Sun Valley Serenade (1941)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

H. Bruce Humberstone

Writers:

Art Arthur (story) and
Robert Harari (story) ...

Release Date:

29 August 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

When Phil Corey's band arrives at the Idaho ski resort its pianist Ted Scott is smitten with a Norwegian refugee he has sponsored...

Plot Keywords:

Pianist | Norwegian | Ski Resort | Bandleader | Skiing

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Sonja Henie	...	Karen Benson
John Payne	...	Ted Scott
Glenn Miller	...	Phil Corey
Milton Berle	...	Jerome K. 'Nifty' Allen
Lynn Bari	...	Vivian Dawn
Joan Davis	...	Miss Carstairs
Dorothy Dandridge	...	Specialty act
William B. Davidson	...	Jack Murray (as William Davidson)
Almira Sessions	...	Nurse
Mel Ruick	...	Jimmy Norton
Ralph Dunn	...	Ellis Island customs officer
Chester Clute	...	Process server
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Modernaires	...	Singing Group
Spec O'Donnell	...	Western Union boy (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | West Germany:6 (nf) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #7218) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Ketchum, Idaho, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Sonja Henie wanted to have three ice skating production numbers, but only two were finished and included in the film. Darryl F. Zanuck would only allow a third if Henie would pay the production costs for it, which she refused.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The X Files: The Walk (#3.7)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

I Know Why (and So Do You)

Unbelievably enjoyable brain fluff, on ice

What's not to like about the movie? The great soundtrack, featuring then-new now-classic Glen Miller orchestra sounds? The bubbly Sonja Henie in a completely agreeable innocuous script? The same Miss Henie gamely trying to sing a few bars here and there? John Payne (Miracle on 34th Street) crooning in alternation with the song stylings of Lynn Bari? The amazingly young Uncle Miltie Berle playing the second man? Dorothy Dandridge in her prime, singing "Chattanooga Choo Choo" with full orchestral accompaniment, and the Nicholas Brothers doing a dance to boot? The skiing, the skating, the soundstage snow shenanigans?

Answer: nada. One of the lesser known (possibly because of the short running time and limited number of songs, but probably just because it's black and white and incredibly quaint), but absolutely classic movie musicals.