Flying Down to Rio (1933) Directed by Thornton Freeland
Comedy / Musical / Romance
Film Review
The film that introduced audiences to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers is
also the film that, along with King Kong (1933), saved studio
RKO from bankruptcy. Although Fred and Ginger only have
supporting roles in the film, the screen is ignited when they are seen
together, notably dancing head-to-head in the sensational Carioca dance
sequence.
Forget the plot - a contrived and tedious love triangle involving
lacklustre characters - the magic of this film lies in its musical and
dance numbers. The highpoint is the grand finale in which a small
battalion of chorus girls strut their stuff on the wings of aircraft,
apparently several thousand feet above the ground. The film's
popularity motivated RKO to turn out similar musical extravaganzas,
with Fred and Ginger taking centre stage to form one of cinema's most
iconic screen couples.
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Film Synopsis
During a stay in Miama, bandleader Roger Bond falls for the beautiful
Belinha whilst performing at an exclusive hotel. Roger's amorous
intentions are thwarted by Belinha's chaperone, who has the band
dismissed for improper conduct. All is not lost,
however. Roger soon manages to fix up a gig at a hotel in Rio de
Janeiro, and contrives to take Belinha there in his two-seater
aeroplane. This is only the start of Roger's problems. Not
only does he discover that his best friend Julio is in love with
Belinha, but the hotel where he and his band are due to perform does
not have an entertainment license. Luckily, Roger's fellow band member
Fred has the solution...
Script: Adele Comandini, Joseph Fields, Thomas Lennon, Fred Niblo Jr.,
H. Reynolds,
Gilberto Souto,
Harvey F. Thew,
Cyril Hume (play),
H.W. Hanemann (play),
Erwin S. Gelsey (play),
Anne Caldwell (play),
Lou Brock (story)
Cinematographer: J. Roy Hunt
Music: Vincent Youmans
Cast: Dolores del Rio (Belinha De Rezende),
Gene Raymond (Roger Bond),
Raul Roulien (Julio Rubeiro),
Ginger Rogers (Honey Hale),
Fred Astaire (Fred Ayres),
Blanche Friderici (Dona Elena De Rezende),
Walter Walker (Senor De Rezende),
Etta Moten (The Carioca 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),
Luis Alberni (Rio Casino Manager),
Bernice Alstock (Singer),
Chita Andrews (Check Girl),
Sam Appel (Policeman),
Alyce Ardell (Maid),
Eddie Arden (Bellhop)
Country: USA
Language: English / Portuguese
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 89 min
The greatest French film directors
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.
With so many great films to choose from, it's nigh on impossible to compile a short-list of the best 15 French films of all time - but here's our feeble attempt to do just that.