Breaking the ice
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Breaking the ice |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1938 |
| length | 81 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Edward F. Cline |
| script |
Mary C. McCall , Manuel Seff , Bernard Schubert |
| production | Sol Lesser |
| music | Victor Young |
| camera | Jack MacKenzie |
| cut | Arthur Hilton |
| occupation | |
| |
Breaking the Ice is an American drama film with musical elements from 1938 directed by Edward F. Cline . The RKO Pictures production was based on a story by Fritz Falkenstein and Brewster Morse.
action
The Mennonite Martha Martin from Pennsylvania wants to move to Kansas to be close to the widower Henry Johnson. She cannot afford the money for the train journey and wants to borrow it from her brother-in-law, William Decker. However, he refuses to give her the 92 dollars she needs and writes a letter to Henry that if he wants to marry Mary, he should send her the money for the train. Martha's son Tommy feels sorry for his mother. He tears up the letter and wants to sell his collection of old newspapers to the second-hand dealer Samuel Terwilliger. He gives him a dollar for it and a harmonica as a gift. On the same evening Tommy is punished by the pious William for accepting the harmonica as a gift and not deserving it. Tommy runs to Sam and convinces him to take him to Philadelphia , where Tommy hopes to earn the money for the train ride.
The next day, William notices the lack of a $ 20 bill. The bill got between Tommy's papers. William accuses Tommy Martha of being a thief. In Philadelphia, Tommy finds a job at an ice rink near Sam's store. With his singing skills he impresses Mr. Kane, the owner of the ice rink. Tommy is supposed to give a performance with six-year-old ice skater Irene Dare and receive $ 25 a week for it. Sam is supposed to send the money home, but he's secretly keeping $ 20 for himself.
The fraud is coming to light soon. Tommy returns home frustrated, where William is immediately charged with theft. Tommy vows to prove his innocence before going to Kansas. With the help of repentant Sam, he finds the banknote among the newspapers that Sam used as a cushion for an allegedly antique chair. The chair was then sent to Washington by Sam. Finally rehabilitated, Tommy says goodbye to Sam and his career as a singer and travels to Kansas with his mother.
criticism
Frank S. Nugent of the New York Times criticized the film's thin and immature substance. Except for the songs performed by Bobby Breen and the comic elements of Charles Ruggles, the rest is nothing.
Awards
In 1939 , Victor Young received an Oscar nomination for Best Film Music .
background
The film premiered on September 22, 1938. The production had to get by without big stars, but gathered an ensemble of well-known character actors behind it.
Web links
- Breaking the Ice in the Internet Movie Database (English)