User reviews

In a recognition of the fact that she was no longer a young soprano, Jeanette MacDonald in her final two films played a mom. And as the title Three Daring Daughters suggests she's the mom of three girls, one of whom is Jane Powell, a soprano of some note.

Jeanette is a working mom, an editor of a magazine, who apparently doubles as a concert singer. She's been told, doctor Harry Davenport's orders to go on a much needed vacation. She takes a cruise and marries world famous concert pianist Jose Iturbi who is playing himself. Now to break it to the children.

This is where the story goes astray. Her former husband who is never seen in the film is a foreign correspondent and we're told that Jeanette has told the children some great big fibs about what a wonderful man he was. Of course if he was so wonderful why were they divorced? The kids assume the reason for her listlessness before the vacation was that she was pining for dad. It's like the writers of Three Daring Daughters could not come up with a rationale that would satisfy the Code.

Yet the film is good fun, it's nice seeing Jeanette and Jane trading high notes as it were. It's as if Jeanette was passing the soprano torch on to another generation, not just to Jane Powell, but to Ann Blyth and Kathryn Grayson for future MGM musicals.

Jose Iturbi could not have done a better job just being Jose Iturbi. I remember meeting him as a kid years ago and getting an autograph from him. Even then I thought he was a class act. Of course he never took as a leading man at MGM, but I think Mr. Iturbi was a musician first and foremost. And he certainly was a sight better leading man than Liberace.

If you can get over the tiptoeing of writer's feet around the Code, you'll like Three Daring Daughters.

There's no skimping on the music or the production values in "Three Daring Daughters," a 1948 MGM film starring Jeanette MacDonald, Jane Powell, Edward Arnold, Jose Iturbi, Elinor Donohue and Ann E. Todd. MacDonald, in one of her last films, is the divorced editor of a magazine who is raising three girls. Overtired and given to fainting spells, her doctor orders her to rest. She takes a cruise, where she meets and marries the famous musician, Jose Iturbi. She has never told her daughters that their father didn't want to be a part of their lives, so in her absence, the girls hatch a scheme to get his editor (Arnold) to bring him home.

The star of this film is the glorious music. Powell and MacDonald sing beautifully, and Jose Iturbi plays piano like a dream. Powell, so young and pretty, does a nice job especially on "Je Veux Vivre" from Romeo & Juliet. MacDonald's mature voice sounds great, her middle register having really opened up with age. The movie is filmed in color, and she looks gorgeous.

Sadly MacDonald only made one more film, followed by a few television appearances, as she had a weak heart. She is lovely in this. See the film for the music, for MacDonald, Iturbi, and Powell.

Three Daring Daughters is a harmless, cute little movie. It may be a little naive and fluffy, but if you need a bit of cheering up it does definitely help.

It's about a single mum that goes away on a cruise and gets married to a musician. Her daughters don't know about her getting married and are trying to organize a reunion between their mother and their father, who is away on business (and has been absent for some time).

Jane Powell definitely shines in this role. This is the movie in which I 'discovered' her, if you like. It's a great film with some great numbers in it.

Another reviewer said it gives you a naive look at second marriage, single parenting and everything. But would I want a realistic view? No. Because that would defeat a sole purpose of going to the movies - to get away from reality. And that's why I like this film.

There are four writers credited for the script of this Technicolored concoction and somehow its froth still manages to fizz in a quite entertaining way. That's thanks in large part to an attractive cast and the delightful surprise of José Iturbi's charm as a very convincing actor. Plus, it almost goes without saying, some eminently listenable singing from Jeanette MacDonald and her young up-and-coming counterpart, Miss Jane Powell.

• Mini-Spoilers May Ensue -

Of course the manipulations of the rather simple plot are spun out almost to the point of frustration as a mother keeps her daughters in the dark about why their father and she divorced, the daughters plot to bring their father back from a distant work assignment, their mother meets and marries a charming man whom she truly loves, the daughters resist his introduction into their happy home, etc., etc., etc. Aaarrgh! It could have been utterly annoying, but Jeanette MacDonald, looking lovely, and Señor Iturbi, understandably falling head over heels for her, make for two adults who deserve their final happy song (with the three little vixens joining in) at one of the pianos that seem to be in every room of this film's many luxuriously appointed sets.

