Though the film starts a bit slow, once things get underway, we have a rather enjoyable and efficiently made comedy-drama from the folks at 20th Century Fox. By this point Sonja Henie had proven her worth at the box office. The studio often put her into comedies that allowed for a few ice skating sequences here and there. These concoctions typically paired her with Tyrone Power or John Payne.
However, the script for this production has a darker story involving an older gentleman hiding out from Gestapo agents after having escaped a concentration camp. Miss Henie plays the man's daughter, who looks after him and ends up being romanced by two reporters (Ray Milland & Robert Cummings, borrowed from Paramount and Universal respectively).
While there are still some nice bits involving Henie and the two handsome young men, there is a sense of urgency and danger in this picture that is lacking in the actress's other vehicles. As a result, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT is a bit more potent and interesting to watch. Of course, there is still time to see the Scandinavian darling skate and also ski- she does almost as much skiing in some of her films as she does skating.
One of the film's true highlights is an amusing bit with her and Cummings on the ice. His character is a show-off who thinks he can teach her some skating tricks. He quickly learns she is much more skilled than he is. It takes a good deal of talent to do comical shtick on ice, and Mr. Cummings certainly excels.
The plot involving the father (Yiddish actor Maurice Moscovitch) is at times secondary. Though Milland and Cummings are supposed to be in the alpine village to interview Moscovitch, we really don't see the men doing much work- they are too distracted by the lovely young gal they've met!
Despite the more serious war-related background, this is still a feel-good Sonja Henie picture. All her films exude considerable charm. When they're over, you realize you've been transported to a different realm. They don't make movies like this anymore, and that's a shame.
However, the script for this production has a darker story involving an older gentleman hiding out from Gestapo agents after having escaped a concentration camp. Miss Henie plays the man's daughter, who looks after him and ends up being romanced by two reporters (Ray Milland & Robert Cummings, borrowed from Paramount and Universal respectively).
While there are still some nice bits involving Henie and the two handsome young men, there is a sense of urgency and danger in this picture that is lacking in the actress's other vehicles. As a result, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS AT NIGHT is a bit more potent and interesting to watch. Of course, there is still time to see the Scandinavian darling skate and also ski- she does almost as much skiing in some of her films as she does skating.
One of the film's true highlights is an amusing bit with her and Cummings on the ice. His character is a show-off who thinks he can teach her some skating tricks. He quickly learns she is much more skilled than he is. It takes a good deal of talent to do comical shtick on ice, and Mr. Cummings certainly excels.
The plot involving the father (Yiddish actor Maurice Moscovitch) is at times secondary. Though Milland and Cummings are supposed to be in the alpine village to interview Moscovitch, we really don't see the men doing much work- they are too distracted by the lovely young gal they've met!
Despite the more serious war-related background, this is still a feel-good Sonja Henie picture. All her films exude considerable charm. When they're over, you realize you've been transported to a different realm. They don't make movies like this anymore, and that's a shame.