Hers to Hold
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Hers to Hold |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1943 |
| length | 90 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Frank Ryan |
| script | Lewis R. Foster |
| production |
Felix Jackson for Universal Pictures |
| music | Charles Previn |
| camera | Woody Bredell |
| cut | Ted Kent |
| occupation | |
| |
Hers to Hold is an American comedy from 1943 in which Deanna Durbin plays Penny Craig for the third and last time after Three Smart Girls from 1936 and Three Smart Girls Grow Up from 1939 . Directed by Frank Ryan .
action
Bomber pilot Bill Morley falls in love with the attractive Penelope Craig when he meets her while donating blood. He pretends to be a doctor, but his little lie is immediately exposed. Nevertheless, Penny feels more than just disgust for the charming Bill. After a number of entanglements, the romance takes its course and both marry. Penny is now working as a volunteer helper in the defense industry to contribute to the country's victory in the war. To prevent Bill from being drafted, she tries to persuade her father to save Bill from such a fate. Only when the latter seriously speaks to her conscience and convinces her that everyone has to make their contribution in these difficult times, Penny gives up her resistance. She says goodbye to her husband with a kiss.
background
Deanna Durbin was the only top star at Universal Studios until Bud Abbott and Lou Costello left . Since her debut in Three Sweet Girls in 1936 , Durbin has been committed to the cute girl next door type, who is able to solve even the most intricate problem with wit and song. However, the actress was increasingly dissatisfied with the same roles and asked for dramatic subjects with serious themes. The dispute finally escalated in 1942 when Durbin went on strike for nearly eight months to enforce their demands. The first film to show Durbin as a grown woman with real challenges was Nine Children and No Father , but it turned out to be artistically a failure. The studio was now trying another film with tried-and-true themes, using Deanna Durbin for the last time as Penelope "Penny" Craig, who she first played in Three Sweet Girls . In order to make the continuity and the reference to the two previous appearances clear, the original working title of the film was also Three Smart Girls Join Up . With the engagement of Gilbert Adrian , who had worked as a freelance costume designer since 1942, the studio also ensured that Durbin appeared on screen with the greatest possible amount of chic and elegance.
The film became the studio's biggest financial success of the year.
criticism
The New York Times found the film to be pleasant entertainment that was significantly better than the previous failure Nine Children and No Dad . ("Deanna Durbin, whose debut earlier this year as a grown-up young woman in 'The Amazing Mrs. Holliday', hardly was a happy one, has fared considerably better at the hands of Universal in 'Hers to Hold'.")
Awards
At the Academy Awards in 1944 , the film received a nomination in the category