Second Fiddle

This is the first Sonja Henie movie that I've seen in my entire life and I love her ever since. This excellent movie portraits the 1930's Hollywood film-making system having Tyrone Power as a "Consolidated Pictures" agent who discovers skating teacher Henie and makes her a "Hollywood Star". Excellent musical and well-acted movie. Lots of musicals and skating numbers performed by Rudy Vallee, Mary Healy and Sonja Henie.

When seen today, Sonja Henie films are incredibly strange and the notion that this Norwegian skating champion could be one of the biggest stars at Twentieth Century-Fox is just baffling. After all, Henie was cute--but not exactly a big star due to her looks. And, in each of her films, they SOMEHOW contrived to get her onto the ice SOMEWHERE!! The films really make no sense...though I must admit that most are still entertaining if you see them today. You just need to be sure to suspend all disbelief, otherwise your brain will nag you with 1001 questions!

The film revolves around a slick publicity agent, Jimmy (Tyrone Power). He's an amazingly good liar--even for a P.R. man and his routine is pretty funny. However, when he gets the smart idea of creating a fake romance between two new studio stars, Roger (Rudy Vallee) and Trudi (Henie), things get complicated. Roger is already in love with another woman and he's apprehensive to play like he's in love with Trudi. Worse, however, is that slowly Jimmy is falling for Trudi himself...but when the plan backfires and Trudi learns that Roger is only PRETENDING to love her, she is furious as well as hurt and leaves Hollywood. What is that weasel, Jimmy, to do?!

In addition to the strange plot, the studio cast Edna May Oliver as Trudi's aunt. This is ridiculous, as Oliver seems about as Norwegian as pizza! And, there are LOTS of ridiculous songs and skating numbers that make the whole thing a bit on the silly side. BUT, the leads try there best and despite all the silliness, it IS enjoyable.

By the way, the studio head who you hear but never see is played by Charles Lane--the old familiar character actor.

She couldn't sing, she didn't dance much, and her acting was, well, evident. Nevertheless, Sonja Henie, "Queen of the Ice," became one of the biggest box office attractions of her time as a result of the 12 movies she made between 1936 and 1948. You owe it to yourself to see at least one of these films, none of which are really musicals but which often include a lot of great music. Arguably the best of her figure skating extravaganzas is "Second Fiddle," the story of a Minnesota school teacher whose talent takes her to Hollywood. Sound familiar? Henie was from Norway and was discovered after winning three Olympic gold medals. The Irving Berlin score and the performances of Tyrone Power, Rudy Vallee, Mary Healy, and Edna Mae Oliver are more good reasons to watch this film. And they were right about Henie; you can't keep your eyes off her. If you like what you see, give a try to One in a Million (1936) in which Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals provide the laughs. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013

Darryl F. Zanuck's number one star at 20th Century Fox Tyrone Power had to yield first billing in Second Fiddle to Sonia Henie, a very different kind of star than Zanuck was used to dealing with.

Sonia Henie as movie star could probably best be compared to Esther Williams. Both were female sports stars in their chosen area. Henie's prestige was backed up by the fact that she had taken home the gold in three Olympics in figure skating before going to Hollywood. Esther unfortunately never got to compete in the canceled Olympics of 1940. As stars in their fields they could command big salaries and unlike other stars could make a bundle marketing themselves professionally. Sonia made plenty of money off the Ice Capades, she didn't need to be a film star and Zanuck well knew it.

With that kind of leverage, you'd better make sure you give her the right material and plenty of support. Henie was not an actress, she never claimed she was. Yet Zanuck found stories suitable for her.

Case in point is Second Fiddle, 20th Century Fox's satire on the search for Scarlett O'Hara. Woman of the North is a blockbuster best seller like Gone With The Wind and the studio that bought the rights decides a fresh face is needed. A nationwide talent search is on and Sonia Henie, a fresh faced school teacher from Minnesota, has her picture sent in by her oaf of a boyfriend, Lyle Talbot.

The studio sends young publicity man Tyrone Power out to the frozen north of the continental USA to fetch Sonia back to Hollywood. Going along for the ride is her aunt, Edna May Oliver.

Sonia gets the usual star buildup, but she can't quite understand things in Tinseltown as she's fresh off the farm. Case in point, the publicity inspired romance between her and Rudy Vallee. That gem of an idea will bite its creator Mr. Power right in the hindquarters. It also doesn't sit well with Vallee's main squeeze, Mary Healy.

Irving Berlin wrote the score for Second Fiddle. It was the last of a three picture deal he had with 20th Century Fox that included On the Avenue and Alexander's Ragtime Band. One of the songs of the score, I Poured My Heart Into A Song was garnered for Second Fiddle it's only Academy Award nomination. Unfortunately Judy Garland went Over the Rainbow that year of 1939.

As part of the publicity campaign Power gets to write I Poured My Heart Into A Song and you see him composing it at the piano and singing a bar or two of the lyrics Irving Berlin wrote that he just made up. When you hear Ty sing, you can understand why 20th Century Fox hired John Payne for musicals. Among the things Power was not blessed with was a good singing voice.

Second Fiddle is good entertainment, it's got a nice Irving Berlin score, some well choreographed figure skating routines for Henie, Tyrone Power, and of course Edna May Oliver who brings up the quality of any film she's in.

'Second Fiddle' with a good cast and one of the greatest song-writers in Irving Berlin had a lot going for it. It isn't completely successful, but a vast majority of it does work very well.

Its weak link is the story, which, as well as thin structurally, does jump about all over the place in parts giving it a rather strange feel. Berlin's songs are pleasant enough, with the Oscar-nominated "I Poured My Heart Into a Song" and "Back to Back" being the standouts, but generally it is not one of Berlin's better song scores.

However, it's exquisitely photographed and sumptuously designed. The skating sequences (almost as good as the ones in 'One in a Million) are a joy and brilliantly choreographed, making one's jaw drop with their imagination and verve, with Sonja Henie and Stewart Reburn more than doing them justice. The script is fun, especially Edna May Oliver's, and there is an exuberant energy throughout.

The cast fare very well. Henie is pert and charming, and the camera clearly loves her. Her ice skating is also out of this world, and she forms a great partnership with Reburn. Tyrone Power is a more than worthy partner with his handsome looks and appealing charisma. Edna May Oliver steals scenes in a hilarious performance, while Rudy Vallee and Mary Healy sing Berlin's songs beautifully.

Overall, a good film, despite the story, that is not first rate but a long way from second fiddle. 8/10 Bethany Cox