Flying Down To Rio [1933]

---

---

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1933, RKO Pictures had the bright idea of pairing Dolores Del Rio and Gene Raymond for their new musical blockbuster, Flying Down to Rio. The film was a smash, but not for the reasons anyone expected. The fourth and fifth-billed stars were an RKO bit player and a Broadway man breaking into Hollywood. Their names were Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, and their pairing in this and eight subsequent RKO films would help to rewrite cinematic history. Most of Rio's screen time is spent on a humdrum romantic triangle involving Del Rio, Raymond and Raul Roulien, but Fred (as Fred Ayres) and Ginger (as Honey Hayes) are still able to establish many of the trademarks of their later films. Ginger fronts the band (with Fred on accordion) in the saucy "Music Makes Me", and Fred does some solo tap then sings and leads the band for the spectacular airborne finale featuring chorus girls perched on the wings of biplanes. The heart of the film is "The Carioca", a company dance extravaganza that would be imitated by "The Continental" and "The Piccolino" in later films. Here Fred and Ginger take the floor together for the first time; their eyes meet and their foreheads touch. Their dance lasts only a few minutes, but it was the highlight of the film and audiences wanted more. A prophetic moment occurs toward the beginning of the dance, when, after watching for a while, Fred grabs Ginger and tells her, "I want to try this. Come on, Honey". She declares, "We'll show 'em a thing or three". They did indeed. It was magic, and it was only the beginning. --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com

---

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2003-11-20 rating:
One Of My Favorites
FLYING DOWN TO RIO is truly a pioneering musical made when such films were in the developmental stage. Many critics say that the movie is camp - but it is SO ENJOYABLE. Camp or not the movie is one of my favorites.

Ginger and Fred look like they have been dancing together for ages. It is hard to tell that this is their debut as a team. Dolores Del Rio is beautiful. Gene Raymond is a real pro.

The film has a huge cast with some great supporting actors such as Franklin Pangborn and Walter Walker.

I recommend FLYING DOWN TO RIO without reservation - especially if you like old musicals.


review by: date: 2001-10-02 rating:
Dazzling air spectacular!
If you are a fan of Fred and Ginger, then this may not be the film for you. Whilst the divine Ginger Rogers and hot footed Fred Astaire play a small, almost unnecessary role, most of the action is dominated by Gene Raymond and Delore Del Rio, both fine actors in themselves. What makes this movie worth buying is the dazzling air sequence towards the very end of the film. Dozens of beautiful - and probably terrified!- young women, strapped to the wings of various planes, performing a spectacular routine, all to save day!
As a fan of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers I was disappointed in their role in this film, marginal to say the least. However if you are a fan of this type of 1930's musical then I can highly recommend it.

---

Similar products

The Gay Divorcee [1934]
Shall We Dance
Top Hat [1935]
Top Hat/The Gay Divorcee
Follow The Fleet [1936]

---

Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . All Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . U
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1939 and earlier
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English
Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Actors . Astaire, Fred
Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Comedy . 1930s
Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Musicals . 1930s
Video . Video . Categories . Comedy . General
Video . Video . Categories . Music & Performing Arts . Musicals
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)

---