Music in the Air (film)  Music in the Air is a 1934 American romantic comedy musical film based on Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Broadway musical of the same name. It was part of the popular subgenre of operetta films made during the era. The film was a commercial failure on its release, losing $389,000. This was the worst performing release by Fox Film that year. The Broadway musical "Music in the Air" opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City on November 8, 1932 and ran for 342 performances. Opera star Frieda Hotzfelt (Gloria Swanson) spars with librettist Bruno Mahler (John Boles). Aspiring songwriter Karl Roder (Douglass Montgomery) stumbles into their stormy relationship.