Boring

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

After going through her most of the movies, probably this is one where Deanna was her loveliest, before this the childishness was clearly discernible (she was, so one can't blame her for it), here, she was just counting off her teen-days. On the musical note, audience of most of her movies had feasted on her voice, and this is no exception. On that count though, it might be on the upper echelon, but not the best one. Story is, simple, without much of twist. To humor his dying father, who wanted to see his future daughter-in-law, before he closes his eyes, permanently, the devoted son, unable to trace his real fiancee (who had been on pro-active mission, to get a proper mourning dress made), gets a stooge, a hat-check girl, to play the part of his fiancee for the night. Unfortunately for all, the dying father falls in love with his son's fiancee and as a result, instead of keeping the eyes shut, opens them wide in the morning, and in his full senses now, demands the fiancee to be placed on his bed-side. Thankfully, this love is paternal or may be filial. After all one could look at the daughter/ DIL to be motherly too and when close, the two generation do continuously interchange their rank. Rest of the movie is predictable, with minor twists and turns, though not much abrupt, and hence neither jars the senses, nor sours the honey, and keeps the romance moving all along (of course with the usual misunderstandings, when each of the protagonists think the other to be oblivious of the feeling). As a movie, and the enjoyment coefficient is there, it belongs to the top slice of my list. And that is despite it having at least one very controversial, and a few indicating the female protagonist to be quite - should I say thoughtless or she was just plain insensitive?The Father-In-law (would be) is ailing, probably with heart ailment, and the smoking and rich foods are out of bounds for him. But she, just the day after his near-death experience, lets him have his cigar. Number of puffs are limited, but still... Then she becomes the prime cause of his raising his blood-pressure to Everest level in the "Forgive me Johnny" and then to top it all, not only letting, but making him dance Conga. In each of them, she just missed being booked under non-culpable homicide case. The second offence is of course much more serious, at least today, in the times of the "Me-too". There has been a very clear and detailed aggressive molestation, there is no other name for what happened there (after the "Forgive me Johnny"). Probably since the sparks were already flying, though hidden, she (or the audience, including ) didn't mind it.

Some 60 years ago I first saw this Movie, and now seeing it again on TCM I must say it is a beautiful tribute to two wonderful stars in Deanna Durbin and Charles Laughton - a great idea at the time, and one which would have seemed ludicrous when first mooted. They play off each other beautifully, and it seems everyone else in it are a bit superfluous. My only complaint is Deanna never finished her version of "Going Home" which was extremely moving. The story does not really matter, but it is light and a bit of fun. If you do have time for the supporting cast, Robert Cummings is fine, Walter Catlett is good in what was probably one of his bigger roles, and everyone seems to be comfortable in their support. Old fashioned? Yes, but incomparable with anything of this genre today. A true really feel good experience.

She was a great singer; and this film proves she was an engaging, charming actress as well. She more than holds her own with the incomparable Laughton (only 41 when he made this) and is paired very well with "Uncle" Bob Cummings (so well remembered for his 50s sitcom.)And there are some great supporting players on hand: Walter Catlett, Clara Blandick, Irving Bacon, etc. This is a winning combination film, somewhat derivative of others in the past, but fresh in many ways. One reviewer mentioned the set design and one wonders what it would have been like in color. The costumes are also pretty special.Deanna only made a handful of films, but this is one of the best. A real feel good time. Enjoy!

This is an absolutely delicious film! Laughton steals the show as always, in a role similar to the one Walter Connolly played in "It Happened One Night". If you love 40's films and mistaken identity plots, you won't be disappointed. Deanna Durbin was perfectly cast and has a lovely rapport with Laughton. She is radiant when singing, and her voice is natural and beautiful. At the age of 27, she walked away from stardom to have a secluded life. We can at least be thankful for the films she made.A real gem from start to finish!