A few things of note: Someone (the set decorators, the hairdressers, the color consultants, the cinematographer, whomever) had a liking for the color orange and its many gradations from pale peach to burnished bronze. There's some note of it somewhere in virtually every shot of every scene in this film!

Young Miss Ann E. Todd (not to be confused with the English actress, Ann Todd) seems to have been forced to play almost every one of her scenes with a rather unbecoming scowl on her pretty, brown-eyed face. Its not out of character for the part she's playing, but it does seem a bit excessive.

And, wouldn't you know it? (I did without even checking the IMDb Trivia on this title.) The Roman Catholic Legion of Decency found this film "Objectionable In Part For All" because it appears to "condone" divorce, an absolute no-no as far as that censorious body was concerned when it held such influential sway.

But don't be deterred. Next time Turner Classic Movies unearths this bon-bon from their vaults, give it a whirl. It's fun to see how the better half lived and loved in simpler times, and when a major studio could make going to Cuba and back (without ever leaving Culver City, California - The story happens to involve a vacation cruise on a ship with the most impossibly large public rooms and private suites, enough to make a Greek tycoon's yacht look like a rowboat!) a visual treat every mile of the way.

Silly but enjoyable musical comedy with Jeanette McDonald playing a character very much like herself, and Jose iturbi playing her love interest, a character even more like himself -- himself! Jane Powell and her two sisters are both multi-talented and precocious, and Edward Arnold heads a fine veteran supporting cast. Certainly not a great movie, but a pleasing one.

The style of "Three Daring Daughters" is very unusual. For much of the film, it's like two separate films occurring at the same time....and one of them probably wasn't absolutely necessary.

When the story begins, Louise (Jeanette MacDonald) is attending the graduation of one of her three daughters. However, she soon collapses...overwhelmed with fatigue by trying to be the perfect mother. Her doctor suggests she take a cruise...alone. Since the daughters are all older (approximately 12-18), she can leave them and embark on her journey. During the trip, Louise meets José Iturbi and the world famous pianist and conductor is smitten with her. After a whirlwind romance, the divorcee marries Iturbi.

All this seems just great...except that during Louise's absence, the daughters get the insane notion that their mother is sad because her ex-husband is no longer in her life. So, they conspire to bring dad home...not realizing he's apparently a louse. What's gonna happen when mom and her new husband returns??

The plot involving the daughters and their father is generally unnecessary. I much preferred watching Irubi and MacDonald and their relationship. It was nice seeing two middle aged and 'normal looking' folks fall in love...and Iturbi was surprisingly good (and quite urbane) playing a version of himself. I say 'version' because in real life, of course, MacDonald was married to Gene Raymond and it's all rather fanciful....but nice. In addition, how these older kids reacted once they meet Irubi...well, they just seemed like obnoxious jerks and their parts were not written well.

This is a movie I loved and hated. I loved the relationship, felt the daughters were not necessarily needed in the film and were underwritten AND I hated some of the singing. I know that MacDonald and Jane Powell were very popular back in the day...but their high-pitched singing frankly was painful to hear in most of the songs. I like opera and liked Iturbe's music...but I did NOT like their singing in the least. Painful is probably a NICE way to refer to the singing....I actually could be FAR more descriptive but won't!

Overall, a very mixed bag...a film that overall is watchable but nothing more. And, if they'd just stuck to the romance and avoided the rest, it would have been a great film.

Louise Rayton Morgan (Jeanette MacDonald) is a single mom to three girls and a hard-working career gal. She has raised three vociferous singing daughters; Tess Morgan (Jane Powell), Alix Morgan, and Ilka Morgan. They are a singing family. Their doctor insists that Louise take a break from her work and family obligations. She goes off on a cruise and meets famous pianist José Iturbi. Meanwhile, her daughters search for their absent birth father. In reality, she had lied about him to her girls.

Splitting up the family makes the movie drag a bit. The story is really about the girls looking their father and struggling to accept the new man in their lives. I would get to that part sooner. The cruise and the romancing and the concert are not that necessary. Some people may like the music or the adult romance. I just find that it slows the movie down. There isn't much drama in their romance. The drama comes from the daughters' reaction to the romance. This film is fine.

