His Butler's Sister

His Butler's Sister
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Frank Borzage
Screenplay by	Samuel Hoffenstein Elizabeth Reinhardt
Produced by	Felix Jackson
Starring	Deanna Durbin
Cinematography	Elwood Bredell
Edited by	Ted J. Kent
Music by	Hans J. Salter
Production company	Universal Pictures
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	November 26, 1943 (1943-11-26)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.7 million (US rentals) [1] or $1,750,000 [2]

His Butler's Sister is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Deanna Durbin. ^[3] The supporting cast includes Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Akim Tamiroff, Evelyn Ankers and Hans Conried. ^[4] The film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Recording (Bernard B. Brown). ^[5]

Plot

Ann Carter visits New York City to see her half-brother Martin Murphy and to try to start a music career. Martin works as a butler for Broadway producer Charles Gerard, so Ann takes a job working for Charles as a maid.

Cast

• Deanna Durbin as Ann Carter
• Franchot Tone as Charles Gerard
• Pat O'Brien as Martin Murphy
• Akim Tamiroff as Popoff
• Alan Mowbray as Buzz Jenkins
• Walter Catlett as Mortimer Kalb
• Elsa Janssen as Severina
• Evelyn Ankers as Elizabeth Campbell
• Frank Jenks as Emmett
• Sig Arno as Moreno
• Hans Conried as Reeves
• Florence Bates as Lady Sloughberry
• Roscoe Karns as Fields
• Russell Hicks as Sanderson
• Andrew Tombes as Brophy
• Stephanie Bachelor as Dot Stanley
• Marion Pierce as Margaret Howard
• Iris Adrian as Sunshine Twin
• Robin Raymond as Sunshine Twin

Production

The film was announced in January 1943. ^[6] In April, Frank Borzage signed to direct and Pat O'Brien to star. ^[7] In May, Franchot Tone signed to play the male lead. The film was then titled My Girl Godfrey. ^[8] Durbin enjoyed working with Borzage. ^[9]

Durbin performs a medley of Russian folk songs including "Yamschtschick", "Kalitka" and "Two Guitars."

References

1. "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, January 5, 1944 p. 54
2. Kennedy, Paul P (July 30, 1944). "NOTES ON A 'FIRST LADY': Ireland's Geraldine Fitzgerald Talks of Her Role as Mrs. Wilson -- Other Items on the Ginema Scene". New York Times. p. X3.
3. Mark Deming (2009). "His Butler's Sister (1943)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 15, 2009. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
4. "His Butler's Sister". FilmAffinity . filmaffinity.com. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
5. "The 17th Academy Awards (1945) Nominees and Winners". Oscars. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
6. Schallert, Edwin (January 29, 1943). "DRAMA: Sheehan Will Produce Life of Rickenbacker". Los Angeles Times. p. 23.
7. "News of the Screen". The Christian Science Monitor. April 29, 1943. p. 16.
8. "Franchot Tone to Appear With Deanna Durbin 'My Girl Godfrey' -- New Hal Roach Comedy". THE NEW YORK TIMES. May 25, 1943. p. 19.
9. Schallert, Edwin (August 1, 1943). "DRAMA AND FILM: WHILE THE FILMS REEL BY New Deanna Durbin Brought to Screen". Los Angeles Times. p. C2.

External links

• His Butler's Sister at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• His Butler's Sister at IMDb