1h 28min | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 18 January 1946
Director: Richard Wallace
Stars: Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, Franchot Tone, Helen Broderick, Donald Meek.
The 4th film of 54 for Joan Shawlee, a favorite character actress for Billy Wilder: she played Sweet Sue in Some Like it Hot ('59). She's an extra here (autograph seeker) and I did not find her.
I've often wondered about the dangers of giving autographs. Here DD has written a letter of introduction for herself, and manipulated CL into signing it, asking for his autograph.
2nd pairing of DD & CL, previously: It Started with Eve (1941).
3rd pairing of DD & FT, previously: Nice Girl? (1941), His Butler's Sister (1943).
Only 3 songs in the Soundtracks:
ch3. Lover, DD harmonizes with herself, recorded and live, while dressing
ch7. Danny Boy, DD singing in CL's home, persuading him she has acting talent
ch9 (of 11). Good Bye!, DD sings to FT in crowded elevator, lobby, revolving door
HB plays wise supportive friend, not so sarcastic or comedic as usual; she's underused.
Difficult to rate: CL (b. 1899) & DD (b. 1921) perform well, especially together. The play within the film awkwardly pairs them together romantically. Every time they are about to kiss, I cringe and want to avert my eyes. Even FT (b. 1905) is rather old for her. And the DD/FT pairing is contentious, based on his opinion that she is duplicitous. But she merely cheated in the normal showbiz ways, in order to get her foot in the door. Then, after some extreme actions by FT (deliberate cruelty to her during the initial rehearsal, quitting as director and then publicly disowning this play he wrote), he suddenly realizes how wonderful she is, and she is immediately drawn to him. Perhaps the film relied on the foundation of their prior 2 films together, which I didn't see, and the audience was expecting them to get together. I found it rushed and unwarranted. In fact, DD should be repulsed by this petulant oaf. Don't expect his behavior to improve, deary.
Even with too little music and the bad romance, CL & DD together make a "recommended" rating.
Universal, dir. Wallace; 7-