It makes you wonder why Jane Powell did not pursue a career in opera. As as Jeannette MacDonald was, Jane Powell outshines her in this movie. Jose Iturbi is a superb pianist and conductor and shows good acting talent. Edward Arnold is a classic, excellent actor. Any movie that he is in is good. It was interesting to see the "Father Knows Best" girl, Eleanor Donohue in such an early role for her.

Jeannette macdonald but no nelson eddy? He must have been busy that week! Lots of other big names though. Jane powell, eddie arnold, josé iturbi. Very high-pitched singing. I guess that explains why macdonald only made one more film after this....even the movie going public was getting sick of the operatic stuff. In the story, the three daughters interfere in mom's love life. They want to find their dad and bring him back home, but mom has other plans; while she's off on a lovely cruise to relax, she meets a man, and makes plans of her own. Iturbi even features as part of the story line, which he didn't usually do. Keep an eye out for his actual sister amparo, in a bit part. It's a long film. But pretty good, if you mute or fast forward now and then. Filmed at an interesting time. It's late enough to be filmed in spherical technicolor, and has a pretty modern discussion of divorce, which angered the legion of decency! But macdonald, arnold and harry davenport (plays Doc)had made so many old black and white films, it's kind of unusual to see them in a color film. Macdonald and davenport only worked a couple years after this before retiring. There's a funny moment where the housekeeper has broken the girls' secret code, and answers in their own code. And a very impressive harmonica solo by larry adler; while it was probably pre-recorded, it's probably the most impressive harmonica playing i have ever seen. That's probably the highlight of the film. Directed by fred wilcox. His forbidden planet was nominated for best special effects. And directed the 1949 version of the secret garden. Didn't direct many things, probably because he died young at 56.

This is a by-the-numbers MGM musical, starring Jeanette MacDonald. She was nearing the end of her tenure as a major star. She plays a divorced mother who, after suffering a nervous breakdown, takes a ship to Cuba. On this ship, she meets and falls in love with...Jose Iturbi, playing himself. Why? Why doesn't his character have a name? Jose Iturbi was most emphatically married, with children to boot! Plus, he can't act, even playing himself. MacDonald soldiers on although she must have known that this was even sillier than the worst of her Eddy/MacDonald outings. The rest of the cast does what they can with the material they're given.

There are four writers credited for the uninspired script. MacDonald sings, which is always a joy. Up and comer Jane Powell plays her oldest daughter who also sings. The main pleasure is Jeanette and her gorgeous Technicolor wardrobe. As I am a major Jeanette MacDonald fan this film was to put it mildly a disappointment.

Jeannette MacDonald saw the writing on the wall when she was cast as a mother in her second to last film. She had ruled the MGM lot from 1934 to 1944, but now it was time for her to go.

She sings and acts admirably in this silly, contrived family romantic comedy, but she is matched by the up and coming youngster, Jane Powell, who would, after this passing of the torch film, rule the MGM musical lot for another decade.

It's a silly film, based on a lie - MacDonald's character has never told her three daughters the truth about their uncaring father, and so she is responsible for their incomprehension of her re-marrying and so act accordingly in trying to bring their father back into their lives.

All act earnestly and it is shot in absolutely gorgeous Technicolor. Still, despite its warm intentions, it comes across as a bit twee. Why did the stupid screenwriters use Iturbi as himself. Hadn't he a private life? How could he be considered as married to this fictional woman? How much easier to simply give him a fictional character to play as they did Miss MacDonald? One of those MGM mistakes that can never be ironed out.

Iturbi does as well as a non-actor can, but his inability to play a physically and emotionally attractive character makes MacDonald's character choice of a new husband ho-hum for audiences.

Ann B. Todd is quite serious as the second daughter and Elinor Donaghue ( who later would be known coast to coast as the eldest daughter of the TV series, Father Knows Best) does well as the youngster.

It's not a bad film, it's just a competent one. Almost the last glimpse of MacDonald, still radiant and in top form at the end of her career.

"Three Daring Daughters" is a sickly sweet, rose-colored look at divorce, remarriage, and single-parent living. Obviously, social issues and economic difficulty have no place in the picture perfect life of a single parent mother who feels exhausted, takes a cruise, and then dates and marries a band conductor. Even when the "its just a movie" phrase excuses the script from addressing real-life problems, 'Daughters' suffers from too many incoherent high-note songs, children whose personalities are not based on real children and band leader Hose Iturbi playing himself. Isn't it bizarre that any real person would star in a film in which their supposed real self gets married?

