Fleur d'hiver

This is such a fun little movie - I'm thrilled Fox is finally putting it on DVD! Sonja Henie is the star so of course there's plenty of amazing ice-skating numbers but the real treat here is the supporting cast. Cesar Romero and Carole Landis are hilarious as a bickering couple and their musical duet of "I Like It Here" is one of the highlights. I'm a huge Carole Landis fan and it's always a treat to see her doing comedy and she has great chemistry with Cesar Romero. The costumes are beautiful too especially the gowns Carole wears and the Sonja's skating costumes. Cornel Wilde and Jack Oakie also give great supporting performances. Although it was made as a b-movie Wintertime is a really good romantic comedy with some fun musical numbers and a wonderful cast!

As the last of Sonja Henie's movies for 20th Century-Fox, Wintertime was a very entertaining way to go out for her, that's for sure! As always, her skating talents are front and center but there's also a nonsense slapstick plot that hits on all corners especially with a supporting cast that includes S. Z. (Cuddles) Sakall, Carole Landis, and welcome returning players Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero. The leading man is Cornel Wilde who wasn't established at this point in his career and doesn't get to make too much of an impression compared to previous men cast opposite Ms. Henie. Much of the musical entertainment is provided by Woody Herman and His Orchestra with fine vocals from both Ms. Landis and Romero in a few of their numbers. So on that note, Wintertime is highly recommended for any Sonja Henie fans out there.

"Wintertime" from 1943 was, I believe, the last film Sonja Henie made for Darryl F. Zanuck. To me, it was pretty poor with the exception of Sonja's fabulous skating. It's loud, a little slap-sticky, and the funny parts aren't all that funny.

The film also stars Jack Oakie, S.Z. Sakall, Cornell Wilde, Carole Landis, and Cesar Romero.

The story is sketchy and really just an excuse for the musical numbers, of which there are many. Nora (Henie) and her uncle (S.Z. Sakall) are in Canada to be part of a quota so they can immigrate to the U.S. They spend the night in a hotel in Canada which has seen better days.

Nora develops a crush on the owner (Wilde) and talks her uncle into investing into the hotel. However, with his funds being frozen in Norway due to the war, the investment has put Nora's uncle in financial trouble now. Also, Nora starts to think her romance is one-sided when reporter Landis appears.

Sonja was a first in many aspects of figure skating, and even today with more athletic moves, her talent can be appreciated. She was fast and had beautiful spins, as well a big personality. She was the first figure skater to wear the short skirt costume, the first to wear white boots, the first to make use of dance choreography, and she invented many skating techniques -- all things that remain in place today in the sport. She also made ice shows and figure skating popular.

For the above reasons, seeing a Sonja Henie movie is always a treat. In this case, do yourself a favor and fast forward through the rest of it.

Norwegian ice skater Sonia Henie (Nora) arrives in Canada with her wealthy uncle S.Z. Sakall expecting to stay in a luxury hotel. However, promoter Jack Oakie (Skip) has booked them into a failing hotel run by Cornel Wilde (Freddy). Resident entertainers Cesar Romero (Brad) and Carole Landis (Flossie) are there in the mix as well along with Woody Herman's band. Cue singing and skating…

We have the bad – Jack Oakie and S.Z. Sakall – set against the good – the songs and Romero, Landis and Henie. Romero wins the comedy prize – he is very funny and quite athletic with a talent for singing and dancing. The film started poorly with overbearing Jack Oakie blustering away in his unfunny manner to insipid Cornel Wilde. Then the film gets a massive boost with a great song by Romero and Landis before we slip into some nonsense with unfunny S.Z. Sakall. As the film progresses and Romero takes centre stage, things get enjoyable. Henie also gets some funny moments as well as her skating segments.

Not one of the best films starring the always watchable Sonja Henie, but also not among the worst either. If anything somewhere in the middle, being a decent film but lacking in a few areas that stop it from being even better.

Henie truly dazzles in her ice skating routines, with the energetic and graceful choreography it is an absolute pleasure watching her. She charms as an actress too. SZ Sakall is amusing, while Carole Landis is hilarious and Cesar Romero bags the best lines and overall material. 'Wintertime' boasts a light-hearted and often very funny script, if sometimes a little heavy on the clichés.

It's beautifully filmed in black and white and the sets and costumes are suitably lavish. The music is very pleasant, with inspired use of Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" and "Later Tonight" coming off best of the songs, and works well within the film and on its own very well.

On the other hand, the story is silly, as thin as ice and sometimes lacks momentum and charm. Two performances also don't come off. Jack Oakie (who has been much better and funnier before) overdoes it, with his blustering coming across as obnoxious, while Cornel Wilde has nothing to do and it shows in his bland and charmless performance and nondescript chemistry with the rest of the cast.

To conclude, dazzles in many components while also floundering in a few. 6/10 Bethany Cox