''Everything's on Ice'' is a 1939 American musical film produced by

Sol Lesser Sol Lesser (February 17, 1890 – September 19, 1980) was an American film producer. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1961. Biography In 1913, while living in San F ...

for RKO Pictures, directed by Erle C. Kenton and stars six year old Irene Dare,

Edgar Kennedy Edgar Livingston Kennedy (April 26, 1890 – November 9, 1948) was an American comedic character actor who appeared in at least 500 films during the silent and sound eras. Professionally, he was known as "Slow Burn", owing to his ability to por ...

and Lynne Roberts. The film was released on October 6, 1939 and is also known as ''Frolics on Ice'' (American video title). A 6-year-old skater is financially exploited in this story, which features "the world's youngest ice figure-skater, Irene Dare." Meanwhile, the girl's older sister "suddenly finds her love-life taken over by a kibitzing uncle ... eading toa succession of laughable situations."

Plot

Felix Miller (Roscoe Karns) has another money making scheme, this time it involves his 6 year old figure skating niece Irene Barton (Irene Dare), and given his history her family doesn't take him seriously. Uncle Felix takes little Irene to skate for a talent scout from Florida and secures not only a job but train tickets for the entire family to Florida for her gig. While on the train Irene's sister, Jane (Lynne Roberts) and Felix meet Leopold Eddington (Eric Linden) who has just inherited a million dollars but Felix assumes he doesn't have any money because Leopold tells them he's staying at an inexpensive hotel. Irene's dad Joe Barton (Edgar Kennedy) stays behind in New York to continue working at the barber shop he's trying to buy. Uncle Felix wastes no time spending the paycheck that results from little Irene's skating performances at the Silver Palms Café, he checks them into the finest hotel in the area and spares no expense on clothing, jewelry and food. Leopold attends Irene's first performance hoping to talk with Jane again, but Felix brushes him off and makes fun of him. Later Felix meets Harrison Gregg (George Meeker) in the

steam room A steam bath is a steam-filled room for the purpose of relaxation and cleansing. It has a long history, going back to Greek and Roman times. History The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the R ...

and assumes he's very wealthy when in fact Harrison can't even pay for his hotel bill. Meanwhile, Leopold and Jane are spending time getting to know each other, later Felix convinces Leopold to stay away from Jane and enjoy the rest of his vacation. Unable to secure another advance on Irene's pay,

spendthrift A spendthrift (also profligate or prodigal) is someone who is extravagant and recklessly wasteful with money, often to a point where the spending climbs well beyond his or her means. "Spendthrift" derives from an obsolete sense of the word "thrift" ...

Felix sends a telegram to his brother-in-law Joe asking for $200 and promises him that the family will be "fixed for life". Joe does not believe him for a minute and travels to Florida to find out for himself what's really going on. Meanwhile Felix is trying to arrange a marriage between reluctant Jane and Harrison. Joe arrives to discover that Felix is throwing an expensive cocktail party and has taken several advances on Irene's pay. Felix is trying to get either Joe or Harrison will pay their outstanding expenses. Joe also discovers that his wife Elsie (Mary Hart) has been a willing partner to Felix's spending, and they argue. Joe meets Leopold and finds out that he intended to marry his daughter, and Joe encourages him to go after "Janie". Felix and Elsie find out that the barbershop that Joe had wanted to buy has been sold to someone else, but they're more worried about themselves than they are about Joe. Meanwhile Irene has been fired from her skating gig because there is no one to finance her performances. Joe arranges for Leopold to see Janie one last time before leaving Florida although Felix has arranged for her to see Harrison at the side entrance (he's trying to skip out on his hotel bill). Joe insists his wife return everything she's bought, and the manager of the hotel tries to collect the money owed for the cocktail party and the other expenses. Felix claims that Harrison will be paying for it, but the hotel manager lets Felix know that Harrison can't even pay for his hotel bill, plus he's nowhere to be found. Irene announces that Leopold will be financing her next performance although Felix doesn't believe it. Irene's governess confirms that Leopold is a very wealthy man, and both Felix and Elsie are speechless. Meanwhile Jane and Leopold have not only eloped but have bought the barbershop for Joe as a birthday present. Felix and Harrison are now working in the hotel kitchen to pay off their expenses.

Cast

* Irene Dare as Irene Barton *

as Joe Barton *

Roscoe Karns Roscoe, also spelled Rosco or Roscow, may refer to: People * Roscoe (name) Places United States * Roscoe, California (disambiguation) * Roscoe Township (disambiguation) * Roscoe, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Roscoe, Illinois, a villag ...

as Felix Miller * Lynne Roberts as Jane Barton *

Eric Linden Eric Linden (September 15, 1909 – July 14, 1994) was an American actor, primarily active during the 1930s. Early years Eric Linden was born in New York City to Phillip and Elvira (née Lundborg) Linden, both of Swedish descent. His father ...

as Leopold Eddington *Mary Hart as Elsie Barton *

George Meeker George Meeker (March 5, 1904 – August 19, 1984) was an American character film and Broadway actor. A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Meeker made several films such as ''Crime, Inc.'' (1945) and ''A Thief in the Dark'' (1 ...

as Harrison Gregg *

Bobby Watson Robert Michael Watson Jr. (born August 23, 1953), known professionally as Bobby Watson, is an American saxophonist, composer, and educator. Music career Watson was born in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He ...

as French *Mary Currier as Miss Tillifer *Maxine Stewart as Hat Check Girl *

Wade Boteler Wade Boteler (October 3, 1888 – May 7, 1943) was an American film actor and writer. He appeared in more than 430 films between 1919 and 1943. Biography He was born in Santa Ana, California, and died in Hollywood, California, from a heart ...

as White * Pierre Watkin as Hotel Manager *Larry Jackson as Papa Penguin *Kenny Williams as Dr. Penguin

Songs

*"Birth of a Snowbird, music by

Victor Young Albert Victor Young (August 8, 1899– November 10, 1956)"Victor Young, Composer, Dies of Heart Attack", ''Oakland Tribune'', November 12, 1956. was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. Biography Young is commonly said to ...

and Paul Webster *"Everything's on Ice", music by Milton Drake and Fred Stryker

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Everything's on Ice 1939 films American black-and-white films 1939 musical films RKO Pictures films Films produced by Sol Lesser American musical films Figure skating films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films