Three Smart Girls *** (1936, Deanna Durbin, Barbara Read, Nan Grey, Binnie Barnes, Charles Winninger, Alice Brady, Ray Milland) – Classic Movie Review 10,702

Three sisters try to reunite their estranged parents (Charles Winninger and Nella Walker) when their father wants to wed a trampy money-grabber in Universal’s thin but popular 1936 black and white drama Three Smart Girls, with comedy, romance and music, elevated by Deanna Durbin’s shining performance as ‘Penny’ in her feature début at age 14, billed as Universal’s New Discovery. She trills a couple of hits: ‘My Heart Is Singing’ (Gus Kahn lyrics, Bronislau Kaper and Walter Jurmann music) and ‘Someone to Care for Me’ (Gus Kahn lyrics, Bronislau Kaper and Walter Jurmann music).

Nan Grey and Barbara Read are fine as the other sisters, Joan and Kay; while Winninger and Walker are showstoppers as the parents, and there is an exceptional support cast: Binnie Barnes, Ray Milland, Mischa Auer, Alice Brady, Ernest Cossart, Hobart Cavanaugh, John King, Lucile Watson, Dennis O’Keefe, Gladden James, Wade Botelier, John Hamilton, Lane Chandler, Charles Coleman, Franklin Pangborn, Albert Conti, and Selmer Jackson.

The original story and screenplay are by Adele Comandini.

It was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Original Story and Best Sound, Recording.

In 1948 producer Joe Pasternak rejigged the film for Jane Powell as Three Daring Daughters.

Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey, Charles Winninger and Nella Walker return for Henry Koster’s 1939 sequel Three Smart Girls Grow Up

The producer and director Henry Koster (Kosterlitz) were imported from Universal’s German (closed) studios.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,702

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