Flying Down to Rio

With its story set first in Miami and then in Rio De Janeiro, this 1933 "Boy-Meets-Girl" Comedy/Romance/Musical was so annoyingly corny and predictable that it was downright sickening for me to watch. Its story was a complete "air-head" insult to the intelligence of any thinking person. On top of a couple of badly-staged musical numbers, which were clearly "Busby Berkeley" type rip-offs, this decidedly dull-witted piece of pure escapist fluff also contained a number of really terrible songs, as well. There was not a single memorable character in the entire story. These boys & girls were all a bunch of one-dimensional paper-dolls, with the women, as usual, wearing way too much make-up and dressed to the nines in the most ridiculous-looking fashions imaginable. I understand that this movie is considered to be a big deal by many film-buffs just because it was the first picture to feature the likes of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers dancing (this time the Carioca) together. Well, if that's all that this film is notable for, then, from my point of view, it only deserves a 3-star rating. Believe me, there are certainly much better 1930's Musicals out there that are more worth your while. *Note* - I'd say that it was this DVD's bonus features which were far more entertaining to watch than the main attraction. #1 bonus was the 1933 comedy short called "Beer & Pretzels" which co-starred Curly, Larry & Moe, before they became known as The Three Stooges. Also included as a bonus was the "Merrie Melodies" cartoon titled "I Like Mountain Music".

Of the seven Astaire-Rogers musicals I have seen, this would have to be the least best of the series. I can hardly complain, as the chance pairing of the most legendary dance team was the first of better things and was not written in mind for them anyway. Still, someone could have thought of more imaginative names...Honey Hale and Fred Ayres? The plot of "Flying Down to Rio" is slight, throughout the movie I personally didn't really care about whether Delores Del Rio would choose between two men, all I wanted was to see Fred and Ginger. This was also the only time Ginger was billed above Fred. Naturally, they put in fine performances and stole the show from the rather dull leading cast. On a higher note, the exotic Latin American musical number "The Carioca" was excellently performed by all, and the finale, "Flying Down to Rio", with chorus girls dancing on the wings of planes in motion was somewhat spectacular, but still eclipsed by the earlier number. And Fred's dancing should be given a special mention too. After all, it was only his second movie. Overall, I did enjoy the musical despite my seemingly numerous criticisms, but the later vehicles for the teaming demonstrate a far higher quality of musicals in the 30s, in all areas of musical making. Rating: 8/10

source: Flying Down to Rio

Flying Down to Rio has much to like, even if some of the acting is slight and the story is silly and rather hackneyed. The great quality of the sets, production design and cinematography make for a film that is very easy on the eyes. The songs are lively and memorable, as is the catchy and characterful score and Brazilian flavours while the choreography is really imaginative and full to the brim with energy, in particular in the Carioca and climatic airplanes sequences. The way it's danced helps a lot as well. The dialogue is warm and funny, while it is solidly paced- not a dull moment, despite the Carioca sequence being very long- and directed and the performances generally work very well. Gene Raymond is stiff at times but very dashing while Dolores Del Rio is the epitome of glamour. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers steal the show though, in their first pairing though not in lead roles(that would be The Gay Divorcée) they show great chemistry, personal charm and wonderful energy and elegance in their dancing. Overall, a lot to like and a pleasure to watch, though the story is not as good as the rest. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Howard Hughes, oh how we needed you. From other sources you will have learned that this is pretty sexy stuff in terms of transparent clothes; not a bra on the hundreds of candidates. And the original dirty dancing before it was outlawed, and that crack about what Brazilian women have "below the equator." Also, you will have heard about this being the first Astaire-Rogers pairing. You may not have heard of one of the most racially respectful scenes I know from the era: a couple land on a supposedly deserted island and the woman is frightened by what she thinks are natives. Turns out one comes out of the woods. He's playing golf and while shirtless (in order to make the joke work) speaks English normally and carries himself like a regular man. Its the reverse joke of what you'd usually see in bugeyed stepinfetchits. But what I find fascinating is the way sex, romance, money and music are all somehow related to aviation. Our hero, we are told is heir to a fortune if only he would give up his music and planes. But it is plain that he does it because of the women. And by that we know he means sex, only sex. We first see him as he climbs out of his plane, which has a piano stuffed in it. Now think about that a minute. This is what technology meant in those days: adventure, charm, bodily pleasure. And its what the sort of music we see in films was supposed to imply as well. If you do not see this, let me describe the climax. Scores of scantily clad women are strapped to what looks like a dozen small planes to perform choreographically as best you can when bolted down. Every shot you can take of a woman's body is presented, along with a wingload of errant nipples. I can just imagine the smiles when they thought it up. There's something else to watch for. This has the most elaborate transitions I believe I have seen for any film. They really are amazingly varied and so copious they are as much a feature as Fred's dancing. Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

