Can't Help Singing

Last updated

Can't Help Singing
Can't Help Singing FilmPoster.jpeg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Frank Ryan
Screenplay by
Story by
  • John D. Klorer
  • Leo Townsend
Based onGirl of the Overland Trail
by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky
Produced by Felix Jackson
Starring
Cinematography
Edited by Ted J. Kent
Music by H.J. Salter
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • December 25, 1944 (1944-12-25)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,600,000 [1]

Can't Help Singing is a 1944 American musical Western film directed by Frank Ryan and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige, and Akim Tamiroff. [2] Based on a story by John D. Klorer and Leo Townsend, the film is about a senator's daughter who follows her boyfriend West in the days of the California gold rush. Durbin's only Technicolor film, Can't Help Singing was produced by Felix Jackson and scored by Jerome Kern with lyrics by E. Y. Harburg. [3]

Contents

The movie was one of the most expensive in Universal's history. [1]

Plot

Set during the early years of the California Gold Rush, the film tells of the adventures of Caroline Frost, the wilful and spoilt daughter of a US Senator. He does not approve of her beau, Lt Robert Latham, of the US cavalry, and persuades President James K. Polk to post Latham to guard gold shipments from the California mines owned by Jake Carstairs.

Caroline travels by train and steamboat and manages to join a wagon-train about to trek overland to the West. She shares a wagon with Johnny (Robert Paige), a debonair but ruthless gambler with whom she falls in love, and two comically inept opportunists, Prince Gregory Stroganovsky and his much put-upon servant Koppa.

At first, she tells Johnny she is engaged to Carstairs. However, no unattached women are allowed to join the wagon train, so Johnny tells everyone she is married to the Prince and she is forced to go along with the ruse.

Eventually, she eventually reaches Sonora, California. Here, her problems are quickly sorted out. After some confusion between Carstairs and his real wife, Caroline decides that she really loves Johnny. Her father, who has followed her, is reconciled.

Cast

Production

The film was known as Caroline. [4] Jerome Kern signed to write music in September 1943. [5] In October, Frank Ryan was assigned to direct. [6]

In December Jack Yellen signed to do the script. [7]

In March 1944 the title was changed to Can't Help Singing. David Bruce was cast the same month. [8] Universal had traditionally borrowed leading men to appear opposite Durbin but for this film they used contract players Bruce and Robert Paige. [9]

Filming locations

Reception

Critical response

The Los Angeles Times called it "delightful". [12] Bosley Crowther of The New York Times said of Durbin's singing as "thoroughly pleasing" and the film "gaudy". [2]

Home media

Can't Help Singing was released on VHS on January 25, 1997, by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. [13] The film was released on DVD on September 6, 2016, by Universal Studios Home Entertainment. [14]

Awards and nominations

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Kern</span> American composer

Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A Fine Romance", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "The Song Is You", "All the Things You Are", "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Long Ago ". He collaborated with many of the leading librettists and lyricists of his era, including George Grossmith Jr., Guy Bolton, P. G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Dorothy Fields, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg.

<i>One Hundred Men and a Girl</i> 1937 film by Henry Koster

One Hundred Men and a Girl is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin and the maestro Leopold Stokowski. Written by Charles Kenyon, Bruce Manning, and James Mulhauser from a story by Hanns Kräly, the film is about the daughter of a struggling musician who forms a symphony orchestra consisting of his unemployed friends. Through persistence, charm, and a few misunderstandings, they are able to get famed conductor Leopold Stokowski to lead them in a concert, which leads to a radio contract. One Hundred Men and a Girl was the first of two motion pictures featuring Leopold Stokowski, and is also one of the films for which Durbin is best remembered as an actress and a singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deanna Durbin</span> Canadian singer and actress (1921–2013)

Edna Mae Durbin, known professionally as Deanna Durbin, was a Canadian-born actress and singer, who moved to the U.S. with her family in infancy. She appeared in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s. With the technical skill and vocal range of a legitimate lyric soprano, she performed many styles from popular standards to operatic arias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Drake</span> American actor (1918–1982)

Tom Drake was an American actor. Drake made films starting in 1940 and continuing until the mid-1970s, and also made TV acting appearances.

<i>Christmas Holiday</i> 1944 film by Robert Siodmak, Felix Jackson

Christmas Holiday is a 1944 American film noir crime film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Based on the 1939 novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham, the film is about a woman who marries a Southern aristocrat who inherited his family's streak of violence and instability and soon drags the woman into a life of misery. After he is arrested, the woman runs away from her husband's family, changes her name, and finds work as a singer in a New Orleans dive. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Musical Score for Hans J. Salter.

<i>Lady on a Train</i> 1945 film by Charles David

Lady on a Train is a 1945 American light-hearted comedy crime film directed by Charles David and starring Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, and David Bruce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Bruce (actor)</span> American actor (1914–1976)

David Bruce was an American film actor. He was a company member of Peninsula Players Theatre in Fish Creek, Wisconsin in 1939.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Jean</span> American teen actress and singer (1926–2018)

Gloria Jean was an American actress and singer who starred or co-starred in 26 feature films from 1939 to 1959, and made numerous radio, television, stage, and nightclub appearances. She may be best remembered for her appearance with W. C. Fields in the film Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941).

