It Started with a Voice

There has never been an actor whom I liked well enough to make me want to see every one of his or her movies, simply because that actor was in it.

Except one.

It may surprise you who the actor (actress) is, primarily because most people don’t even know who she is, since, even though she’s still alive, her last move was released in 1948.

Her name is Deanna Durbin.

In 1935 Deanna auditioned for Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM at the time, with another young teenager named Judy Garland, when she was 14. It’s said that Louis told his staff to get rid of the “fat one.” He was referring to Judy; his staff thought he meant Deanna. So, Judy went on to fame at MGM. Deanna went to an ailing Universal Studios where her movies became so popular that she saved the film studio from bankruptcy.

She made her first full-length movie in 1936, but even at that young age, Deanna had a voice that was so clear and wonderful, and a personality that could fill the screen, that no one could deny her talent. You could call her the 1930’s version of Jackie Evancho (other than the acting part), but Deanna’s voice was more beautiful and unique. And who could resist that face!

I can’t really say why I enjoy her movies so much. The plots of some of her films are very silly, as many old movies are, but Deanna is just so likable. You cheer for her to achieve her dreams. And boy, can that woman cry. I believe that when the director said, “I’d like you to cry now,” she did it just as soon as he said, “action,” right on cue. And then there's her voice - well, you just have to hear it to believe it.

For your own introduction to the greatness of what is Deanna Durbin, I would suggest you start with It Started with Eve. It’s a comedy about a man whose dying father’s wish is to meet his son’s fiancée. His fiancée isn’t available, and the man thinks that his father only has a few hours left to live, so he asks a hat-check girl (Deanna) to pose as his fiancée. When his father recovers - that’s when the fun starts. It Started with Eve has a great cast with Robert Cummings playing the faux boyfriend, and Charles Laughton at his best as the ailing father.

It is considered to be a musical, but the musical numbers (which include “The Lord’s Prayer, and “When I Sing” from Tchaikovsky’s ballet Sleeping Beauty) fit naturally into the plot, and no one simply breaks into song for no reason (although, I do have to say that I love musicals, and don’t mind people just breaking into song). And remember what I said about crying. When Deanna sings “Goin’ Home” and you see those tears, you just want to break down yourself.


After you’ve seen It Started with Eve and kick yourself when you realize what you’ve been missing for so long, I would suggest you next pick up His Butler’s Sister, and then the one that started it all, Three Smart Girls. Just enjoy the movies for what they are good, plain fun with a charming leading lady and incredible music.