The folks at RKO who filmed Flying Down To Rio never got any further to Brazil's then capital than the back-lot of the studio. Knowing that the film remains a great example of what a little establishing photography and special effects can do. Flying Down To Rio is known for being a first and a last in some careers. The first of course is the teaming of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They were only in support of stars Gene Raymond and Dolores Del Rio. But when they danced The Carioca, Flying Down To Rio became their film. But also Flying Down To Rio contained the last published work of composer Vincent Youmans. For a man who composed so many great songs from the Twenties on Broadway like Tea For Two, Great Day, Time On My Hands, and I Want To Be Happy, Youmans is a rather secluded and mysterious man of melody. Right after Flying Down To Rio came out, Youmans was diagnosed with tuberculosis and though he lived another thirteen years, nothing published came from him. With Edward Eliscu and Gus Kahn doing the lyrics, Youmans wrote The Carioca, Orchids in the Moonlight, Music Makes Me and the title song. More people probably know the song Flying Down to Rio from Zero Mostel's gleeful rendition in The Producers as he anticipates stealing the money from all those little old lady backers of Springtime for Hitler. But in fact it's far more spectacular here. Fred Astaire opens by singing and leading Gene Raymond's band. Then a spectacular display of chorus girls on biplane wings flies over RKO's recreation of the Rio skyline, ending in them parachuting into the nightclub which has no entertainment permit. Quite spectacular, Busby Berkeley over at Warner Brothers must have cried all day wondering why he didn't think of it first. The plot is simply your basic love triangle involving band-leader Gene Raymond, Brazilian heiress Dolores Del Rio, and her fiancé Raul Roulien. Astaire and Rogers are Raymond's second in command and the girl vocalist in the band. The plot might be trite, but the music and dancing, nothing short of heavenly.

Overall the movie is a light enjoyable comedy rightfully noted MOSTLY as the first time Astaire and Rogers were paired. HOWEVER, Delores Del Rio was the real lead comic actress. Though she is basically doing a Gracie Allen imitation at one point she delivers one of my all time favorite movie lines. At one point Delores is doing the clueless befuddled bit, and in a rather vexed struggle to express how foreign the terrain of Rio seems (and after a subtle titillating set-up line) she ventures to ask why things seem different in Rio. She puts on an unaware puzzled puppy face and says, "What is it these Brazilians have down below the equator that we don't have?" How they got that line by the censors I'll never know, but I'm glad they did.

In Miami, during the presentation of the Yankee Clippers, the wolf band leader and pilot Roger Bond (Gene Raymond) flirts with the guest Belinha de Resende (Dolores Del Rio) and the stringent hotel manager fires them. However, the band is hired for the opening night of the Atlântico Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, and they need to fly to Brazil. When Roger meets Belinha in the hall of the hotel, he learns that she lost her flight to Rio and he offers a ride for her in his plane. Roger is forced to land in an island and he immediately fixes the mechanical problem in the plane; however, he lies to Belinha and tells that he can not fix the problem just to spend the night alone with her. But Belinha, who is the fiancée of the Brazilian Júlio, resists to his harassment and later she finds another plane to fly to Rio. Once in Rio, the infatuated Roger meets his friend Júlio without knowing that he is the fiancé of Belinha, and he tells about his love for the woman. When the Yankee Clippers are ready to open the hotel, powerful bankers that are interested to force the bankruptcy of the Atlântico's owner to take the hotel, send the police since he does not have the permit to anticipate the opening day. However, Roger's friend and musician Fred Ayres (Fred Astaire) proposes an airborne show to the guests. Meanwhile, the brokenhearted Roger decides to return to his country and leave Belinha with Júlio. "Flying Down to Rio" is the debut of the pair Fred and Ginger in minor support roles. The sappy and naive romance has the Mexican Dolores Del Rio performing a Brazilian sassy woman and Gene Raymond in the lead roles. The footages from Rio de Janeiro in the 30's and the airborne show are the best moments of this film. The funniest thing in "Flying Down to Rio" is that there is no Brazilian actor or actress in the cast. My vote is six. Title (Brazil): "Voando para o Rio" ("Flying to Rio")

