1938's "Happy Landing" marked Darryl Zanuck's third serving of Sonja Henie on ice, Olympic skating champion-turned Hollywood sensation, her vehicles filled with light froth, musical numbers, and, of course, elaborate skating routines carefully choreographed by the star herself. Already quite wealthy, Sonja appeared to have more leeway with Zanuck so far as salary goes, but demands for dramatic material met with understandable resistance. At over 100 minutes it's just too much for one sitting, despite likable players such as Cesar Romero, Ethel Merman, and Don Ameche, who apparently despised Sonja as much as she hated him. Audiences didn't care about offscreen squabbles so long as they got to see plenty of skating, quite well done as expected, but the numbers leave much to be desired, Ethel Merman soon to abandon Hollywood for her first love, the stage. Among the unbilled newspaper reporters are Herold Goodwin, Robert Lowery, and Lon Chaney, the latter still struggling to make a name at Fox, essentially wasted in bits like this for two years and 30 films. Seen only at the 90 minute mark, Chaney gets a few inconsequential lines before rushing off to his next assignment, rarely credited on screen during this forgettable period (he'd already encountered Sonja Henie in her previous film, "Thin Ice," in an even more worthless reporter bit).

The dodgy print may have had something to do with my lacklustre reaction to this piece of cheese. I've seen Sonja Henie in other Fox movies notably Sun Valley Serenade where she has 1) been surrounded by top-drawer actors, musicians and 2) benefited from an equally top-drawer score (in this case by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon) which have combined to set off her undoubted talents as an ice skater, albeit both limited and - after the first time - repetitive if not actually boring. This time around Fox stalwarts Don Ameche and Cesar Romero turn in their usual No 1 game but the mediocre score only highlights the lack of class/style on hand. Just about watchable.

Playboy song writer/orchestra leader Cesar Romero has pretty much had a girl in every port, and now he wants to add Norway to that list. This creates a pickle for his agent, Don Ameche, who has gotten him out if scrape after scrape after scrape. His latest was blackmailing Ethel Merman who had proof of that on a record, but a record must be complete to be admissible in court. In Norway, he makes pretty skater Sonja Henie think he's proposed, but Ameche makes other plans for him. That doesn't stop Henie from following back to New York where by chance, Ameche makes her a skating star while Romero returns to the opportunistic Merman.Fast moving screwball musical comedy has a few bits of dated shtick, including one with greasy spoon waiter/cook Billy Gilbert that is half smirks/half groans. Merman has a few jazzy numbers, and if course, Henie skates. El Brendel, one of the most annoying comics in film history, shows up briefly (thank you God!) for a barely acceptable novelty number. Merman's character gets a bit violent in a few moments that are supposed to be comical bit land with a thud. She struck gold the same year with "Alexander's Ragtime Band" but you can see why she returned to the stage. Best taken as an entertainment for its time and not much else.

Sonja Henie who was the Olympic figure skating champion for three straight Olympics turned professional in 1936 and got thousands of offers. In addition to her own ice shows, movie offers came her way, all the studios wanted her. She signed with Darryl F. Zanuck.Beneath her sparkling personality was a shrewd businesswoman who knew her value. Because she was a star and had other venues she negotiated with Mr. Zanuck as an equal and 20th Century Fox paid dearly for her services. I saw an interview with co-star Cesar Romero who marveled at the way dealt with Zanuck as so few other players had the wherewithal to do the same.What also has to be remembered is that Ms. Henie was more than a star athlete. Norway had only been independent after several hundred years since 1905. Her exploits on the ice probably made her the most known Norwegian in the world. She was a national treasure.It got harder and harder to work her ice routines into film as the years went on. But Sonja herself knew when to quit.It was still fresh when Happy Landing was made. Egomaniacal band-leader Cesar Romero decided to fly a plane to Paris with his manager Don Ameche. Ameche's job in addition to managing Romero's business affairs is to keep bailing him out of trouble. During a storm they make a wrong turn and land in Norway. Guess who they find there?Romero handles it in his usual love 'em and leave 'em style, but Sonja follows him to America. Ameche has to fend her off for Romero and nature takes it's course.Sonja's skating routines are nicely handled, they would have been since she supervised her own choreography. Laughs are provided by three experienced scene stealing comics at various points of the film, Wally Vernon, El Brendel, and Billy Gilbert.Ethel Merman is on hand to sing a few forgettable tunes. By this time Merman was a major star on Broadway, but Hollywood never really knew what to do with her. She'd leave Hollywood shortly and wouldn't be back until the Fifties when she reprised her Call Me Madam triumph.Admittedly Ms. Henie was know actress, but she projected her personality well on the screen. And she sure puts to shame some of today's figure skaters.