Tourbillon blanc

This might have looked good on a storyboard, but despite a spirited effort from Adolphe Menjou and some graceful ice-capades from Norwegian champion Sonja Henie, the film really struggles to get out of first gear for what felt like quite a bit longer than an hour and an half. He's a skint theatrical impresario who discovers this astonishingly talented ice dancer "Greta" (Henie) whilst she is preparing to represent her home nation of Switzerland at the Winter Olympic Games, and after his own hotel was mysteriously reduced to cinders. He quickly realises there are more ways than one to skin a cat, so offers her guesthouse-owing father (Jean Hersholt) a part in his vaudeville-style enterprise in the hope that will ensure he gets to manage the daughter too! Meantime, the conflagration has attracted a couple of opportunistic hacks hoping to tie in this fire with some nefarious criminal activities. "Bob" (Don Ameche) and "Danny" (Ned Sparks) are not only intrigued by the ashes, but with the enigmatic and obviously up-to-something Montagu Love. Henie is clearly learning something of the craft here, and to an extent the others help to compensate for her obvious inexperience in front of the camera, but the musical numbers are just a bit too perfectly staged and the so-called comedians "The Ritz Brothers" did make me wonder if they were supposed to be in the hotel that was razed to the ground. The whole story could have been told in half an hour, and that could have included an entertaining finale that showcases the polished skill of this already double Olympian. Otherwise, though, it's all really a bit of a meandering muddle.

This first Sonja Henie film was a surprise hit in 1936 and launched her onto a successful film career. Not bad considering how rare it was for those coming from successful sports careers to sustain such a thing (Johnny Weissmuller and Buster Crabbe possibly the only others---Esther Williams' sports background was negligible). This film's release coincided with her third straight gold medal performance at the Winter Olympics (she was champ in 1928 and 1932). (As a side note, it should be remembered that not only were the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Nazi Germany, so were that year's Winter Olympics. Granted this has nothing to do with Ms. Henie, but reviewers are bringing up the subject, so this note may quell any potential confusion over the Olympics issue.) As for "One in a Million" it is a light concoction that features Don Ameche in only his third film role and the Ritz Brothers in only their second feature film. So, lots of early work here. The results: miserable to okay. Ameche already shows his easy charm, here playing a reporter tracking an anarchist bomber story to Switzerland where he meets up with hotel proprietor Hersholt and his "gifted amateur" ice skating daughter Henie. The anarchist story fizzles but Ameche moves on to romance with Henie and her shot at the Olympics. Menjou is the brassy (maybe too much so) wheeler-dealer showman who gets Henie to perform in his show and nearly costs her the amateur standing that she needs in order to qualify for the Olympics. Along for the knockabout ride is the inimitable Ned Sparks, as Ameche's photographer partner, doing what he does best: providing that Buster Keaton-lookalike face and steely foghorn monotone delivery. Also, as part of Menjou's show, we get the Ritz Brothers who provide some strenuously awful comedy (Harry Ritz mugging so ferociously he looks as if he's herniating himself). Henie acquits herself adequately. Strangely enough, she was Norway's golden girl athlete, yet the film makes her Swiss for no apparent reason. Couldn't she be a Norwegian hotel proprietor's daughter? The other interesting aspect is her skating. We see the Olympic caliber work of a 1930's era skater, which is far simpler and less dazzling than what we've grown accustom to. Her "show-stopping" number at the end would be a warm-up for today's super-skaters. So, as a time capsule involving Henie this film is worth watching, but otherwise it's mostly light-headed knockabout nonsense not worth your time.

Having first watched this on American Movie Classics back in the '90s, I just rewatched this first Sonja Henie starring feature just now on YouTube. The upload seemed a bit chaotic with some zooms I don't remember from my previous viewing. Since this was her first real time being showcased on film, Ms. Henie doesn't dominate the proceedings with her ice dancing and scenes which are shared with leading man Don Ameche, comedians The Ritz Brothers, supporting players like Adolphe Menjou, Arline Judge, Ned Sparks, and Jean Hersholt as Sonja's father. There's also an all-girl band and a harmonica player who is later joined by likewise players who do some good slapstick. The Ritzes are also pretty amusing if not completely hilarious. In summary, One in a Million is entertaining fluff.

It would be well to remember Sonia Henie as the prototype ice performer in her day. It would also be well to remember the times this film was made. Certainly it is devoid of all of the special effects and layers of pictorial events contained in todays films (which, by the way, are entirely unrealistic to us who are knowledgeable.)

Of course the script follows mid 1930s writing and I did not find any of the actors giving less than other of their performances of the times. Given that this was Sonia's first film, her acting must be given some forgiveness there, though I did not see what others apparently viewed as less than optimal. As to the "other 1936 Olympics film," it was merely a propaganda documentary and therefore not a comparison by any means.

As to Sonia's universal appeal, she went on to make many such films, and was known as a very smart businesswoman who went on to build great riches from investments and was the benefactor of many philanthropic ventures which was virtually unknown among actors of that era. On the strength of her appeal alone, I would rate her among the great women actresses of the time. I would recommend this film to any families who want wholesome "G" rated entertainment shown to their children.

Twentieth Century Fox's "One in a Million" provides some light entertainment as well as the skating of Sonja Henie. The film has historic interest in that part of it takes place at the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, though politics are never mentioned. Henie actually won the Olympics in 1928, 1932, and 1936. This film was released in December 1936 and apparently was done before the 1936 Winter Olympics took place.

It's a slight story - Menjou and his troupe of performers arrive to work at a Swiss hotel, but find it has been burned down. They seek shelter at a nearby inn, run by Greta (Henie) and her father (Jean Hersholt). Reporter Don Ameche arrives to get the dope on the burnt hotel, apparently destroyed by an anarchist. Instead, he becomes interested in Greta and her Olympic quest and also her father's story. He was stripped of his Olympic medal in 1908 because he supposedly had worked as a professional, though he really hadn't. Menjou winds up endangering Greta's Olympic status in his zeal of signing her for his show.

There is lots of music in "One in a Million" but most of it, including the title song, isn't all that great. "Who's Afraid of Love?" is pretty, particularly when sung by Ameche, who had a lovely, light tenor voice that matched his charming film persona. Though Ameche continued to star in 20th Century Fox films and had a marvelous career, after Tyrone Power arrived, the roles that would have been intended for him went to Power, including Power's breakout role in "Lloyds of London." Menjou is a little over the top, and the Ritz Brothers I'm sure entertained the kiddie crowd with their slapstick. Arline Judge, as Menjou's wife, gives one of the best performances with her dry delivery. She had the best lines, too, so I suppose that helped. Hersholt as usual is sympathetic and wonderful.

Pretty, petite Henie was a natural for film. A vibrant presence on the ice, her skating, of course, was much less athletic than one sees today. As far as speed, spins, and showmanship, she could compete today. Some of her moves are no longer done - the pirouettes, which were really lovely, and that trademark dancing on "point" like a ballerina. The jump landings are interesting - rather than getting out of the jump quickly, the style in those days was to let the front leg continue to turn the skater into several circles, and jumps were landed with the head and body pointed downward. Some turns were done with a bent back leg, which looks really strange when viewed now. But Henie in her day elevated the sport of skating and should be appreciated for what she brought to it.

"One in a Million" is interesting for being Henie's debut. If you fast forward through the Ritz Brothers, you'll find it a lot more palatable.