L'incontentabile

In Beverly Hills, California, wealthy Henry Stephenson (as Horace Bennett) is unhappy with the man daughter Ann Sothern (as Kit) plans to marry. Locked in her room, Ms. Sothern has food delivered on silver platters, which she immediately throws out the window. Meanwhile, aspiring singer Gene Raymond (as Peter "Pete" Quinlan) is preparing to audition for a job at radio station KARB. His roommate Gordon Jones (as Joe) places ads for himself and Mr. Raymond in the "wanted" section of the local newspaper...

Father Stephenson hires Mr. Jones to watch over Sothern while Raymond is hired by Sothern to pose as an obnoxious French Count. She hopes her father and perceptive aunt Jessie Ralph (as Evelyn Bennett) will find Raymond distasteful and comparatively approve of fiancé Alan Curtis (as Fred Randolph). There is very little original creative energy in "Walking on Air" - but Raymond's tenor is pleasant, his French is funny, Sothern is a fine leading lady and they get two of the best supporting characters in town.

***** Walking on Air (9/11/36) Joseph Santley ~ Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, Jessie Ralph, Henry Stephenson

Gene Raymond & Ann Sothern in another of the "boy meets girl, silly identity mixups, arguments, boy tries to win back girl " stories. Raymond and Sothern made a whole bunch together. Raymond's occupation as on-air singer in Walking on Air allows him to sing the songs highlighted in the movie, which he does quite well. (among his other "occupations" in this movie.) Jessie Ralph (made David Copperfield and Bank Dick with W.C. Fields) is Auntie to Kit Bennett (Sothern), and plays referee between Kit, Horace, (Henry Stephenson) and Kits' boyfriends. Kit hires Pete Quinlan (Raymond) to hang around and annoy her father so her own boyfriend looks better and better. That boyfriend Fred (Alan Curtis) has his own tricks up his sleeve. George Meeker (plays Tom Quinlan) has a pretty impressive history himself, frequently playing cowboys & soldiers. Meeker also had parts in Gone with the Wind and Casablanca. Directed by Joseph Santley, who directed Raymond in five films in the 1930s. Fun flick. Some clever bits as we watch Pete (Raymond) try to insult the family, but has the tables turned on him. Does not seem to be at all related to the later movies made in 1946 & 1986 by the same name.

I think Walking on Air is a very refreshing movie with a humorous story-line and great singing! I thought Gene Raymond, Ann Sothern, Henry Stephenson and Jesse Ralph were superb in their performances.

I especially wanted to comment on the great singing of Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond in Let's Make a Wish. Also, there was a wonderful singing group that accompanied them in harmony at the nightclub.

The story concerns a rich girl who wants to marry a divorced man. When her father opposes the match, she hires a poor man (aspiring to be a radio singer) to impersonate a count with poor manners, to show her father than titles are not everything.

A merry mix-up ensues, and Ann finds herself falling for her count, played by Gene Raymond.

Walking on Air is a fortunate Musical Comedy of the 1930's. It is fortunate to have the lovely and talented Ann Sothern at her radiant best, Gene Raymond (real-life husband of musical great, Jeanette MacDonald) at his popularity peak, plus veteran character actors, Jessie Ralph and Henry Stephenson, having considerable fun with their roles. Fortunate also for the lilting tunes by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Students of vintage dance music will recognize the musical director, Nathaniel Shilkret, from many recordings of the era. His work here adds a richness to the score that is often lacking in similar musical pictures. What this all adds up to is a fun way to spend 70 minutes. This viewer likes it well enough to keep a 16mm print on the shelf and has never tired of repeated screenings over the years. Walking on Air is not only a uniformly likable musical - never ponderous - always pleasing, it also looks good. The entire cast seems to be having fun working together. Certainly a cut above the average musical comedy of its period.

Henry Stephenson and Jessie Ralph are parents at their wits end trying to keep heiress daughter Ann Sothern from marrying divorcee Alan Curtis who is a real drip. But Sothern has a plan.

She hires crooner Gene Raymond to impersonate an arrogant French count who is so obnoxious that the parents will cheer with relief when Sothern and Curtis tie the knot.

Only the usual happens in this gazilionth movie about heiresses in the 30s, Raymond and Sothern fall in love.

Raymond has a pleasant though he was no threat to Crosby, Columbo, and Vallee. And he sure couldn't compete with his own wife Jeanette MacDonald. Songs in this film are pretty forgettable.

Walking On Air is pleasant enough entertainment.