bkoganbing — 21 years ago(December 02, 2004 02:08 AM)

Well I would have expected that at least some Scandinavians, Norwegians especially would have been here before me.
Sonja Henie occupied a unique position in Hollywood history, Johnny Weissmuller
comes closest to it in male stars. But Weissmuller was an American citizen
albeit that he was born in Rumania. Henie like Weissmuller was the unchallenged
champion of her sport figureskating, but there was far more to her story than
that.
Norway had only regained it's independence in 1905 and being a new nation was
developing its new heroes, Ibsen in drama, Grieg in music, Fridtof Nansen in
polar exploration and in sports Sonja Henie.
She was a cute little blonde girl with a wholesome image and she charmed the
world in three straight Olympics, bringing home the gold and glory to Norway.
What to do after that? Go to Hollywood.
But landing Sonja Henie was not like signing some unknown actress. All the
studios bid for her, but Darryl F. Zanuck landed her for 20th Century Fox.
He paid dear for her services. I remember years ago seeing Cesar Romero being
interviewed about Henie and he said though her image was as a cute little
milkmaid, she was a hardheaded businesswoman who had an accurate assessment of
her talents. Romero said she drove one hard bargain with Zanuck. You see she
really didn't need Hollywood. She had the Ice Capades and could make big
bucks just doing pro-figure skating.
Zanuck was no fool either, he showcased her in parts that admittedly didn't
tax her limited dramatic ability. She played the same role in every film she
did at Fox. And she parted with Hollywood when she and Zanuck knew her box
office appeal had run its course.
Scandal also affected her, but not the usual Hollywood type dirt. Her country
was occupied in World War II and she had the good fortune to be in Hollywood.
While a lot of Norwegians suffered deprivations during World War II, Sonja was
in Hollywood earning big bucks. But it came out later that her home and property and possessions remained untouched during the whole Nazi occupation.
Seems as though the milkmaid had some backchannel dealings with Das Reich.
Norwegians never forgave her.
But that's history so RIP Sonja Henie, flawed national heroine.