Admittedly, this movie was released in the nineteen forties. Only a love for old style Hollywood romance and comedy could make 'Daughters' a tolerable film.

It amazes me that so many people cannot see that the past is different from our debased and decadent present. This is a lovely reminder of what was and will never be again. We will keep on remaking poor Carrie but will not and cannot remake this movie in a way that is true to its truth, that love is a wonderful thing and that music, real music is an uplifting and special experience that expands the world of the audience. I have seen the movie several times and by modern standards it is corny but it is also true that we would be much better off in a world of this music and these people with their love for each other and for music and for having a good and joyous life is a whole lot better than one in which Saw XXX has an audience. This is real magic both at the movies and in our aspirations, without the need for Harry Potter and this is what we have lost.

This is not, by any means, a great movie. In fact, if it had starred some anglo American male in the male lead, it probably would be of no interest whatsoever.

But that's not the case. It stars the Spanish pianist José Iturbí, with whom the very Caucasian Jeanette MacDonald falls in love and marries. That never once enters into the dialogue when MacDonald's three daughters object to the marriage, but it probably entered into the minds of more than one of the audience of the time.

And yet, it truly is not an issue in the movie.

Which makes this very interesting for its day.

Other than the "racial" issue, it's an OK, undistinguished flick. We get to see a lot of Iturbí playing the piano, which is fun. He was neither handsome nor a great actor, but he was a fine pianist, and he gets a series of real blockbuster numbers.

MacDonald doesn't get to sing much, and gets no romantic duets, which is a real change from her previous films.

Jane Powell is fine in her numbers, but undistinguished.

See it for the non-issue.

Divorced soprano Jeanette MacDonald (as Louise Rayton Morgan) is unable to see eldest daughter Jane Powell (as Tess) graduate, in Technicolor, from "Miss Drake's School for Girls" due to feeling old and over-worked. Recovering from an apparent faint, Ms. MacDonald arrives in time to hear Ms. Powell shatter a few glasses with her own high-pitched voice. MacDonald appears pained. Powell, along with sisters Elinor Donahue (as Alix) and Ann B. Todd (as Ilka), hears the doctor order mother MacDonald take a restful vacation. The "Three Daring Daughters" decide to bring their "no good" father back into the family, but MacDonald wants to wed pianist Jose Iturbi (as Jose Iturbi), instead...

**** Three Daring Daughters (2/12/48) Fred M. Wilcox ~ Jeanette MacDonald, Jose Iturbi, Jane Powell, Elinor Donahue

THREE DARING DAUGHTERS (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1948), directed by Fred M. Wilcox, is a family friendly musical/comedy starring Jeanette MacDonald in her first starring role in a motion picture since CAIRO (MGM, 1942) opposite Robert Young. Though most notable for her eight screen operettas opposite Nelson Eddy from 1935 to 1942, MacDonald by the time was simply a name of the past. Unlike MGM's star leading ladies as Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer, who both ended their careers in mediocre comedies by 1941-42, and unlike Joan Crawford who departed the studio by 1943 to make a triumph comeback and Academy Award winning performance for MILDRED PIERCE (Warner Brothers, 1945), MacDonald made her comeback in this Technicolor up-to-date story playing the mother of three daring daughters, the eldest played by Jane Powell, following her MGM debut success with HOLIDAY IN MEXICO (1946).

