Iceland

Whatever the merits of Ms. Henie and Mr. Payne, this movie is a must for all World War II buffs. It is the only movie that I know of about the United States's invasion of Iceland. Hardly anyone knows that the United States occupied Iceland in July of 1941, five months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The U. S. took over occupation from U. K. forces who had been there since 1940. The reason this occupation was that Iceland was a superb base to protect the North Atlantic sea lanes.

The invasion was part of conspiracy theorists's belief that Roosevelt and Churchill plotted to get the United States into the war.

Besides, Sonja may be the best ice skater of all time -- look up her Olympic record -- and is as cute as a button.

1942's Iceland is a wartime film about a playboy marine, James Murfin (John Payne) stationed in Iceland. There he meets Katina (Henie), a lovely young woman in a hurry to get married so that her sister can marry a man who will bring some much-needed cash into the family. As in many cultures, the older girl must marry first. Katina, however, isn't crazy about the man who has proposed something like 36 times (Sterling Holloway), so when she meets Murfin, she says they met a few years earlier and are in love. Before Murfin knows it, he's engaged, the marriage license has been registered, and at one point, the family believes that he's Katina's husband.

There's not much of a story here, but some of the music is pleasant enough and well sung by Joan Merrill. Sonja has some great skating sequences. Figure skating was different in those days - much more dance oriented with no big jumps - barrel rolls and singles were about it. Sonja was a dazzling performer who had great speed and a thrilling signature spin that started slowly and went faster and faster, until she resembled a whirling dervish. Her contribution to the world of figure skating is invaluable: She popularized figure skating, invented the skating show, and made white skating boots the thing to wear! John Payne is handsome and does a good job as Murfin, but he doesn't get to really sing. He had such a nice voice, it's a shame. Felix Bressart plays Katina's father and is a joy as always. Jack Oakie is Murfin's comic buddy, and he's good as well.

However, when you're watching a Sonja Henie movie, it's Sonja's skating that's the true star. This isn't her best film, but it's still entertaining.

The reason US Marines went to Iceland prior to Pearl Harbor was part of a deal to relieve English troops so they could fight in North Africa and other locations. Denmark, the country actually responsible for Iceland allowed this to happen . It was not part of any conspiracy.

Contrary to many of the reviews, this is a fine, entertaining movie. I like this movie better than "Sun Valley Serenade". Anyone interested in Sonja Henie films will find this delightful.

The cast is actually quite good. Sterling Holloway is quite amusing. Jack Oakie is laugh out loud. The stars are very attractive.

And you can swing and sway with Sammy Kay.

20th Century-Fox showed little imagination when they decided to team SONJA HENIE and JOHN PAYNE again after the huge success of SUN VALLEY SERENADE. Unfortunately, it doesn't work this time, despite the presence of some likable supporting players and Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra.

The gave a wartime slant to the story by having John Payne as a stubborn marine in love with a flirtatious Norwegian skater (Henie) who sets her cap for him despite a series of misunderstandings and mishaps. Add a band like Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra, a couple of potential hit ballads ("There Will Never Be Another You" and "I Love A Military Man") and a little comic relief (Jack Oakie, Sterling Holloway) and you have a formula for a successful Fox musical.

Not so. Everything about the plot seems like nothing more than filler material to fill in between skating interludes. Henie smiles her dimpled smile and and goes through her part with her usual enthusiasm but this time the romance with John Payne is as weak as the silly storyline that has him duped into pretending they're married.

The film's biggest compensations are the skating sequences and here the star is shown in pretty costumes during an extensive and rather extravagant routine in which she skates to various tempos of popular music--but there are just too many dull stretches and limp comic moments between skating to bring the film up to SUN VALLEY SERENADE's standard.

The supporting cast can't be blamed. Felix Brassert, Stanley Holloway (uncredited) and Jack Oakie are all up to the comedy relief their roles offer and do their best with some passable material.

Nevertheless, the film was a huge money-maker for Fox due to the commercial success of Henie's previous hit--but be warned. It's no "Sun Valley Serenade". If you don't expect too much, perhaps Sonja's big skating number will be worth waiting for.

Sonja Henie was always watchable, even in her weakest films, and a marvel at ice skating.

Her filmography was very much a mixed bag. There are charmers and gems such as 'Sun Valley Serenade', 'Second Fiddle' and 'Lovely to Look At'. However, there are also wildly uneven and average films such as 'It's a Pleasure', 'Everything Happens at Night' and 'One in a Million'. Have yet to see a film of hers, though there is more to see, that's less than mediocre or terrible.

'Katina' (or 'Iceland') falls more in the latter category. Certainly not a terrible film, but is a case of some elements working far better than others. Some elements such as the music, Henie, the production values and the ice skating float beautifully, others such as the comedy, the romance, the script and the story sink badly.

It's beautifully photographed and the production values are suitably elegant and couldn't have been more perfectly complemented by the photography. Another high point is the music which is delightful and every bit as delightfully played and sung. "There Will Never Be Another You" is particularly note-worthy. John Payne sings gloriously, while Sterling Holloway is effective in his role as is Felix Besshart.

The best things about it are Henie, who charms as an actress and dazzles in the ice skating routines, and the ice skating sequences, which are full of energy and grace. Most envious on both counts.

On the other hand, the story is little more than (very) thinly plotted and very dull filler, with a romance that rarely goes anywhere and betraying a lack of chemistry. The comedy is similarly as limp as a kipper, especially with Jack Oakie who tries to compensate for that and instead overdoes it.

Payne has little to do and is rather wooden, while the pacing and the direction are leaden.

All in all, an uneven film that floats beautifully with some elements and sinks badly in others. 5/10 Bethany Cox