A studio publicist discovers a Minnesota skating teacher and takes her to Hollywood. She goes back to Minnesota but he follows her.A studio publicist discovers a Minnesota skating teacher and takes her to Hollywood. She goes back to Minnesota but he follows her.A studio publicist discovers a Minnesota skating teacher and takes her to Hollywood. She goes back to Minnesota but he follows her.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Purnell Pratt
- Abbott, the Editor
- (scenes deleted)
Jed Prouty
- Undetermined Secondary Role
- (scenes deleted)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe plot of this movie, in which a Hollywood studio searches for an actress to play the lead role in the movie version of a best-selling novel, was inspired by the famous search for Scarlett O'Hara. From 1937-39, over 1400 actresses were interviewed by MGM, and production was delayed for two years, before Vivien Leigh was cast in the lead role in Gone with the Wind (1939).
- Quotes
Jimmy Sutton: What are you making, Phoebe?
Aunt Phoebe: Don't know yet... started making a doily, and it got away from me!
- ConnectionsReferenced in Hollywood Steps Out (1941)
Featured review
Tyrone Power is a publicist who does his job too well in "Second Fiddle," also starring Sonja Henie. Power plays Jimmy Sutton, who is helping in the search for a star of a movie being made from a best-selling book. This was perhaps inspired by the search for Scarlett. When they find their girl, she's a Norwegian schoolteacher living in Minnesota. Power sets up a publicity stunt, which is a fake romance between her and another star (Rudy Vallee). He then is responsible for the flowers, the love poems, and finally writes her a song. By now, of course, he's madly in love with her, and she's in love with Rudy. This is much to the consternation of Rudy's girlfriend, played by Mary Healy.
The two stars are delightful, but of course, some of the best lines are from Edna May Oliver, who is hilarious as Henie's aunt. One line not Oliver's that certainly got a laugh in theaters is from Henie to Power: "You'd be handsome if you took care of yourself." He's pretty dazzling as is.
The Irving Berlin music is okay, but I have to admit my favorite is "Back to Back" which I found lively and fun.
Though skating styles have changed a great deal over the last 66 years, Sonja Henie's skating holds up. She was a graceful, fast skater who could dance and spin magnificently. Back then, the jumps were all singles and landed low, but it's obvious that if she were a young skater today, she would still have what it takes.
Very entertaining.
The two stars are delightful, but of course, some of the best lines are from Edna May Oliver, who is hilarious as Henie's aunt. One line not Oliver's that certainly got a laugh in theaters is from Henie to Power: "You'd be handsome if you took care of yourself." He's pretty dazzling as is.
The Irving Berlin music is okay, but I have to admit my favorite is "Back to Back" which I found lively and fun.
Though skating styles have changed a great deal over the last 66 years, Sonja Henie's skating holds up. She was a graceful, fast skater who could dance and spin magnificently. Back then, the jumps were all singles and landed low, but it's obvious that if she were a young skater today, she would still have what it takes.
Very entertaining.
Details
- Runtime1 hour 25 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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