This cheeky musical follows band leader Roger Bond (Gene Raymond) in his quest to woo Belinha (Dolores Del Rio) away from her fiancée (Raul Roulien). The film also features the first pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in supporting roles. Made as breezy, escapist fare, Flying Down to Rio’s extravagant Art Deco and Latin-inspired sets and costumes connected with audiences in a way RKO Studios’ films had failed to do so in the past: this film is credited with singlehandedly saving the studio from bankruptcy.