Flying Down to Rio (1933)

One of the best films i have seen

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Flying Down to Rio has much to like, even if some of the acting is slight and the story is silly and rather hackneyed. The great quality of the sets, production design and cinematography make for a film that is very easy on the eyes. The songs are lively and memorable, as is the catchy and characterful score and Brazilian flavours while the choreography is really imaginative and full to the brim with energy, in particular in the Carioca and climatic airplanes sequences. The way it's danced helps a lot as well. The dialogue is warm and funny, while it is solidly paced- not a dull moment, despite the Carioca sequence being very long- and directed and the performances generally work very well. Gene Raymond is stiff at times but very dashing while Dolores Del Rio is the epitome of glamour. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers steal the show though, in their first pairing though not in lead roles(that would be The Gay Divorcée) they show great chemistry, personal charm and wonderful energy and elegance in their dancing. Overall, a lot to like and a pleasure to watch, though the story is not as good as the rest. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Flying Down to Rio (1933)This is the debut picture for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Neither is top billing (they are 5th and 4th, respectively), but they made enough of an impression to get their own movies from here on. See this if just for a bit of history.Astaire in particular steals the show, but even Rogers is more compelling than the leading lady, who is made to be pretty but a bit stiff. The leading man is also a tad boring, and Astaire steals every scene from him, even when he's not dancing.And when they dance? Sparks and fireworks.Why else see the movie? Well, not for the boilerplate plot, and not for the rest of the cast in particular. Or the direction. But wait, there is a ten minute climax that is worth every minute. Amazing, cheesy, sexist, wonderful stuff (depending on your vantage point). The female dancers start getting strapped in (yes!), to the tops of simple airplanes, around 1:12:10 into the film. (The young women even make slightly suggestive comments about it, glad that their "parents" don't know about this). Then the planes take off and the weirdest funniest choreography takes over, with some of the most absurd costumes (propellor hats, little planes around the collar, and even some clothes that the wind tears off with parachutes). It's bad and terrific because it's so bad. Meaning it's really rather good. Remember, this is a 1930s musical. And so the movie goes. It's pre-code, so there is a hint of liberty with the relationships that won't occur in later Astaire/Rogers films (and I don't mean between them, but between the two leads). There is some good music, too, including genuine seeming Brazilian jazz/pop from 1933, a dance and style called the Carioca. Of course, American pre-swing styling known as the foxtrot wins the day. All is always well in these kinds of musicals.Check it out. Not a masterpiece, but with some historic and quite fantastic moments. And never a dull patch.

As soon as the artwork for the cover of this movie popped up on my Netflix I knew it was going to be a little, well, strange for my taste. Im not one for musicals, so maybe thats where the bulk of my dislike comes from, just having a hard time getting into it. I found the story to be very uncomplicated and boring at times. Fred Astaire is very enjoyable to watch though.The one thing I can say that is fantastic about this movie is some of the dancing shots. Watching those chorus girls, do absolutely synchronized dance movements on top of airplanes. Im assuming special affects were limited in those days, Im not sure exactly how they did it. But anyway you slice it, still very amazing scenes/shots/filming. Even for today in my opinion. the movie's enjoyable, but nothing amazing in my book.

An overly simple story lacking much real conflict, but still enjoyable to experience. Fred Astaire skillfully imbues the musical numbers with terrific life, and the choreography of the larger dances creates elegant movement within the shots. The last number of the film is creatively conceived, while a little far fetched, but is interestingly and enjoyably different from other musical acts. The love triangle between Belinha, Julio, and Roger is the main focus of the film, and could have strengthened the picture if it was developed further, instead of sharing time with the irrelevant subplot involving a scheme to takeover the Hotel Atlantico. The plot is redeemed in the end by Julio, who gives up Belinha to Roger in a noble and selfless twist, the likes of which leaves a happy and accomplished taste in your mouth.