It's a Pleasure (film)
It's a Pleasure! is a 1945 American Technicolor comedy musical film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Sonja Henie, Michael O'Shea and Marie McDonald.[1]
| It's a Pleasure! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William A. Seiter |
| Produced by | David Lewis |
| Written by | Lynn Starling Elliot Paul |
| Starring | Sonja Henie Michael O'Shea |
| Cinematography | Ray Rennahan |
| Edited by | Ernest J. Nims |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
Don Martin's career in ice hockey screeches to a halt when he punches a referee. Banned from the sport for life, he is consoled by Chris Linden, a lovely skater who performs for the crowd during the hockey games' intermissions.
Chris has a crush on Don and introduces him to Buzz Fletcher, who runs an ice-skating revue. Don joins the show as a performer and marries Chris, but has a drinking problem. Buzz's bored wife Gail develops a romantic interest in Don and is furious when he resists. She gets him drunk and ruins his opportunity to perform a solo in the show.
Complications arise and result in Chris leaving her husband and going away for two years on tour with the show. Gail's guilty conscience gets the better of her and she reunites Chris and Don in the end.
Cast
- Sonja Henie as Chris Linden
- Michael O'Shea as Don Martin
- Marie McDonald as Gail Fletcher
- Bill Johnson as Buzz 'Buzzard' Fletcher
- Gus Schilling as Bill Evans
- Iris Adrian as Wilma
- Cheryl Walker as Loni
- Peggy O'Neill as Cricket
- Arthur Loft as Jack Weimar
- David Janssen as Davey / boy referee (uncredited)
Production
Sonja Henie had made nine pictures for 20th Century Fox ending with Wintertime. In December 1943 she signed a contract to make a movie for the newly formed International Pictures which was run by William Goetz who had been head of production at Fox briefly while Henie worked there.[2] The film was to be part of International's initial slate of four pictures costing $5 million being distributed by RKO, the others being Casanova Brown, Belle of the Yukon and Once Off Guard.[3]
Bill Johnson had been in Something for the Boys and was borrowed from MGM; it was his screen debut.[4]
International leased two ice skating rinks, at Westwood Ice Garden and the Polar Palace in Hollywood. Filming started August 1, 1944.[5]
Michael O'Shea was cast in August 1944, borrowed from Hunt Stromberg.[6] In late August Hedda Hopper announced that Henie was refusing to talk to producer David Lewis and was only talking to designed Don Loper.[7]
In November 1944 International announced they would make a second film with Henie, The Countess of Monte Cristo.[8] It was not made for several years later, at Universal International.
Reception
The New York Times called it a "flaccid fable."[9] Filmink thought Henie was "given too much acting to do. Melodrama plots do not suit her."[10]
References
- It's a Pleasure Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 12, Iss. 133, (Jan 1, 1945): 74.
- SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Henie Signs With International New York Times ]13 Dec 1943: 19.
- INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION TO THE HOLLYWOOD FORE: New Units Manifest a Trend -- George Jessel Poised to Leap -- Other News By FRED STANLEYHOLLYWOOD. New York Times 20 Feb 1944: X3.
- SCREEN NEWS: Joan Fontaine to Be Star of 'Affairs of Susan' Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 21 July 1944: 16.
- WESTERNS RIDE AGAIN: GLEANINGS FROM THE CINEMA CAPITAL New York Times ]23 July 1944: X1.
- SCREEN NEWS New York Times 4 Aug 1944: 10.
- Looking at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 31 Aug 1944: 19.
- SCREEN NEWS: Lynn Bari Gets Role in Rickenbacker Film Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 14 Nov 1944: 27.
- THE SCREEN IN REVIEW New York Times 4 May 1945: 23.
- Vagg, Stephen (April 24, 2020). "I saw every Sonja Henie film so you don't have to". Filmink.
External links
- It's a Pleasure at IMDb
- It's a Pleasure at Letterbox DVD
- It's a Pleasure at BFI