One Night in the Tropics is a 1940 comedy film which was the film debut of Abbott and Costello. They are listed as supporting actors but have major exposure with five of their classic routines, including an abbreviated version of "Who's on First?" Their work earned them a two-picture deal with Universal, and their next film, Buck Privates, made them bona fide stars. Songs in the film were by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Paige</span> American actor, newscaster (1911–1987)

Robert Paige was an actor and a TV newscaster and political correspondent and Universal Pictures leading man who made 65 films in his lifetime.

<i>Mad About Music</i> 1938 film by Norman Taurog, Bruce Manning, Joe Pasternak

Mad About Music is a 1938 American musical film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Deanna Durbin, Herbert Marshall, and Gail Patrick. Based on a story by Marcella Burke and Frederick Kohner, the film is about a girl at an exclusive boarding school who invents an exciting father. When her schoolmates doubt his existence, she has to produce him. Mad About Music received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Original Story.

<i>It Started with Eve</i> 1941 film by Norman Krasna, Henry Koster, Joe Pasternak

It Started with Eve is a 1941 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, and Charles Laughton. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Music Score. The film is considered by some critics to be Durbin's best film, and the last in which she worked with the producer and director who groomed her for stardom. It Started with Eve was remade in 1964 as I'd Rather Be Rich.

<i>First Love</i> (1939 film) 1939 American musical film by Henry Koster

First Love is a 1939 American musical film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin. Based on the fairy tale Cinderella, the film is about an orphan who is sent to live with her wealthy aunt and uncle after graduating from boarding school. Her life is made difficult by her snobby cousin who arranges that she stay home while the rest of the family attends a major social ball. With the help of her uncle, she makes it to the ball, where she meets and falls in love with her cousin's boyfriend. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Music.

<i>Nice Girl?</i> 1941 film

Nice Girl? is a 1941 American musical film directed by William A. Seiter, and starring Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Walter Brennan, Robert Stack, and Robert Benchley. Based on the play Nice Girl? by Phyllis Duganne, the film is about a young girl who finds herself attracted to one of her father's business partners who comes to town to give her father a scholarship for his dietary studies.

<i>Spring Parade</i> 1940 film by Henry Koster, Felix Jackson

Spring Parade is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin. It is a remake of the 1934 film.

<i>Between Us Girls</i> 1942 film

Between Us Girls is a 1942 American drama film directed by Henry Koster and starring Diana Barrymore, Kay Francis, Robert Cummings, John Boles, Andy Devine, and Scotty Beckett.

<i>The Amazing Mrs. Holliday</i> 1943 film by Jean Renoir, Bruce Manning

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday is a 1943 American comedy drama film produced and directed by Bruce Manning and starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, and Barry Fitzgerald.

<i>Something in the Wind</i> 1947 film by Irving Pichel

Something in the Wind is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by Irving Pichel and starring Deanna Durbin, Donald O'Connor, and John Dall.

Felix Jackson was a German-born American screenwriter and film and television producer.

<i>Hers to Hold</i> 1943 film by Frank Ryan

Hers to Hold is a 1943 American romantic musical comedy film and is the third film in Three Smart Girls trilogy. In Hers to Hold, Deanna Durbin reprises her role as Penny Craig, who is the only sister remaining at home.

References

  1. 1 2 "U's 1944–45 Production Budget". Variety. July 12, 1944. p. 21.
  2. 1 2 Crowther, Bosley (December 26, 1944). "THE SCREEN; 'Can't Help Singing,' in Which Deanna Durbin Goes West to Find Her Man and Music, Is New Feature at the Criterion". The New York Times . New York City . Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  3. ↑ Speed, Maurice F. Film Review 1945. MacDonald, 1945.
  4. ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (January 16, 1944). "Deanna Durbin Grows Up; She'll Wed Killer in Next: Youthful Star Begins Adapting Herself to Role Durbin Joins Adult Ranks". Los Angeles Times. p. C1.
  5. ↑ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: International Picture Corp. to Star Gypsy Rose Lee in 'The Belle of the Yukon' RUSSIAN FILM HERE TODAY 'The City That Stopped Hitler' Opens at Victoria Under Theatre's New Policy". THE NEW YORK TIMES. September 4, 1943. p. 14.
  6. ↑ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. October 22, 1943. p. 21.
  7. ↑ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. December 14, 1943. p. 31.
  8. ↑ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. March 21, 1944. p. 16.
  9. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (March 23, 1944). "Borrowing Spree Fills 'Hunter Girl' Roster: Universal Selects Robert Paige, David Bruce as Leads for Deanna Durbin". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
  10. ↑ D'Arc, James V. (2010). When Hollywood came to town: A history of moviemaking in Utah (1st ed.). Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN   9781423605874.
  11. ↑ "Filming locations for Can't Help Singing". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (January 6, 1945). "Deanna Durbin Delights in Musical Trek". Los Angeles Times. p. 5.
  13. ↑ Can't Help Singing. Universal Studios Home Entertainment (VHS). Universal City, California: Universal Pictures. January 25, 1997. ASIN   6304296991 . Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  14. ↑ Can't Help Singing. Universal Studios Home Entertainment (DVD). Universal City, California: Universal Pictures. September 6, 2016. ASIN   B01LTHMWQ2 . Retrieved August 26, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.