Lupe Velez ( Juanita) simply steals this picture from Wheeler ( Jerry) and Woolsey ( Pierre). You see what a brilliant comedienne she was with her impressions of Delores Del Rio and Shirley Temple. They were absolutely spot on. She also did a very good song and dance routine with Woolsey. I read that RKO brought her in to save the movie ( probably because of the illness of Woolsey which killed him a year later), and her presence made High Flyers ( at least for me) a 8/10 star movie instead of a 3/10 star movie. I am not saying that Lupe was the entire movie ( Wheeler did an excellent Charlie Chaplin impersonation and his learning to fly a plane by reading reminded me of Gert Frobe learning to fly by trading German training manuals in those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines)), but she certainly was the best ( then the kleptomaniac dog followed by Wheeler). Between Wheeler and Woolsey, it is definitely Wheeler that ends up on top ( despite being saddled with non comic actress Marjorie Lord ( heiress Arlene Arlington). Watch the Chaplin sketch and you see how she really does not contribute), while an obviously sick Robert Woolsey was able to keep up with Lupe Velez in one scene, he needed her and Wheeler ( especially in the plane) to carry him through. Spoilers ahead: Wheeler does end up with Marjorie and Woolsey with Lupe, but ignore the plot and just focus on Lupe. She is the reason to watch. 8/10 stars.
Review of High Flyers