Opening at a graduation ceremony at Miss Drake''s School for Girls, Tess (Jane Powell), the graduate, sings along with classmates with piano accompaniment by her middle sister, Ilka (Ann E. Todd). Tess notices her younger sister, Alix (Mary-Eleanor Donahue) in attendance, but wonders why her mother has not arrived yet. Next scene shows their mother, Louise Rayton Morgan (Jeanette MacDonald), editor of Modern Design Publications in New York City, awaken from a faint. Her doctor, Howard Cannon (Harry Davenport) diagnoses to her publisher,. Mr. Howard (Thurston Hall) that she has suffered a nervous breakdown. After arriving late at the graduation, Louise is rushed home. The doctor informs her daughters that their mother is in need of rest and relaxation, prescribing an ocean cruise, but without them. Wanting their mother to get well, they agree to the separation. Being left under the care of their housekeeper, Jonesy (Kathryn Card), Louise sets sail on the S.S. Cubana bound for Cuba. She soon makes the acquaintance of Mrs. Smith (Monya MacGill). Spotting concert pianist Jose Iturbi (Jose Iturbi) also on board, she invites him over. Their meeting finds Jose taking an interest more on Mrs. Morgan. Discovering she's divorced, he not only becomes her escort, but becomes her husband. Keeping her marriage a secret from her daughters, Louise is shocked to learn that, hoping that she and their father, Edward Morgan, would get together again, have arranged for him to come home, compliments of his employer, Robert Nelson (Edward Arnold), a millionaire business tycoon. What the girls don't know is that their father abandoned them years ago, and Louise finds herself torn between two husbands, a concert pianist and a foreign correspondent, whose paths might meet and stir up confusion for the children. The supporting players include: Tom Helmore (Michael Pemberton), Charles Coleman (The Butler), Dick Simmons (Mr. Hollow), and Virginia Brissac (Miss Drake). Harmonica player, Larry Adler, and pianist, Amparo Iturbi appear as themselves performing during Iturbi's concert performances.

The motion picture soundtrack is as follows: "Alma Mater," "Fleurette" (by Victor Herbert); "The Turkish March" (by Wolfgang Mozart); "The Dicky Bird Song" (by Sammy Fain and Howard Dietz); "Passepied," "Liebestraum" (by Franz Liszt); "Where There's Love," "Ohne Mich Ohue Michjear Tag Dir Zu Lang," "Ritual Fire Dance," "You Made Me Love You" (by James Monaco and Joe McCarthy); "Happy Birthday," "Je Veux Vivre Daus Gedeve" by Georges Enesco; "Feliz Cupliano" (Happy Birthday in Spanish); "Roumanian Rhapsody # 1," "Hungarian Rhapsody" "Sweethearts" (sung by Jeanette MacDonald); "Allegro Appasionajo" (by Camille St. Saga); "Route 66" by Bob Troup; "Spring Time" Tchiakovsky's Fourth Symphony No. 4", "Movement CDA" and "The Dickie Bird Song."

The plot to THREE DARING DAUGHTERS seems reminiscent to those Deanna Durbin musicals for Universal in the late 1930s, especially her debut lead in THREE SMART GIRLS (1936). Compliments of Joe Pasternak, who also produced those Durbin entries, would find similarities, though this not a remake but only a rehash with different elements involved. While Jeanette MacDonald's presence gives this production a nostalgic feel to those who remember her fondly a decade ago, Jane Powell's youthful presence provides for the younger viewers of the day. With MacDonald and Powell both accomplished sopranos, watching them duet together is a delight, especially their solo number of "Spring Time" with Powell's tender hold over MacDonald's shoulder showing her great admiration to this living legend. Ann E. Todd and Mary Eleanor Donahue are splendid as the younger daughters/sisters. It's a total surprise to find the adorable looking Donahue is the same television actress, Elinor Donahue, of television's "Father Knows Best" (1954-1960), the first season of "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960-1961), and other television roles. As much as this being a 1948 release, the telegrams dated 1946, along with movie marque of COURAGE OF LASSIE and NO LEAVE, NO LOVE, both 1946 releases, indicate THREE DARING DAUGHTERS was obviously produced that very same year.

Though THREE DARING DAUGHTERS tends to go on a bit too long at 114 minutes, with repeated elements of having Edward Morgan stay away or return home grows tiresome, it's a wonder why Jose Iturbi, who plays himself, didn't assume a character name like Jose E. Turbi, for example, so not to have movie audiences believe that the real Jose Iturbi married Jeanette MacDonald. For Iturbi's next film,. THAT MIDNIGHT KISS (1949), he acted under his own name, but no indication of having a wife and three daring daughters carried on from this film. Jeanette MacDonald has come a long way since her movie debut in THE LOVE PARADE (Paramount, 1929). With her two comeback performances, THE SUN COMES UP (1948) being her next and last, THREE DARING DAUGHTERS is the obviously the better of the two.

Formerly available on video cassette, and later DVD, THREE DARING DAUGHTERS can be seen and enjoyed whenever broadcast on cable television's Turner Classic Movies. (***1/2).