The Crimson Playgoer

What made Brooklyn flock to the Radio City Theatre and fill it for two weeks when "Flying Down to Rio" played there? Why the tremendous ballyhoo for a musical picture when the public is just about fed up with the song and dance story that oozes from Hollywood in heavy doses? Frankly, I can not explain the whims of the movie fans, for "Flying Down to Rio" presents little that is novel except for a dance by the chorus on the wings of huge planes--and the Carioca, "a hot, volcanic new rhythm that is sweeping America." But I recommend the movie merely on the performance of Fred Astaire who has finally been focused by the cameraman, (you will recall that he lost when he played with Joan Crawford in "Dancing Lady") and because the music is unusually stimulating and fresh.

Fred Astaire pirouettes gracefully, his whirling legs rend the air to the tune of the Carioca. He taps one foot and then the other to the floor, and it is impossible to hear any discordance between the music and his dull thuds. Surprisingly enough his partner in the dances. Ginger Rogers, puts up an excellent front, and though she is not in the same class as Mr. Astaire, second honors are hers.

The plot, well the plot does not matter unless you insist on logical sequences, and then you will have to admit that it is as plausible a story as that of any legitimate musical comedy. Dolores Del Rio's comely figure and pretty face fit in nicely. But, as I have said before, it is Fred Astaire's picture, one very worth while seeing for his presence, for such tunes as "Carioca." "Flying Down To Rio," and "Music Makes Me," and for the professional direction and photography.

The second picture. "Easy to Love", is a moderately smutty bedroom farce with an abundance of dirty lines; the humor of the piece is unfortunately almost entirely dependent on pornography. Despite this drawback the picture is successful because of the efforts of a capable cast the best of which are Miss Tobin and Edward Everett Horton. G. W. C.