No doubt most under-40 viewers would greet this movie with laughter, but each time I run it, the sound track and over-the-top performances blow me away. It's magical entertainment, a movie which literally crackles with energy from the credits to the last frame. Fred and Ginger in their early days; wonderful stuff!

Tagline: "A musical extravaganza staged in the clouds! Romance that soars to the skies on the wings of song! Too big for the world... Too beautiful for words... So they set it to music!" Brief synopsis: "Old-fashioned but elaborate musical with Dolores Del Rio caught between two suitors in Brazil. Highlights are Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers dancing "The Carioca" -and a bevy of dancing girls on wings of planes for the eye-popping finale." When this opulent Pre-Code musical extravaganza was released, its stars were Dolores Del Rio & Gene Raymond -but it was second leads Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers (in their first teaming) who waltzed away with the film. Dolores Del Rio was mostly "eye-candy" in Hollywood in the 1930's due to an unshakable accent. The lady was an accomplished actress and had a fine career in Silent Film -because she couldn't be heard, she could play anything ...and did! Del Rio had an even more illustrious career when she returned to her native Mexico in the 1940's. Her "Belinha De Rezende's" Brazilian origins in "Flying Down To Rio" explained away her accent, allowing Dolores to give the character exactly what was needed: self-assurance, a sense of humor & breath-taking beauty. Being paired with blond actor Gene Raymond (always an "enthusiastic" actor) helped to compliment Del Rio's dark good looks. "The Carioca" has got to be one of the most sexually suggestive sequences in Pre-Code musicals. Each studio in Hollywood's "Golden Age" had it's own particular style. Busby Berkeley at Warner Bros. used risqué geometric patterns, scantily-clad cuties & not-so-double entendre to get his sexually suggestive point across but not so RKO & "The Carioca". RKO didn't need to -this number is not only poetry in motion, but coitus in metaphor! It begins with a palpable electric heat that runs through the nightclub when the orchestra strikes up the first strains -the patrons excitedly whisper "The Carioca!" "The Carioca!" Next comes the urgent, joyous selection (choosing! clutching!) of a partner as they rush headlong to the dance floor. The "forehead" signifies locking eyes and staring directly into the object of desire (and for the inhibited it could be read as facing ones fear & desire "head-on"). The rise and fall, swell and ebb of the musical interludes between lyrics is the "up-and-down, up-and-down" of sex. The vocals are put over with a lusty wink & smile by Etta Motten & Co. -who give it all they've got! "The Carioca" sequence seems to go on forever -as great sex should! Astaire is warned of how potent "The Carioca" is before they even begin and the head-banger headache (where Ginger Rogers staggers!) is amusing "release" (read *) from the carnal Brazilian fever-dream. Vibrant & vital, "The Carioca" was the Viagra of it's day! The entire cast shone in a plot that was none-too-taxing in the dramatic department, but "Fred & Ginger" are wonderful in their first teaming. The old adage "she gave him sex, he gave her class" is borne out here. The other musical numbers (which include "Orchids In The Moonlight") are surprisingly memorable also. The breath-takingly rousing, surreal finale number "Flying Down To Rio" -with its chorus girls stripping while strapped to the wings of bi-planes -surely had audiences humming "Ohhhh ...Mio! Flying Dowwnnn to Rio!" for weeks afterward. Thrilling, mind-boggling escapism was just what Depression Era audiences craved -and they "got it good" in "Flying Down To Rio"! An all-time favorite -and highly recommended.