja Henie in a completely agreeable innocuous script? The same Miss Henie gamely trying to sing a few bars here and there? John Payne (Miracle on 34th Street) crooning in alternation with the song stylings of Lynn Bari? The amazingly young Uncle Miltie Berle playing the second man? Dorothy Dandridge in her prime, singing "Chattanooga Choo Choo" with full orchestral accompaniment, and the Nicholas Brothers doing a dance to boot? The skiing, the skating, the soundstage snow shenanigans?

Answer: nada. One of the lesser known (possibly because of the short running time and limited number of songs, but probably just because it's black and white and incredibly quaint), but absolutely classic movie musicals.

What a simply fantastic movie. A chance to see Glenn Miller and his orchestra and Sonja Heine both in their prime. The music is all toe-stepping and the dance routines keep you enthralled. Plus you get to see Sonja who was considered the best skater at the time. A movie that is both entertaining and gives you a chance to look back in time to see some truly great entertainers. This would best be described as a light, romantic comedy and it does have it moments. John Payne comes close to slapstick when he tries to sleep in two chairs. Milton Berle uses his time on the screen to great advantage. If this had been in color the scenes actually filmed in Sun Valley would have really been spectacular. Even in black and white the grandeur comes through. This one can be seen many times.