Customer Reviews

Thin Ice [VHS]

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"Thin Ice" is a delightful concoction from 1937 and was the film that really catapulted Sonja Henie to top stardom at Twentieth Century Fox. Having the sparkling Tyrone Power as her attractive leading man certainly also helped at the Box Office. The two were destined to co star together twice in films and both times showed a real screen chemistry.

No expense was spared in this production and it shows in the truly lavish skating numbers where Sonja really shows her skill on the ice. Tyrone Power plays Prince Rudolph who masquerades as a reporter at the resort while romancing Henie's skating instructor character. Tyrone, I feel always shows a great flair for comedy and he is totally at home in this part of the handsome prince who just wants to get out on the slopes,do some skiiing and find romance.

The stars are ably supporting by wonderful character actors such as Arthur Treacher, a regular in the Shirley Temple vechicles, and the always excellent Alan Hale..a regular of almost every Errol Flynn film of the 30's and early 40's. There are a couple of largely unnecessary musical comedy numbers to showcase Joan Davis that tend to get in the way of the main story but they are not too distracting.

Tyrone and Sonja make a stunning couple and this production really compliments them both to perfection. Despite Sonja's lack of real acting ability she is well cast here and as always on screen she has a sweet persona that goes very well with a handsome leading man who has a bit of spark to him like Tyrone Power has on screen.

"Thin Ice" is a pleasant vechicle to watch.Twentieth Century Fox was expert at creating this genre of film making and used a regular roster of stars to fill them. I in particular enjoy when Power and Henie were co starred as they really projected old fashioned star power and glamour from the Golden age of Hollywood. Enjoy!

Yes, it's marketed as a Sonja Henie picture but, in truth, the real marketing angle would be to sell it with other Tyrone Power films that have yet to make it to DVD - there's the audience! Fox has released 2 Tyrone Power box sets in recent years yet there are still many of his films that are not even on VHS, let alone DVD (I'm thinking of Suez, American Guerilla in the Phillipines and the non-Fox film Mississippi Gambler). A box set with this film and the other Sonja Henie vehicle, Second Fiddle, would be great. We Tyrone Power fans would snap them up.

After One in a Million 1936, Sonja Henie was fast becoming a Hollywood star in the front rank. In THIN ICE she is teamed with her then-boyfriend Tyrone Power and the chemistry is explosive... It`s a Cinderella-story, but given the full treatment by 20th Century-Fox - it`s almost like an MGM extravaganza :-)

The skating is good and Joan Davis as a comedy relief is a winner. As a matter of fact I can`t understand the fuzz they make about the Astaire&Rogers musicals over at RKO... I much more prefer the Sonja Henie`s at 20th Century-Fox... They are never OVERLONG and never outstays their welcome:-)

The affair with Power never ended in marriage; he was bisexual and Sonja found out... When he married French Annabella she was reportedly deeply hurt though they remained friends up until Power died of a heart-attack while filming in 1958.

THIN ICE(1937) was Sonja Henie`s second Hollywood film and among her greatest hits. Her co-star was Hollywood`s new wonderboy Tyrone Power. During filming they fell in love and almost got married. However, Sonja found out of Tyrone`s bisexuality and before he was confronted, rushed into a marriage with French star Annabella. Sonja and Tyrone remained friends and co- starred in Second Fiddle(1939) as well. THIN ICE has a Cinderella-like story and the stars and supporting cast(Joan Davis, Arthur Treacher and co) shines. Sonja is at her peak on ice in this film. Surprisingly, she d i d her BEST skating in her only one in color, IT`S A PLEASURE(1944)(RKO/ International) at the age of 32.