Flying Down to Rio (1933)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Thornton Freeland

Writers:

Lou Brock (story)
Anne Caldwell (play)

Release Date:

29 December 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

A musical extravaganza staged in the clouds!

Plot:

Aviator and band leader Roger Bond is forever getting his group fired for flirting with the lady guests...

Plot Keywords:

Aviation | Song | Rio De Janeiro Brazil | Flying Boat | Brazil

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Dolores del Rio	...	Belinha De Rezende (as Dolores Del Rio)
Gene Raymond	...	Roger Bond
Raul Roulien	...	Julio Ribeiro
Ginger Rogers	...	Honey Hale
Fred Astaire	...	Fred Ayres
Blanche Friderici	...	Doña Elena de Rezende
Walter Walker	...	Señor Carlos De Rezende
Etta Moten	...	The Carioca Singer
Roy D'Arcy	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Maurice Black	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Armand Kaliz	...	Member Greek Gambling Syndicate
Paul Porcasi	...	The Mayor
Reginald Barlow	...	Alfredo Vianna, The Banker
Eric Blore	...	Mr. Butterbass, Asst. Hotel Manager
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Franklin Pangborn	...	Hammerstein - the Hotel Manager

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Portuguese | English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Germany:o.Al. | UK:U

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Originally conceived by RKO as a vehicle for Dolores del Rio, this film is most notable for its star-making pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The two relative unknowns smoked up the screen in a dance number called "The Carioca" that generated such a positive response form critics and fans that they were eventually reunited in nine subsequent films.

Quotes:

Fred Ayres: Nothing of the kind. He's landed us a job in Rio. Rio de Janeiro. The Hotel Atlantico. We'll be flying down any morning now.
Honey Hale: And swimming back in the afternoon. I'm taking my water-wings.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: The Knight in White Satin Armor (#2.12)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Flying Down to Rio

Rio, Rio by the Sea-o

The first pairing of Astaire and Rogers, playing second leads to Dolores DelRio and a slightly strabismic Gene Raymond. What music and what dancing!!! And the scenery of 1933 Rio is worth seeing. The story is slight, the acting is slighter but who cares when Astaire and Rogers take the floor for the Carioca. How silly is the concept of a bunch of girls strapped to the wings of airplanes performing over the hotel? But again, who cares?...it's history on film as the seminal appearance of the most famous dance team in the movies. The supporting players are good but what became of Raul Roulien?.....the rest are familiar to fans of old movies. Love the music,(even Orchids in the Moonlight)and especially the title tune which is rather forgotten now. Step back in time and enjoy this dated, but absolutely wonderful film. You won't be sorry and maybe you will dance the Carioca!!