One in a Million

One in a Million

31/12/1936 1h 35m 6.8/10

Overview

American theatrical manager discovers Greta Muller preparing for the Olympics in Switzerland and brings her to Madison Square Garden.

Director

Sidney Lanfield

Top Billed Cast

Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Bob Harris

Adolphe Menjou

Adolphe Menjou

Tad Spencer

Ned Sparks

Ned Sparks

Danny Simpson

Jean Hersholt

Jean Hersholt

Heinrich Muller

Sonja Henie

Sonja Henie

Greta Müller

Harry Ritz

Harry Ritz

The Ritz Brothers

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

8/9/2025

6/10

This might have looked good on a storyboard, but despite a spirited effort from Adolphe Menjou and some graceful ice-capades from Norwegian champion Sonja Henie, the film really struggles to get out of first gear for what felt like quite a bit longer than an hour and an half. He’s a skint theatrical impresario who discovers this astonishingly talented ice dancer “Greta” (Henie) whilst she is preparing to represent her home nation of Switzerland at the Winter Olympic Games, and after his own hotel was mysteriously reduced to cinders. He quickly realises there are more ways than one to skin a cat, so offers her guesthouse-owing father (Jean Hersholt) a part in his vaudeville-style enterprise in the hope that will ensure he gets to manage the daughter too! Meantime, the conflagration has attracted a couple of opportunistic hacks hoping to tie in this fire with some nefarious criminal activities. “Bob” (Don Ameche) and “Danny” (Ned Sparks) are not only intrigued by the ashes, but with the enigmatic and obviously up-to-something Montagu Love. Henie is clearly learning something of the craft here, and to an extent the others help to compensate for her obvious inexperience in front of the camera, but the musical numbers are just a bit too perfectly staged and the so-called comedians “The Ritz Brothers” did make me wonder if they were supposed to be in the hotel that was razed to the ground. The whole story could have been told in half an hour, and that could have included an entertaining finale that showcases the polished skill of this already double Olympian. Otherwise, though, it’s all really a bit of a meandering muddle.

Similar Movies

The Princess and the Frog

7.2

The Princess and the Frog

2009

Oliver & Company

6.7

Oliver & Company

1988

Joe's Apartment

5.8

Joe's Apartment

1996

How to Marry a Millionaire

6.8

How to Marry a Millionaire

1953

Rock 'n' Roll High School

6.3

Rock 'n' Roll High School

1979

Yellow Submarine

7.1

Yellow Submarine

1968

A Day at the Races

7.1

A Day at the Races

1937

Beach Blanket Bingo

6.0

Beach Blanket Bingo

1965

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

4.0

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

2000

Die Spider Murphy Gang

0.0

Die Spider Murphy Gang

1983

Wind of Freedom

0.0

Wind of Freedom

1961

We Are the Future

0.0

We Are the Future

2023