Nonureva Really Surprised!

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

SteinMo What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

blanche-2 "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.

Alex da Silva 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.

mark.waltz There isn't so much a storyline as there is a situation. Romantic issues occur at a winter resort in Canada with the arrival of its new prominent guests, portly S.Z. Sakall and his sweet niece, skater Sonia Henie. There's tons of deception but little in the way of plot development, filled with some brittle acid comedy and a long-lasting farcial sequence involving Cesar Romero stuck out in the snow in his long johns and his attempts to find clothes when he gets back into the inn. The laughs are plentiful as long as this sequence goes on, but other than a scene with one of the women involved in the minimal plot goes ballistic, telling off Romero while traipsing through the lobby of the crowded inn. Pretty inconsequential, "Wintertime" is pretty to look at but shabby otherwise, with the Canadian setting being spoofed with an ice skating version of "Indian Love Call" ("Rose Marie" on ice I refer to it...) and a lavish finale where Henie (a star only when skating) gets to show off her stuff. Jack Oakie is the top billed male star, but it's really Cesar Romero who gets the best material. A young Cornel Wilde is also amongst the cast. Henie's earlier films at least had more than a shell of a plot, so this one seems very rushed together in order to wrap up her seven year 20th Century Fox contract.

classichollywoodbeauties 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!