Sun Valley Serenade
Credits

20th Century-Fox, 1941
Black & White, 86 minutes
Produced by: Milton Sperling
Directed by: H. Bruce Humberstone
Screenplay by: Robert Ellis and Helen Logan
Story by: Art Arthur and Robert Harari
Music and Lyrics by: Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
Dances Staged by: Hermes Pan
Director of Photography: Edward Cronjager, A.S.C.
Art Direction: Richard Day and Lewis Creber
Set Decorations: Thomas Little
Film Editor: James B. Clark
Costumes: Travis Banton
Ski Clothes: F.A. Picard
Technical Director of Skiing Sequences: Otto Lang
Sound: Alfred Bruzlin and Roger Heman
Musical Director: Emil Newman
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Cast

Sonja Henie ... Karen Benson
John Payne ... Ted Scott
Glenn Miller ... Phil Carey
Milton Berle ... Nifty Allen
Lynn Bari ... Vivian Dawn
Joan Davis ... Miss Carstairs
Nicholas Brothers ... Specialty
Dorothy Dandridge ... Specialty
The Modernaires ... Themselves
Paula Kelly ... Vocalist
Ray Eberle ... Vocalist
Pat Friday ... Vivian Dawn's Vocals
William Davidson ... Murray
Almira Sessions ... Nurse
Mel Ruick ... Band Leader
Ralph Dunn ... Customs Officer
Chester Clute ... Process Server
Forbes Murray ... Headwaiter
Edward Earle ... Man
Eddie Kane ... Man
Lynne Roberts ... Receptionist
Ann Doran ... Waitress
Spec O'Donnell ... Western Union Boy
Bruce Edwards ... Ski Instructor
John "Skins" Miller ... Sleigh Driver
Fred "Snowflake" Toones ... Porter
Ernie Alexander ... Boy
Sheila Ryan ... Telephone Operator
William Forrest ... Husband
Dora Clement ... Wife
Herbert Gunn ... Ski Patrol Man
Kenneth Alexander ... Ski Patrol Man
The Glenn Miller Orchestra ... Themselves
Orchestra Members: Tex Beneke, Jimmy Priddy, Chummy Macgregor, Ernie Caceres, Hal McIntyre, Willie Schwarz, Al Klink, Ray Anthony, Johnny Best, Billy May, Maurice Purtill, Trigger Alpert, Paul Tanner, Frank D'Anolfo, Ralph Brewster, Mickey McMickle, Jack Lathrop
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Article about the film from Miss
Henie's 1941-42 Hollywood
Ice Revue program.
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Synopsis

John Payne, Sonja Henie and Milton Berle star in this lighthearted romantic comedy that features the Glenn Miller Orchestra as a struggling band named The Dartmouth Troubadours. The group is about to get its big break at a posh Sun Valley ski resort, when the romance between singer Vivian Dawn (Lynn Bari) and piano player Ted Scott (Payne) is shaken by a publicity stunt set up by band manager "Nifty Allen" (Berle). "Nifty" has arranged for Ted to adopt a war refugee, and Ted becomes responsible for a beautiful Norwegian (Henie) who decides she wants to marry him! Nominated for three 1941 Oscars (Cinematography, Scoring of a Musical Picture, and Best Song: "Chatanooga Choo Choo"), Sun Valley Serenade features dancing by the Nicholas Brothers, the Glenn Miller hits "I Know Why" and "In the Mood," and of course, the dazzling skating of Sonja Henie.

[from Fox Video videotape sleeve, ©1991]
Glenn Miller, Sonja and John Payne
 publicity photo, ©20th Century-Fox
Songs

It Happened in Sun Valley
(John Payne and Pat Friday dubbing for Lynn Bari, reprised throughout the film)

Moonlight Serenade
(instrumental, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra)

I Know Why (And So Do You)
(Lynn Bari dubbed by Pat Friday, Paula Kelly and The Modernaires; reprised by John Payne and Sonja Henie)

In the Mood
(instrumental, Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with Tex Beneke and Al Klink on tenor sax and trumpet solo by Billy May)

Chatanooga Choo Choo
(Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with Tex Beneke, Paula Kelly and The Modernaires; sung and danced by Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers)

The Kiss Polka
(Chorus, danced by Sonja Henie and John Payne)
Original sheet music
 ©1941 20th Century Music Corp.
Notes

  • Sun Valley Serenade was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Cinematography - Black and White (Edward Cronjager), Best Score - Musical (Emil Newman) and Best Song ("Chattanooga Choo Choo")

  • This film is a wonderful musical in its own right, and certainly ranks among the great musicals of the Golden Era. The incomparable music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, combined with a number of memorable classic hit songs, Sonja Henie's dazzling skating, a young Dorothy Dandridge singing and dancing with the Nicholas Brothers, and a wonderful cast combine to create a truly memorable film.

  • Highlights of the film include the vocals "It Happened in Sun Valley" and "I Know Why (And So Do You)," Glenn Miller's Chatanooga Choo Choo (sung and danced by Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers), John Payne and Sonja Henie dancing the "The Kiss Polka" and Miss Henie's finale skating number.

  • A charming romantic moment in a rustic mountain cabin finds John Payne serenading Sonja Henie with "I Know Why (And So Do You)". Miss Henie sings a few bars herself, and although she is (apparently) tone deaf, her singing is still somehow charming, especially when John Payne remarks "Not bad!" to which Miss Henie retorts, "Not Good!"

  • Additional highlights include Uncle Milty's zany antics and some great skiing sequences. This film definitely has something for everyone!

  • VHS videotape: Fox Video #1733, ©1991.

  • Click here for more pictures.

  • For more information, see Sun Valley Serenade on Class Act.

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    Sonja Henie and John Payne
     original movie still, ©20th Century-Fox
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