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Wintertime (film)

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Wintertime
Directed byJohn Brahm
Written byE. Edwin Moran
Jack Jevne
Lynn Starling
Based onstory by Arthur Kober
Produced byWilliam Le Baron
StarringSonja Henie
Jack Oakie
Cesar Romero
CinematographyJoseph MacDonald
Glen MacWilliams
Edited byLouis R. Loeffler
Music byLeo Robin
Nacio Herb Brown
Distributed byTwentieth Century-Fox
Release date
  • September 17, 1943 (1943-09-17)
Running time
82 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.1 million (US rentals)[1]
Advertising display for Wintertime at an Australian conference of theatre managers in 1944

Wintertime is a 1943 Twentieth Century-Fox musical film directed by John Brahm and starring Sonja Henie and Cesar Romero. It also features Woody Herman and His Orchestra.[2][3]

Plot

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Norwegian millionaire Ostgaard (S.Z. Sakall) and his niece Nora (Sonja Henie) believe they will be staying at a posh resort in Canada, but it turns out owner Skip Hutton (Jack Oakie) and partner Freddy Austin (Cornel Wilde) are in debt and barely holding off foreclosure.

Nora schemes to get her uncle to invest in hotel improvements. She also falls for Freddy, although he's busy spending time with magazine photographer Marion Daly (Helene Reynolds), trying to gain publicity for the resort.

When more money is needed, Nora is offered a chance to skate in New York in a revue. But due to a legal technicality, she cannot enter the United States unless she is married to an American citizen, so handsome Brad Barton (Cesar Romero) gladly volunteers.

Cast

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Production

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In December 1941 Fox announced that Felix Jackson was writing Quota Girl as a vehicle for Sonja Henie which was meant to be made before Iceland. It was about a Norwegian girl who wants to emigrate to the US.[4] The intention was to film it after Henie's appearance at Madison Square Garden in January.[5] Filming was pushed back. In July Fox announced it would be made in October with H Humbertson directing, in color from a script by Francis Wallace.[6] In August Arthur Kober was signed to write the script.[7] In September Fox announced that filming would start in January.[8]

In October Woody Herman and His Orchestra were signed to appear in the film, replacing Glenn Miller who had joined the Army.[9]

In November Cornel Wilde was cast as Henie's leading man.[10]

In January 1943,the film was retitled Wintertime.[11] William Goetz, who was running 20th Century Fox in the absence of Darryl F. Zanuck, announced the film would be made as part of a 13-picture slate.[12]

Cornel Wilde was cast in February 1943.[13] The following month Carole Landis joined the cast.[14] Filming started 8 March.[15]

Songs

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  • "I Like It Here"[16] ... (performed by Cesar Romero and Carole Landis)
  • "Jingle Bells" ... (performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra)
  • "Wintertime" ... (performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra)
  • "We Always Get Our Girl" ... (performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra)
  • "Dancing in the Dawn" ... (performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra)
  • "Later Tonight" ... (performed by Woody Herman and His Orchestra)

Reception

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The New York Times said the film "not only lacks originality. It lacks humor, verve and color as well."[17] Filmink called it "good fun" with "great work" from Landis and Romero.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, 5 January 1944 p 54
  2. ^ Crowther, Bosley (September 30, 1943). "The Screen – 'Wintertime,' New Sonja Henie Skating Picture, With Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero, Makes Appearance at Roxy". The New York Times. p. 27. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Wintertime Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 10, Iss. 109, (Jan 1, 1943): 127.
  4. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood – Metro to Star Pidgeon in Film in Which He Captures Ten Nazi Generals in France – Vehicle for Sonja Henie – 6 New Pictures Open Hollywood Engagements Today – 'The King' Bill at Thalia". The New York Times. December 25, 1941. p. 32. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "Of Local Origin". The New York Times. January 8, 1942. p. 29. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood – Olivia de Havilland Assigned to Leading Role in Warner's 'One More Tomorrow' – Wings for Eagle' Here – Picture Is 3,000th Film Made by Warner Brothers — Red Tanks' Held Over". The New York Times. July 31, 1942. p. 11. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood – Metro to Release Pictures in Blocks of Eight Because of 'Escape Clause' – Soviet Film Here Today – 'Moscow Strikes Back' Opens at Globe — 'A-Haunting We Will Go' in Third Week". The New York Times. August 15, 1942. p. 14. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  8. ^ "Screen News Here and in Hollywood – Betty Hutton Will Play Texas Guinan in 'Smoothest Gal in Town,' With Alan Ladd – 'Desperate Journey' Due – Adventure at Strand Today – Kenneth Macgowan Returns to Fox Studio Soon". The New York Times. September 25, 1942. p. 24. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "News From Hollywood". The New York Times. October 29, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Drama". Los Angeles Times. November 2, 1942. p. 18.
  11. ^ Schallert, Edwin (January 29, 1943). "Drama: Sheehan Will Produce Life of Rickenbacker". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
  12. ^ "Thirteen Top Productions On the Fire at Twentieth". The Washington Post. January 12, 1943. p. B6.
  13. ^ "Wilde Wins Cinema Lead". Los Angeles Times. February 26, 1943. p. 9.
  14. ^ Hopper, Hedda (March 11, 1943). "Screen and Stage – Looking at Hollywood". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
  15. ^ "News of the Screen – 'Constantinople' Will Be Made by Columbia – Cotten Leaves 'This Is the Army' – Italian Film Due Today". The New York Times. February 26, 1943. p. 17. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  16. ^ "Wintertime at SonieHenie.net". Retrieved November 13, 2008.
  17. ^ Crowther, Bosley (September 30, 1943). "The Screen – 'Wintertime,' New Sonja Henie Skating Picture, With Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero, Makes Appearance at Roxy". The New York Times. p. 27. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  18. ^ Vagg, Stephen (April 24, 2020). "I saw every Sonja Henie film so you don't have to". Filmink.
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