Deanna Durbin
Born Edna Mae Durbin on
Dec. 4, 1921
in Winnipeg, Canada
Deanna Durbin is the singing film star who with assurance and poise captured motion picture audiences in the 1930s and '40s. Durbin was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1921. Her parents, who had emigrated from England, soon moved to Los Angeles with their two daughters, 10-year-old Edith and 1-year-old Deanna. Durbin's voice first attracted attention when she sang at a school recital attended by studio agent Jack Sherrill. Sherrill was looking for a girl to play the role of a young Madame Schumann-Heink, the well-known opera singer. The studio signed her to an optional contract but, within two months Schumann-Heink was dead and Durbin's contract was not renewed. Sherrill, undaunted, took her next to Universal Pictures. It was her unusual singing voice and acting ability that registered a phenomenal hit with her initial film, “Three Smart Girls.” The film starred Charles Winninger as Judson Craig, Durbin’s father. Her next film, “One Hundred Men and a Girl,” with conductor Leopold Stokowski and Adolphe Menjou was even more successful. In 1938, Durbin, who had had top billing ever since her first film, was paid $129,675 by Universal Pictures. Durbin’s 1943 film “Hers to Hold,” was a smash hit with publicists, critics and the public — they loved her in the delightful romantic comedy that starred Joseph Cotton and Charles Winninger. “The present is so much richer and fuller in its possibilities, in the variety of things that it offers in my work. In my next picture, 'Christmas Holiday' from the Somerset Maugham original, I will make my dramatic debut, and a film of the western type will follow that with a great deal of music written by American composers,” she told The Times. In 1949 Durbin ended her 13-year movie career to marry French film director Charles David, her third husband, and retire to Neauphle-le-Chateau, France. "I was never happy making pictures," she said. "They never allowed me to grow up as a normal child."
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Academy Awards
| Year | Category | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Special Award | Win |
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Four thoughts about Deanna Durbin
I never knew who Deanna Durbin was, until I saw some of her songs on utube, and the short with Judy Garland. I was fascinated by someone who was so famous in her day and so young and talented, and yet I had never heard of her. I remember seeing the Wizard of Oz on tv every year but never any Deanna Durbin movies or anything at all about her. I'm still fascinated and will read anything I can find about her.
I saw most of her films and she was on her way to super stardom but gave it all up at the height of it all.......She deserves her star and more. I'll always remember her singing " Begin the Beguine ".
My love of Deanna stemmed from my childhood when my father played a record of hers over and over. In my teenage years Daddy and I would watch her films. Daddy sang (as a tenor) in the local clubs and I followed his footsteps (as a top soprano). The locals referred to me as "The Little Deanna Durbin". I felt so proud. I just wish I could meet the wonderful lady who has inspired me all my life.
Grew up watching her movies in the 60's. Lots of fun and I still watch them today. Have all that were available on VHS(which was all but 3 I think) The others I got via the EBAY or Amazon on DVD. Glad Universal finally put out the next installment. Have some of her cd's too. All seem to be British for some reason. Anyone have any photo's of her after she left hollywood? Too bad she never returned to Canada
Nina Toronto Canada
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