His Butler's Sister

As someone who's not a fan of opera, I actually find Deanna Durbin enjoyable having liked her previously in Can't Help Singing among a few of her other movies I can't remember by title right now and in her debut with Judy Garland in the short Every Sunday. In addition to her singing voice on many tunes like "Nessun Dorma" at the end, Ms. Durbin also displays some wonderful humorous touches that matches the veteran comic supporting cast of male butlers that follow her around. I was even enjoying the not-too-compelling-story at least until Franchot Tone-whose character was seeing another woman-seemed to be starting an affair with Deanna. Ms. Durbin isn't the only one who performs, however, since in the beginning when we first see Tone's songwriter character, a couple of women who call themselves the Sunshine Twins (one of whom is Iris Adrian who I knew as the landlady in That Darn Cat-Hayley Mills version) do a funny number called "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" in front of him. So musically and comically, His Butler's Sister was a mostly enjoyable Durbin vehicle.

"His Butler's Sister" is a frustrating story. Much of the story is very good, there is an excellent supporting cast and Deanna Durbin sings an amazingly different version of "Nessun Dorma"...but the writing is confusing and uneven. It's a shame, as the film easily could have been so much better.

Ann (Durbin) is headed to New York City to see her brother, Martin (Pat O'Brien). She is surprised when she sees him, as it's been many years* and he's NOT the successful man she thought he'd be. Instead, he's a butler for a successful song writer/producer....just the man Ann wants to meet because she has ambitions of being a professional singer. But Martin convinces her NOT to try auditioning for his boss (Franchot Tone), as MANY women try this and he is the gate keeper. But Martin's behaviors are very inconsistent...especially after Ann and his boss fall in love. At this point, the film is terribly confusing, though thankfully it soon ends on a high note.

Hearing Durbin sing "Nessun Dorma" from "Turandot" by Puccini is a treat. It's a song written for tenors and I have never heard a woman singing it...let alone a soprano. But with Durbin's powerful voice, she manages to hit all the notes and this piece alone make the film worth your time. As for the story, well, it's weak and confusing...but the actors make it pleasant regardless.





*Casting O'Brien as Durbin's brother was a poor choice. He was 22 years older than her...and he definitely looked this much older...perhaps more.

I am a lover of all old movies especially musicals, and I find this to be the absolute worst I've seen. I do enjoy Judy Garland, so that may be partially why I don't like Durbin's style. She doesn't seem to have the sparkle of any of the great musical stars such as Alice Faye or Kathryn Grayson. She is very beautiful, but I think she should have been a chorus girl, or a musical specialty. Most movies that I have seen that weren't the greatest still had the leading actress giving a good performance even under the most stupid circumstances.

Now that I've expressed my opinion of the star I can restate much of what others have commented on, the script. In this movie I didn't believe anything. I thought the way Durbin was acting towards her brother was real LOVE, not family love. It was horrible. I'll see another Deanna Durbin film and hopefully I can find something nicer to say about it.

This movie is a good example for the Old Classical Hollywood pictures! It has a lot of funny moments, nice, good-looking actors, incredible Durbin's charming voice and really nice and touching story! O.k. maybe it is not an high art movie, but people come on! These days we don't have high arts almost at all! Neither we have relaxing, touching with GOOD TASTE musicals!! Because, who's going to sing the way Durbin did??? There is nobody as gifted as the old actors! I mean, take just Astair, Garland, Crosby, Sinatra, Kelly! These days we don't have such in-every-way talented actors! They could do everything: musicals, comedies, drama. This movie is for everyone, who enjoys Classical movies!! It's worth seeing!

This is my favorite Deanna Durbin movie. She just glows in her role as Ann Carter. Her singing is gorgeous, move over Pavarotti! I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer who states it is an example of "script by committee". It's a moot point, ALL scripts were "made by committee" in the Golden Days of Hollywood, and sometimes other people's input can be invaluable to add spice to a script that would otherwise be lackluster.

There is lots of everything a lover of old time musicals would enjoy in this film: comedy bits by the "Sunshine twins" (singing "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?"), and the chemistry between "The Boys" (the other butlers of different nationalities who are all in love with Ann), beautiful music, including the original "In The Spirit Of The Moonlight" and the classics "When You're Away" (Victor Herbert), a rousing number of Russian folk songs including "Two Guitars" that Deanna sings beautifully in Russian, and an English version of "None Must Sleep" (Nessun Dorma). Music to melt you. And very nice chemistry between Deanna and Franchot.

If there hadn't been a Judy Garland, Deanna Durbin would be much better remembered today, and this film is one of her finest vehicles. Believe me, you can purchase a lot of videos of old movies based on "script by committee" that do not compare to the pleasure that this one provides.