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Three Smart Girls (B&W)
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by Universal Studios
Sales Rank: 12808
Price: $19.98
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Universal wasted no time in exploiting 14-year-old Deanna Durbin's star power; after screening the dailies from her feature debut, <I>Three Smart Girls</I>, studio execs expanded Durbin's supporting role and doubled the budget. Their investment paid off: this breezy comedy-musical, about a young singer determined to reunite her parents, earned a then-extraordinary $2 million and three Oscar nominations (including Best Picture). <p> Durbin's charm, good songs, and a solid supporting cast (including Alice Brady, Mischa Auer, and Charles Winninger) make <I>Girls</I> a delight many decades later. It's also a notch above the affable sequel, <I>Three Smart Girls Grow Up</I>. <I>--Steven Smith</I>
Viewer Reviews
When the MGM studio dropped their option to extend a contract for young soprano Deanna Durbin, rival studio Universal snapped her up and starred her in THREE SMART GIRLS (1936). The film was a huge success which helped reverse the financial losses of the studio, and established Deanna Durbin as a bright new movie musical star.
Deanna plays enterprising little Penny Craig. When she learns that her divorced, New York-based father (Charles Winninger) is about to marry a younger woman (Binnie Barnes), Penny and her two older sisters (Nan Grey and Barbara Read) set off to derail his plans--and hopefully arrange a tearful reunion for their parents.
Originally meant as a vehicle for blonde comedienne Binnie Barnes, THREE SMART GIRLS instead became re-tooled as a showcase for 13 year old soprano Deanna Durbin after studio execs became charmed by her infectious screen persona. Her role of Penny was expanded, and though she never received top billing in the cast, it became all too clear that it was Durbin who truly carried this picture. Deanna gets to sing "My Heart is Singing", "Il bacio", and "Someone to Care for Me".
The movie's incredible worldwide success ensured that Deanna would reprise her role of Penny Craig for two lovely sequels - "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" (1939), and "Hers to Hold" (1943).
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Three Smart Girls (B&W)
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