I don't believe this is a movie that needs serious content evaluation. It was served up as a fun showcase for two of Hollywood's most popular stars and as a celebration of the tuneful talents of Irving Berlin. It delivers on all counts as far as I'm concerned. Henie is always enjoyable with her sparkling skating routines, fresh, unstudied acting approach and lively, dimpled face. In '39, the year Second Fiddle was released, Tyrone Power was by popular vote named "King of Hollywood." He also starred in 2 out of the top four highest-grossing films in that Magic Movie Year, 1939. Power created quite a PR storm having just married Suez co-star Annabella after a string of red-hot PR-promoted affairs with among others, Sonja Henie. Second Fiddle, on the one hand is a send up of the over-the-top publicity surrounding the search to find the perfect Scarlett O'Hara, while equally on the other hand it skewers Golden Era Hollywood's overheated PR habit. I would imagine that for audiences fed on gossip columns and fan magazines of the time you couldn't have done better than to star Henie and Power in a vehicle about "the big Hollywood build up." Viewed from that perspective it is a very funny inside joke indeed. Tyrone plays Jimmy Sutton,the PR wiz, in an easygoing and charming way. He is a natural and partners superbly with the excellent veteran character actress, Edna Mae Oliver. Both are consummately professional yet they really seem to be having fun with each other. Which is why, IMO, their comedic scenes together are as delightful as any put on film. Second Fiddle is full of great Berlin tunes that are imaginatively staged. Co-stars Rudy Vallee and Mary Healy do nicely and contribute to this fun golden oldie. Bubbly and light as air, King Lear it surely was never intended to be!
Review of Second Fiddle
