Iceland

A pretty miss in ICELAND falls for an American Marine corporal stationed there temporarily during World War Two.

Sonja Henie was Norway's ice queen when she won Olympic gold medals for skating in 1928, 1932 & 1936. After going professional, she began a celebrated movie career at 20th Century Fox in 1936 with her American film debut, ONE IN A MILLION. Beautiful & talented, as well as being a natural in front of the cameras, she carved out her own special niche during Hollywood's Golden Age. Although Miss Henie's ice routines may look antiquated by comparison to modern champions, there was nothing antique about her dazzling smile or sparkling personality. In this regard, some of today's snowflake princesses could still learn a great deal from her.

As her career progressed, it became increasingly difficult for 20th Century Fox to find decent stories for Miss Henie and the excuses for the lavish ice dancing numbers were often implausible. No matter. Audiences did not flock to her films to watch Sonja recite Shakespeare. The movies were meant to be pure escapist fantasy, plain & simple.

ICELAND is no exception and its story is often quite ludicrous. However, the skating episodes are pleasing and there is a generous amount of band music supplied by the Sammy Kaye Orchestra, which introduces 'There Will Never Be Another You,' by Mack Gordon & Harry Warren.

Thanks to the script, John Payne's romance with Sonja is kept a rather dull affair. As Payne's sidekick, Jack Oakie comes across as loud & annoying. Felix Bressart, a fine actor when given something decent to work with, plays Sonja's silly Papa.

Fritz Feld makes the most of his few minutes as an inquisitive Icelandic functionary. Movie mavens will recognize an oddly uncredited Sterling Holloway, who is very funny as Sonja's erstwhile suitor.

Ultimately, though, this is Sonja's show. She glides effortlessly into the viewer's heart, while balancing on a thin edge of silver, suspended over frozen water.