Thin Ice (1937) Review: Sonja Henie's Smile is Unstoppable

Honestly, if you are looking for a deep plot, just turn around right now. But if you want to watch a bubbly Olympic champion spin around on real ice while a very young Tyrone Power looks handsome, Thin Ice is a total treat. ❄️

People who love cozy, old-school romantic comedies will eat this up. Anyone who wants actual logic or realistic Swiss accents will probably turn it off in ten minutes.

Sonja Henie plays Lili, a hotel ski instructor who somehow spends almost all her time ice skating instead of skiing. She meets a guy on the slopes who she thinks is just a normal tourist.

Of course, because this is 1937, he is actually a prince trying to escape political drama. This whole "royal in disguise" thing is a classic trope, kind of like what happens in The Masquerader, but with way more snow.

The plot is paper-thin, but nobody watched this for the story anyway. They watched it to see Henie glide across the ice like it was nothing.

Seriously, her skating is wild. She has this permanent smile plastered on her face the entire time she spins.

It’s almost a little scary how long she can hold that grin while doing crazy jumps. Her face must have been so tired after a day of shooting.

Tyrone Power is just there to look pretty, and boy, does he succeed. His mustache is so thin it looks like he drew it on with a cheap pencil right before the camera rolled.

I kept getting distracted by his perfectly shiny hair. It never moves, even when he’s supposed to be skiing down a mountain.

There is this one hilarious scene where a giant band is playing jazz music outdoors in the freezing snow. The brass players must have had their lips frozen to their mouthpieces.

Also, Joan Davis shows up and does some great physical comedy. She does this dramatic fall on the ice that made me laugh out loud.

The movie does drag a bit in the middle when the politicians start talking about treaties. I literally stared at my phone for five minutes during that part.

But then we get another massive skating number, and all is forgiven. It is just pure, harmless escapism from a simpler time.

Don't expect a masterpiece. Just grab a warm blanket and enjoy the silly, snowy vibes. ⛸️