Rent Flying Down to Rio (1933)
3.3 of 5 from 64 ratings
1h 33min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
One of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' most career-defining movies for RKO Pictures, 'Flying Down To Rio' was released at the height of the Depression but was full of glitz and exotic locations. Although they were not the main stars of this film it will always be remembered for the first ever pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who would become the greatest dance team in movie history. Aviator and band leader Roger Bond (Gene Raymond) is forever getting his group fired for flirting with the lady guests. When he falls for Brazilian beauty Belinha de Rezende (Dolores Del Rio) it appears to be for real, even though she is already engaged. His Yankee Clippers band is hired to open the new Hotel Atlantico in Rio and when performing the airborne production number to mark the Hotel's opening, Julio gets some intriguing ideas... - Actors:
- Dolores del Rio, Gene Raymond, Raul Roulien, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Blanche Friderici, Walter Walker, Etta Moten, Roy D'Arcy, Maurice Black, Armand Kaliz, Paul Porcasi, Reginald Barlow, Eric Blore
- Directors:
- Thornton Freeland
- Producers:
- Lou Brock, Merian C. Cooper
- Writers:
- Cyril Hume, H.W. Hanemann, Erwin S. Gelsey, Anne Caldwell, Lou Brock
- Others:
- Edward Eliscu, Gus Kahn, Vincent Youmans
- Studio:
- Odeon Entertainment
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Music & Musicals, Romance
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like: King Kong, Dancing Queens: Guide to the Musical Films That'll, Films & TV by topic, Films by Genre, Films to Watch If You Like..., Fred and Ginger: Duets and Solos, Holidays Film Collection, Instant Expert's Guide to John Huston, Romantic Film Pairings for Valentine's Day, The Instant Expert's Guide
More like Flying Down to Rio
Found in these customers lists
666 films by fmj
Reviews (1) of Flying Down to Rio
Landmark Musical. - Flying Down to Rio review by Steve
The first half an hour is an above average musical about a big band which travels south of the border to Rio for a nightclub engagement, and gets involved in romance, and performs a few Latin numbers. There's a love triangle led by Dolores Del Rio who is tempted by the handsome band leader (Gene Raymond) away from her hometown squeeze (Paul Roulien).
It's one of many jazz combo musicals released in the golden age. But on about 30m, during a long Latin dance spectacular- The Carioca- there is suddenly magic. For the first time ever on screen, Fred Astaire dances with Ginger Rogers. And it all briefly becomes sublime. And then the number ends and we're left with Del Rio, Raymond and Roulien and a poor script.
The stars are actually fine, and quite sexy. We see Dolores momentarily in a two piece bathing costume a year before Maureen O'Sullivan did famously in a Tarzan film which led to a ban under the Production Code! Gene emerges hunkily unclothed from a shower. And the big title finale with the showgirls strapped to the wings of light aircraft... is astonishing.
This would be the esoteric delight of precode nerds, if not for the debut together of Fred and Ginger. They sing one song each, without much impact. But when they come together on the dance floor, lightning strikes. Fred wasn't looking for a partner but the public response meant the studio starred them in a further nine musicals, which would substantially define '30s cinema.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.