Richard Chatten
Fox carefully hedged their bets in their first attempt to showcase Sonja Henie by surrounding her with a fine supporting cast (although few - with the notable exception of Jean Hersholt giving a touching performance as her father - are seen to best advantage; and Ned Sparks is particularly underused) and padding out the proceedings with the egregious Ritz Brothers and Borrah Minevitch and His Harmonica Rascals (who make the Ritz Brothers look restrained).Henie, however - although her dialogue is kept to a minimum as Don Ameche conducts a very perfunctory romance of her - remains the film's most memorable component. She beams like a hamster and proves incongruously athletic when let loose on the ice, in the process revealing a shapely chassis when she performs her fast spins.
melnar1
I am a long-time, huge Sonja Henie fan. In the figure skating world, she was an innovator and a champion; she also had a wonderful personality which always shone through. Today, the art of ice skating has progressed to the degree that almost any young figure skater can easily replicate what she did and more. But that's beside the point. Unfortunately this, her first movie, was not a good vehicle for her, and her subsequent movies for 20th-Century-Fox were very much better. I think OIAM would have been so much better without the childish shenanigans of the Ritz Brothers and the silly antics of Borrah Minevitch who happened to be a first-class harmonica player and should have been allowed to play his music without the comedy.The rest of the cast was all right, but nothing to rave about.The songs were instantly forgettable and I'm pretty sure that no one came out of the cinema whistling the title song – or, for that matter, any of the others.I don't think this was a marvelously entertaining movie and cannot recommend it to any but the most die-hard Sonja Henie fan. By all means, go for any of the others.
Air America
It would be well to remember Sonia Henie as the prototype ice performer in her day. It would also be well to remember the times this film was made. Certainly it is devoid of all of the special effects and layers of pictorial events contained in todays films (which, by the way, are entirely unrealistic to us who are knowledgeable.) Of course the script follows mid 1930s writing and I did not find any of the actors giving less than other of their performances of the times. Given that this was Sonia's first film, her acting must be given some forgiveness there, though I did not see what others apparently viewed as less than optimal. As to the "other 1936 Olympics film," it was merely a propaganda documentary and therefore not a comparison by any means.As to Sonia's universal appeal, she went on to make many such films, and was known as a very smart businesswoman who went on to build great riches from investments and was the benefactor of many philanthropic ventures which was virtually unknown among actors of that era. On the strength of her appeal alone, I would rate her among the great women actresses of the time. I would recommend this film to any families who want wholesome "G" rated entertainment shown to their children.
Kalaman
"One in a Million" is a cheery, lighthearted mix of comedy, romance, songs and ice skating dances, directed by Sidney Lanfield ("Sing, Baby, Sing"). It is an admirable vehicle and showcase for the Norwegian Olympic skating champion Sonja Henie in her American debut. The film derives some aspects from Sonja's career. Sonja plays an amateur Swiss skater who is discovered by an American theatrical troupe leader (Adolphe Menjou) and almost spoils her by putting in a professional show until a charismatic reporter (Don Ameche) rescues her and convinces her into making the right decision, leading to her spectacular performance at Madison Square Garden."One in a Million" is not one of the better Fox musicals, but there are enjoyably fine moments, including some very funny comic acts by the Ritz Brothers, especially toward the end, and one memorable musical number "Who's Afraid Of Love", sung by Ameche. Good stuff.
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