Iceland

1942's Iceland is a wartime film about a playboy marine, James Murfin (John Payne) stationed in Iceland. There he meets Katina (Henie), a lovely young woman in a hurry to get married so that her sister can marry a man who will bring some much-needed cash into the family. As in many cultures, the older girl must marry first. Katina, however, isn't crazy about the man who has proposed something like 36 times (Sterling Holloway), so when she meets Murfin, she says they met a few years earlier and are in love. Before Murfin knows it, he's engaged, the marriage license has been registered, and at one point, the family believes that he's Katina's husband.

There's not much of a story here, but some of the music is pleasant enough and well sung by Joan Merrill. Sonja has some great skating sequences. Figure skating was different in those days - much more dance oriented with no big jumps - barrel rolls and singles were about it. Sonja was a dazzling performer who had great speed and a thrilling signature spin that started slowly and went faster and faster, until she resembled a whirling dervish. Her contribution to the world of figure skating is invaluable: She popularized figure skating, invented the skating show, and made white skating boots the thing to wear! John Payne is handsome and does a good job as Murfin, but he doesn't get to really sing. He had such a nice voice, it's a shame. Felix Bressart plays Katina's father and is a joy as always. Jack Oakie is Murfin's comic buddy, and he's good as well.

However, when you're watching a Sonja Henie movie, it's Sonja's skating that's the true star. This isn't her best film, but it's still entertaining.