Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

calvinnme John Payne plays the pianist/arranger for a big band led by Glenn Miller and managed by Milton Berle. They pick up singer Lynn Bari enabling them to get a big contract in Sun Valley, Idaho, at which point, a past publicity stunt comes back to bite them. They offered to sponsor a war refugee, thinking taking care of a baby would be publicity, and now the refugee arrives... in the form a of fully grown-up Sonja Henie. For Henie, it's love at first sight with Payne, and she vows to break up Payne's relationship with Bari. (And we're supposed to sympathize with her!) There's some good scenery of Sun Valley, at least the best they could do in black-and-white, and some absolutely horrid rear-projection. With Glenn Miller around, you know the music is going to be top-notch; the movie introduced the Oscar-nominated "Chattanooga Choo-Choo". That number also offers a scene for a young Dorothy Dandrige and the Nicholas Brothers.Like is often true in Fox musicals, this one is a split decision The story I give just a 5/10. However, the music, at 10/10, drags the total rating to 7/10 IMHO.

SimonJack What's not to like about any film that has a good dose of big band music? "Sun Valley Serenade" has Glenn Miller and his orchestra with a fine cast, wonderful scenery, superb skiing and filming and an unusual, far-fetched but good plot. The film is only one of three in which Glenn Miller's band appears, and the only one of two in which he has much of a role. But the band plays half a dozen tunes, including a smashing rendition with repeats of "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Of course, we see and hear the Glenn Miller signature tunes, "Moonlight Serenade" and "In the Mood."Besides Miller and his orchestra, Tex Beneke and The Modernaires sing, Dorothy Dandridge sings, and the Nicholas Brothers have a fine song and dance routine. The last of the show entertainment comes from Sonja Henie on the ice. She does a skating routine that is spectacular with a perfect reflection off the ice. The ice is covered with a paper- thin sheet of water that doesn't ripple, splash or appear to be water. Only in a couple of instances is it even noticeable. The plot for this musical comedy and romance revolves around Henie, who arrives at Ellis Island as a refugee from Norway. She plays Karen Benson, whom Miller band member and composer Ted Scott is sponsoring as a refugee. John Payne plays Scott, who assumes he will be getting a little girl. He shows up with Glenn Miller and the whole band to meet their immigrant, and are they surprised. The band has been trying to see a music promoter to get a gig somewhere. They continue to be put off by the promoter's secretary. When a singer, Vivian Dawn (played by Lynn Bari) has a dispute with a band that is playing for her recording, Tess Scott comes to her defense. She agrees to let Phil Corey's band play for the recording and that lands them a gig playing in Sun Valley. Vivian has yes for Ted, and he for her. But before heading for the hills, Ted has to deposit his refugee with his aunt in New England. The band takes off on the train for Sun Valley. Only their manager, Nifty Allen (played by Milton Berle) has smuggled Karen on board. He has eyes for her, but she has eyes for her sponsor, Ted. Amidst the snow, scenery, music, and fun at Sun Valley, Karen plies her wiles to win Ted's affection away from Vivian. Vivian cooperates by her moodiness, impatience and nasty behavior with the band and just about everyone. We all know where this is leading and how it will end. But the fun is in enjoying the music and entertainment as it unfolds. Besides all this, we see some spectacular skiing scenes. "Sun Valley Serenade" was one of a dozen movies Sonja Henie made in Hollywood. All were successful at the box office and Henie was much liked by the public. Her films weren't especially great movies, but all were good. This is the best of the lot. When she came to the U.S., Henie had been a three-time gold medal winner in single figure skating at the Winter Olympics of 1928, 1932 and 1936. She was world figure skating champion 10 consecutive years, from 1929 to 1936. And, she was European champion seven straight years. No one has equaled her Olympic, world or combined titles in her sport since. When this film was made, Sun Valley was just five years old and was the premier ski resort in North America. It's attraction for winter sports was similar to the draw of Hawaii for beach and ocean vacations. Union Pacific Railroad chairman W Averell Harriman, was the mover and shaker who built the Sun Valley resort and community adjacent to Ketchum, Idaho. Here's a favorite line from the film. Glenn Miller's Phil Corey is talking with Milton Berle's Nifty Allen. Lynn Bari's Vivian Dawn is obviously perturbed. She has been waiting for the band to begin rehearsals while John Payne's Ted Scott is off skiing with Sonja Henie's Karen Benson. Phil Corey say, "Boy is she burning." Nifty Allen replies, "What do ya mean, burning? You could ski right down the ice on her back."This is a wonderful, entertaining film that the whole family should enjoy. Even if some don't care for swing music or the excellent sound of the big bands.

mail-671 This was my first Sonja Henie movie which was reissued in support of House on 92nd St and what a great piece of entertainment that was! Of course we had been saturated with the great WW2 bands courtesy of AFRS/AFN including Miller's and it was great to see them all and those popular tunes against such an attractive background. "I Know Why" still remains my favourite recording with "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Moonlight Serenade". However, hard as I tried,I really could not accept the 30 year old strapping blonde & dimpled Sonja as an innocent little refugee and neither did Lynn Bari who was Hollywood's definitive gorgeous bitch. It wasn't her singing voice any more than in the later equally enjoyable "Margie" but it didn't matter & who cared? I never quite took to Joan Davis - she seemed too much like Martha Raye/Cass Dailey/Eve Arden/Zazu Pitts. The back projection for the hill skating sequences was too obvious but I would love to know how they managed to get that immaculate black mirrored effect to the huge rink. Much like those impossible dance floors in some of the Astaire/Rogers spectaculars. The Nicholas Bros were nothing less than sensational & an unknown young Dorothy Dandridge did well in her early brief appearance. Glenn Miller on the other hand may have played a cool slush pump but he was no actor! And there were always the real Modernaires. And all this without a hint of smut or sex. Best line - when Lynn Bari in the night club sequence in a fit of jealousy rounds on Henie and calls her a hillbilly and the latter with an expression of total bewilderment retorts "Hillbilly?" Well,I thought so.Both Joan Davis & Milton Berle made it to early 50s TV - the latter becoming known as "Mr TV" from his prolonged popularity & brashness. He even made it into the early 90s in one of his last guest bits for one of Fran Drescher's hilarious "The Nanny" episodes as a shyster lawyer.

Snow Leopard Designed to provide some enjoyable light entertainment, "Sun Valley Serenade" does just that. There's plenty of variety, with good comedy, good (sometimes excellent) musical numbers, and some winter outdoors scenes. The story is lightweight, but it's supposed to be, and it is sufficient to tie the rest together.Sonja Henie brings energy and talent to her role as a war refugee who is taken in by a band member. John Payne is good enough, though he mostly allows Henie to take the spotlight, and plays off her and the situation around him. Milton Berle adds some amusing moments as the band's agent. Glenn Miller's band and the performers in the musical sequences get lots of screen time, making good use of most of it. In particular, the 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' number is quite a show-stopper.The atmosphere is quite pleasant, the story is enough to keep things moving, and the variety of material fits together well. It's more than enough to make for an hour-and-a-half of worthwhile watching.