Can't Help Singing

1944

Technical Information:

Studio:  Universal
Running Time:  1 hour, 30 minutes
Technicolor
Video Availability:  Available on MCA/Universal home video.

Cast:

Deanna Durbin...Caroline Frost
Robert Paige...Johnny Lawlor
Akim Tamiroff...Prince Gregory Stroganovsky
David Bruce...Lt. Robert Latham
Leonid Kinskey...Koppa
June Vincent...Miss McLean
Ray Collins...Senator Martin Frost
Andrew Tombes...Sad Sam
Thomas Gomez...Jake Carstairs
Clara Blandick...Aunt Cissy
Olin Howlin...Bigelow
George Cleveland...Marshal

Credits:

Associate Producer...Frank Shaw
Screenplay by...Lewis R. Foster, Frank Ryan
Story by...John Klorer, Leo Townsend
Based on "Girl of the Overland Trail" by...Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky
Directors of Photography...Woody Bredell, A.S.C., W. Howard Greene, A.S.C.
Technicolor Color Director...Natalie Kalmus
Associate...William Fritzsche
Costumes...Walter Plunkett
Art Direction...John B. Goodman, Robert Clatworthy
Set Decorations...Russell A. Gausman, Edward R. Robinson
Make-Up Director...Jack Pierce
Assistant Director...William Holland
Film Editor...Ted. J. Kent
Musical Score and Direction...H.J. Salter
Musical Director for Miss Durbin...Edgar Fairchild
Orchestrations by...Frank Skinner
Vocal Coach...Andre de Segurola
Director of Sound...Bernard B. Brown
Technician...Joe Lapis
Produced by...Felix Jackson
Directed by...Frank Ryan



    It's 1849 and gold has been struck in California.  The first shipment of gold is sent to Washington, D.C. where the President receives it.  At the celebration, Senator Martin Frost (Ray Collins) squirms.  Lt. Robert Latham (David Bruce), of the 4th Cavalry is present and Frost strongly dislikes him.  He is an opportunist who is "in love" with the Senator's daughter, Caroline Frost (Deanna Durbin).  In order to avoid Caroline from seeing Latham, Frost has sent her out to the country.  His plan is spoiled however, when she rides into Washington and meets with Latham.
    Latham asks Caroline to meet him the next night at the officer's barracks, even though she has to sing at the White House.  Frost then tells his daughter his opinion of Latham, which makes her cross.  The next night, she feigns illness so that she won't have to go to the White House and can meet Latham instead.  Her father finds out she is playing hooky and tells her that he arranged for Latham to be shipped out to Fort Bridger, far out west.  Caroline stages some hysterics and manages to swindle $500 from her father.  She then packs her clothes in a trunk, and runs away to meet her lover out west.
    Her disappearance makes the headlines, and her father offers a $5,000 reward for her return as he sets out after her.  Caroline has reached Independence, Missouri and she enlists two men, Prince Gregory Stroganovsky (Akim Tamiroff) and Koppa (Leonid Kinskey) to help her with her trunk.  They are actually con men and attempt to steal it, believing it is full of gold though their plan is foiled by the marshal (George Cleveland).
    Caroline plans on taking a stagecoach out west, until she finds out that there isn't one.  She then decides to join a wagon train and finds a wagon for sale.  A con artist poses as the man selling the wagon and manages to steal her $500.  When she finds out what happened, she goes to tell the marshal only to overhear him talking about the "Senator's missing daughter."  Not wanting to give herself away, she walks by a saloon, where she finds the man who conned her playing cards with a man named Johnny Lawlor (Robert Paige).
    Lawlor, a card shark, wins $500 from the con artist.  Caroline attempts to take her $500 back which upsets Lawlor.  When it is announced that the marshal is heading to the saloon, everyone runs, not wanting to get caught.  Lawlor then tells Caroline that he should turn her in, since he's been waiting for some money to claim a stake out west.  She informs him that he can't turn her in, since he is a card shark, and will be arrested.  He realizes this is true and so the two strike a deal.  Caroline leads him to believe that Jake Carstair (Thomas Gomez), the richest man in the West, is her husband and says that he'll give Lawlor $10,000 to take her to him.  He wants the money, and so the two head out west in a wagon, with Stroganovsky and Koppa stowed away in the back!
    They set out early and soon catch up with the wagon train.  When it is found out that Lawlor and Caroline aren't married, she pretends to be married to Stroganovsky, since unattached women aren't allowed in the train.  Lawlor and Caroline bicker along the way since they don't really like each other.  He manages to save her however, when the marshal comes around looking for the Senator's daughter.  She is grateful to him.
    Meanwhile, Senator Frost is close on his daughter's trail.  Caroline and Lawlor soon realize that they are in love and decide to go separate ways.  They promise to meet again in California, where Lawlor can get his money from Carstairs.  Caroline travels with a couple heading on to Fort Bridger, though she is reluctant to leave Lawlor.
    Caroline finally reaches Fort Bridger, and finds that Latham has been shipped elsewhere.  She decides to go back East until she spots Lawlor riding into town on his horse.  He decided that he wasn't going to let Caroline get away and followd her.  They decide to start a new life in California.
    The couple travel on to Sonora, California when Jake Carstair arrives.  Lawlor urges her to tell Carstair about him and she finds she is in a fix.  She approaches Carstair and he plays along with her game, only to have it spoiled by his wife!  Upset that she lied, Lawlor leaves Caroline though eventually forgives her.  Soon, Latham arrives which upsets Lawlor again.  Then, to complicate matters further, Senator Frost arrives and sides with Lawlor, since he dislikes Latham and does not want Caroline with him.  Lawlor, angry, punches Latham in the face and forgives Caroline.  They are together for good, and live happily ever after.


Songs:

[Songs performed by Deanna Durbin in boldface]
"Can't Help Singing" (Kern, Harburg)
"Elbow Room" (Kern, Harburg)
"Any Moment Now" (Kern, Harburg)
"Swing Your Sweetheart" (Kern, Harburg)
"More and More" (Kern, Harburg)
"Cal-i-for-ni-ay" (Kern, Harburg)

Academy Awards and Nominations:

Best Music, Song - "More and More" (Jerome Kern, E.Y. Harbug - nominees)
Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (Jerome Kern, H.J. Salter - nominees)

Reviews:

"...a riot of colorful and romantic scenes."
    - The Hollywood Reporter

"...light and gay musical romance..."
    - Daily Variety

My Review:

    This is definitely my favorite Deanna Durbin film, and one of my all-time favorite movies in general.  With beautiful color photography, breathtaking outdoor scenery, wonderful music, gorgeous costumes and a delightful script, this is a must for any fan of Deanna or musicals!

Notes:

This was Deanna's only film made in color.

Parts of this film were shot on location in southern Utah.



Picture credits:
1.  Video cover scanned by webmaster.
2.  Movie still scanned by webmaster.
3. Movie still scanned by webmaster.


Can't Help Singing Continued...

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