'One in a Million' is interesting for being Sonja Henie's first American film and raised her to international stardom. Henie does not disappoint and is one of the top attractions, but the film on the whole does.
Henie is one of the two best assets of 'One in a Million'. She is pert and charming, and the camera clearly loves her. Her ice skating is also out of this world. This is advantaged by the choreography for the ice skating sequences, which are enough to make the jaw drop by their imagination and verve.
Furthermore, 'One in a Million' is lavishly shot and sumptuously designed, and while not timeless and none of them are standards the songs are pleasant enough, the best of them being "Who's Afraid of Love".
Don Ameche is a very likable leading man, and his chemistry with Henie charming. Arline Judge brings snappy line delivery to 'One in a Million's' best lines, while Jean Hersholt is a gently low-key father figure and Ned Sparks is amusingly acerbic.
However, the story is wafer thin and lacks energy, with much of the comedy floundering Judge and Sparks aside, while the script is even thinner and even duller. Adolphe Menjou, apart from a few nice moments with Judge, wildly overacts, shouting his way through his lines broadly.
There is too much of the Ritz Brothers, and their slapstick is bizarre and irritatingly childish at times. Also could have done without Borrah Minevitch and his Harmonica Rascals, legendary as musicians but comedy, which is tedious and grating, is not even close to being a forte.
In conclusion, a mixed bag of a film with great things and poor things. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Henie is one of the two best assets of 'One in a Million'. She is pert and charming, and the camera clearly loves her. Her ice skating is also out of this world. This is advantaged by the choreography for the ice skating sequences, which are enough to make the jaw drop by their imagination and verve.
Furthermore, 'One in a Million' is lavishly shot and sumptuously designed, and while not timeless and none of them are standards the songs are pleasant enough, the best of them being "Who's Afraid of Love".
Don Ameche is a very likable leading man, and his chemistry with Henie charming. Arline Judge brings snappy line delivery to 'One in a Million's' best lines, while Jean Hersholt is a gently low-key father figure and Ned Sparks is amusingly acerbic.
However, the story is wafer thin and lacks energy, with much of the comedy floundering Judge and Sparks aside, while the script is even thinner and even duller. Adolphe Menjou, apart from a few nice moments with Judge, wildly overacts, shouting his way through his lines broadly.
There is too much of the Ritz Brothers, and their slapstick is bizarre and irritatingly childish at times. Also could have done without Borrah Minevitch and his Harmonica Rascals, legendary as musicians but comedy, which is tedious and grating, is not even close to being a forte.
In conclusion, a mixed bag of a film with great things and poor things. 5/10 Bethany Cox