The lady above is Linda Darnell, a famous actress from yesteryear, whom Joel loves and this is for his Birthday, which was yesterday when he turned ….29?…39? Who cares! He’s a great commenter on mine and other film nuts’ blogs and I always look forward to reading what he says. I decided to join the Monday Music Moves Me, which I always do on Wednesdays because, that’s just me. This week it’s about teenage artists and 2 came to mind and, I think, Joel will like these gals.
1. LA TRAVIATA SUNG BY DEANNA DURBIN-1937
Deanna Durbin, that beautiful, operatic-singing, Canadian was born in 1921 who single-handedly saved Universal Studios from Bankruptcy. Here she is, before she turned 16, performing with the famous Conductor, Leopold Stokowski. The Met was truly interested in her but she felt she was not up to snuff yet…wow! This gal, disillusioned with her career, married, retired and settled in Paris never to talk about Hollywood again ( except for a rare interview in the early 1980s). She was happy, content and lived to be 91.
2. YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND-1937
What more can one say about Judy. We know about her tragic life and early death at the age of 47 from a drug overdose but we forget that she was part of the Gumm Sisters (her real last name) and was the break out star. When she sang this song for Clark Gable at an MGM birthday party for him, the studio was so impressed that they placed her in the film, “Broadway Melody of 1938” where she played a lovelorn teen pining for Dear Mr. Gable. This song was written in 1913 by James Monaco with lyrics by Joseph McCarthy ( not the nut job senator from the 50s) and became one of her many signature tunes. She was only 15 here.
3. SWING SUNG BY JUDY GARLAND AND DEANNA DURBIN-1936
This song comes from a short called “ Every Sunday” which was, basically, a screen test for the 2 young teens. MGM boss, Louis B. Mayer wanted to sign both up but Durbin’s contract lapsed and was swooped up by Universal. I just thought it was fun to show these 2 different musical artists together plus I love the old guy going 1,000 mph in his wheelchair…cracks me up every time.
Hope you had a great birthday Joel.
Hi, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to friend Joel! It was nice of you to mention your valued friend and follower on his special day.
I'm all in on this "teenage artists" post, because I have been promoting Deanna Durbin for years on my own two blogs. I discovered the greatness of Deanna in 2007, the year I binged on hundreds of films of the mid 20th century and earlier. Enraptured, I soon found myself on a "completest" journey, stiving to find and watch all of the films she made in her brief career. I even have "Every Sunday" in my DVD collection, because it features Denna and Judy as girls on the verge of their rise to stardom.
Speaking of Clark Gable, check your email today, because I am going to send you a beautifully restored video of Clark doing a musical number.
I'll be back for one last visit to BBC before my marathon blog break begins. Have a great day, dear friend BB, and I'll be waiting for you tamale, sitting in the balcony-- "At The Movies!"
I remember you liking the wonderful Deanna and was surprised since she did many musicals. I will check my email and I think I know the scene which comes from the film, “Idiot’s Delight.” Thank you for taking the time out right now to comment here. I know you are very busy. Glad you like my picks this week for my music.
DeleteOh Birgit what a nice surprise!!
ReplyDeleteFirst to head it up with my girl Linda Darnell and then follow up with two singers that I adore as well!
I’m not the biggest fan of opera, especially female voices (I can admire and appreciate their artistry, but they are a touch shrill for me) but I make an exception for Deanna. Her pitch was never as strident as some and when she sang more popular music she did so beautifully. I love all her work but prefer the mature Deanna over the teen Miss Fix-It. She really seemed to have her head on straight and a clear-eyed attitude of who she was and what she wanted out of life. I read that interview she gave in the 80’s (fascinating) and she said she valued her singing gift but was content to keep it to herself whereas Judy needed the audience love and attention like a drowning man needs water.
Judy of course was a goddess capable of boundless things and she lived a big life. It’s just a shame it was marred by the drug addiction forced on her in her youth. I know there are some who say, “Well after she left MGM and was an adult she was responsible for continuing and contributing with not being able to cure her addictions.” But considering that early habit training, her emotional makeup, and the pressure she faced to perform and provide I’d say the deck was stacked against her. As were the times and the lack of understanding about drugs and addiction. Do I think Metro wanted to turn their most profitable musical star into a drug addled junkie? Of course not but once it happened they placed profit over her welfare.
Okay diatribe over, love all three clips! Every Sunday is such a treasure since the girls never worked together again, though they did stay in touch off and on all of Judy’s life. Their techniques were so different, but their personalities were quite simpatico. There was a proposed musical version of Little Women at one point in the 40’s with Judy as Jo and Deanna as Meg. As fascinating as it sounds, I can’t see Universal loaning Deanna out for what is a secondary role without extensive revision and then there goes the Alcott story.
Over the years I’ve manage to see all three ladies complete filmographies (I almost wept the day I found Linda’s “Angels of Darkness” which was her last I was missing even if it was in Italian!) So, since you were so sweet to include me in the post, I’m going to indulge myself and list my five favorite films of each of these greats!
Linda Darnell:
A Letter to Three Wives
No Way Out
Hangover Square
This is My Love
It Happens in Roma
Deanna Durbin:
It Started with Eve
Lady on a Train
Christmas Holiday
His Butler’s Sister
Because of Him
Judy Garland:
A Star is Born
I Could Go on Singing
Summer Stock
Meet Me in St. Louis
Easter Parade
I must add I really love Judy’s “Ziegfeld Girl” and she performs the most beautiful version of I’m Always Chasing Rainbows in it, but the film is really Lana Turner’s showcase much more than Judy’s.
By the way, now when birthdays inevitably roll around, I refer to them as the anniversary of my 29th! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!! 😊
Yes, well, Happy Birthday and I am amazed how many films you have seen. I know you love all 3 gals and I’m so glad Linda Darnell gets some love. I have not seen many of her films and have to change that. I love Letter to 3 Wives.
DeleteDeanna had such a great voice and one that would have done well at the Met. I do like her young roles but also her older ones but I have not seen much of the older ones..I mean when she is older.
Judy…I could not have said it better myself. They didn’t know they were getting these kids addicted but they didn’t get them the proper help either when they realized the error. You are so right that she craved and needed that attention unlike Durbin.
I hope you had a great 29th birthday and that your birthday week is a fun one.
I’ve possibly mentioned before that my mum was a big Deanna Durban fan so I watched her films when I was young without really appreciating them. Looking at her now - wow! Such talent and poise in one so young (goes for both of them of course) and what a smile. I’m glad she was balanced and had a happy life, unlike poor Judy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember and she was very poised and her diction was so lady-like. Poor Judy deserved much more than what was given her.
DeleteI still remember Judy on an old Jack Paar Tonight interview. She talked about Deanna and her 'one' eyebrow. What a character with a marvelous voice.
ReplyDeleteThey were actually friends that met on that short movie and remained friends until Judy’s death. They didn’t hang out all the t8me but the6 always talked and enjoyed each others’ company.
DeleteLove your songs. Such a great playlist.
ReplyDeleteI am loving all of your movie clips. Although I have never been a big movie fan, I enjoy history and this is history from a different angle. Deanna Durbin is new to me and between Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin, I would say that performance in the last clip was spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThank you for finding clips of Deanna Durbin. I never saw or heard her before, only knew that a lot of mothers of girls my age must have liked her because i went to school with about half a dozen Deannas and Deannes. Now I can see why they liked her. Fantastic voice!
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