Iceland is a 1942 musical film released by 20th Century-Fox, directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and stars skater Sonja Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine posted in Iceland during World War II. The film was titled Katina in Great Britain and Marriage on Ice in Australia. The film also featured Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra.
Fox reteamed their two leads and director from the previous year's musical Sun Valley Serenade and set the story in the then contemporary American Marine landing and occupation of Iceland in 1941. Payne had previously played a Marine in Fox's To the Shores of Tripoli also directed by Humberstone. Among the songs are "There Will Never Be Another You" and "You Can't Say No to a Soldier".
Some Icelanders protested against the film for its depiction of Marines winning away the local women. Henie's on-ice partner during the filmed skating sequences was 1940/41 U.S. Champion Eugene Turner.
Contents
Cast
Sonja Henie as Katina Jonsdottir
John Payne as Capt. James Murfin
Jack Oakie as Slip Riggs
Felix Bressart as Papa Jonsdottir
Sterling Holloway as Sverdrup Svenssen
Osa Massen as Helga Jonsdottir
Joan Merrill as Adele Wynn
Fritz Feld as Herr Tegnar
Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra as Themselves
Louis Adlon as Valtyr Olafson (credited as Duke Adlon)
Reception
Reviewer Dennis Schwartz gave the film a C+ rating, describing it as "entertaining but superficial" while giving credit to its direction and its songs.