MUSICAL COMEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 13

MUSICAL COMEDY

SONJA HENIE'S PICTURE Sonja Henie, the present Olympic figure-skating champion, has the main role in "Happy Landing," a sparkling musical comedy which is to commence a season at the Civic Theatre shortly. Once again cast with Don Ameche, with whom she made her film debut in "Girl in a Million," Miss Henie performs many brilliant dances on the ice, while another outstanding feature of the picture is the number of new songs introduced. These include "Hot and Happy," ... "A Gypsy Told Me" and "You Are-the Music to the Words of My Heart,", by Pokrass and Yellen. The story, of "Happy Landing" concerns a songi writing band leader (Cesar Bomerb) who flies across the Atlantic for publicity and is forced down with'his companion, Don. Ameche, in a fog-bank in Norway. They land near a village where the-"Bride's-Fair|' festival is in progress. the custom, being that-if: a .•man dances twice with any girl he has proposed to her. Romero, amused by Sonja Henie's hero-worshipping attentions, dances twice with her, although Don Ameche knows there is little or no sincere interest in his companion's action, >1 inasmuch as he is engaged to an Ameri- s can girl, played excellently by Ethel * Merman. How Miss Henie and Ameche become interested in each other and finally bring the picture to a most satisfactory conclusion forms the theme of this excelleitt entertainment. Also prominently cast in "Happy Landing" - is Jean Hershelt. as the father of five girls, including Miss Henie. The picture was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century-Fox.