Complete credited cast: | |||
Dolores del Rio | ... |
Belinha De Rezende
(as Dolores Del Rio)
|
|
Gene Raymond | ... |
Roger Bond
|
|
Raul Roulien | ... |
Julio Rubeiro
|
|
Ginger Rogers | ... | ||
Fred Astaire | ... | ||
|
Blanche Friderici | ... |
Dona Elena De Rezende
|
|
Walter Walker | ... |
Senor De Rezende
|
|
Etta Moten | ... |
The Colored Singer
|
Roy D'Arcy | ... |
One of the Three Greeks
|
|
|
Maurice Black | ... |
One of the Three Greeks
|
|
Armand Kaliz | ... |
One of the Three Greeks
|
Paul Porcasi | ... |
The Mayor
|
|
|
Reginald Barlow | ... |
The Banker
|
Eric Blore | ... |
The Head Waiter
|
Aviator and band leader Roger Bond is forever getting his group fired for flirting with the lady guests. When he falls for Brazilian beauty Belinha de Rezende it appears to be for real, even though she is already engaged. His Yankee Clippers band is hired to open the new Hotel Atlântico in Rio and Roger offers to fly Belinha part way home. After a mechanical breakdown and forced landing, Roger is confident and makes his move, but Belinha plays hard to get. She can't seem to decide between Roger and her fiance Júlio. When performing the airborne production number to mark the Hotel's opening, Júlio gets some intriguing ideas... Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
This early musical reminds me of a frothy milkshake with a tangy, South American flavor! Entertainment, pure and simple. Although slightly dated in some ways it still has a great deal of appeal for those who enjoy well staged musicals. Sure there were more streamlined musical productions to follow at a later date, but I feel this one has an exciting atmosphere as far as musical content is concerned (dancing), not to mention the episode, as a finale, of those smiling girls strapped to planes soaring up above the landscape. I wonder if they'd dare to do such high flying films again in our time.
Gene Raymond was some handsome fella! although I felt his acting ability could do with more smooth flowing gestures. Dolores del Rio certainly was exquisite, which no one can deny. The teaming of Fred and Ginger here is probably well documented many times over by others so suffice to say they sure started something in the history of dance! Pass the popcorn please and just enjoy.