Three Smart Girls Grow Up

Director: Henry Koster Henry Koster

Overview

In this sequel to 1936's Three Smart Girls, Deanna Durbin is back as the most precocious of a sister trio: the other girls are Nan Grey and Helen Parrish (replacing the first film's Barbara Read. Three Smart Girls dealt with the girls' efforts to reunite their parents. In the sequel, Durbin pokes her turned-up nose into the affairs of her older sisters, hoping to find suitable husbands for them. The musical highlight is Durbin's rendition of the old wedding-day standard "Because," which resulted in a bestselling record. In 1939, Deanna Durbin could have appeared in a film version of a seed catalogue and still make scads of money for Universal Studios.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2014
UPC:	0025192052361
Original Release:	1939
Source:	Universal Mod
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	45,599

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Deanna Durbin	Penny Craig
Nan Grey	Joan Craig
Helen Parrish	Kay Craig
Robert Cummings	Harry Loren
Charles Winninger	Judson Craig
William Lundigan	Richard Watkins
Ernest Cossart	Binns
Nella Walker	Mrs. Dorothy Craig
Felix Bressart	Penny's Music Teacher
Grady Sutton	Actor

Technical Credits

Bruce Manning

Felix Jackson

Henry Koster	Director
Joe Pasternak	Producer
Bruce Manning	Screenwriter
Felix Jackson	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Although it's not quite as engaging as its predecessor, Three Smart Girls Grow Up is nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable little bit of musical fluff. Those immune to Deanna Durbin's charms will find it too lightweight, and it's true that there's not a great deal of weight to the proceedings. But there's so much good will generated by Durbin, and the screenplay is put together with such professionalism and directed with such generosity that it's hard not to give in to it. Despite the title, Durbin is really the picture; Nan Grey and Helen Parrish are certainly good company and have their share of moments, but the film exists to exhibit the perky, innocent appeal of Universal's favorite soprano. Director Henry Koster does that, knowing just how to frame the singing actress so that her talents are shown off to their finest advantage. There's also some very fine work from Charles Winninger, who has a great chemistry with the star, as well as from the dependable Robert Cummings. The costumes are lovely, the photography flattering, and Durbin gets to sing one of the numbers that became most identified with her ("Because") -- all adding up to a bubbling, if inconsequential, good time.