Something in the Wind

Few I suspect at Universal Studios thought that Something In The Wind would be one of Deanna Durbin's last films. If they thought that they might have taken more care with her material.

Teaming Deanna with Donald O'Connor another one of their juvenile mainstays was probably inevitable. Both O'Connor and Deanna are served well by the songs obviously written both in mind. Deanna's Turntable Song sold a few records back in the day and O'Connor's I Love A Mystery song and routine are well suited to his talents. But the highlight is an aria from Il Trovatore that Durbin sings with Jan Peerce of the Metropolitan Opera playing an opera singing cop.

The plot is truly a silly one. Older brother John Dall comes marching into Deanna's radio studio all full of himself demanding that she cease and desist demands for payments that his grandfather has been paying regularly to her. In fact grandfather was making payments to Durbin's aunt Jean Adair and a cursory examination of the records would show that the payments started before Durbin was born. But no one said Dall was too bright.

In any event this stupid error becomes the basis for the rest of the film causing complications for Dall, Durbin and O'Connor playing Dall's younger brother. Dall also has a fiancé played by Helena Carter who takes a dim view of it all as does his grandmother Margaret Wycherly.

Others besides Durbin and O'Connor fans might like Something In The Wind. But both have done better work than this.

Deanna Durbin was at the peak of her vocal abilities on screen by the time she made SOMETHING IN THE WIND and fortunately she has some pleasant and frequent musical interludes sprinkled throughout what is essentially a feeble plot.

She's once again up to her neck in a plot relying heavily on mistaken identity and pretending to be someone she's not. Her leading men are Donald O'Connor and John Dall, the latter being her love interest in a somewhat wooden performance. O'Connor tends to over exert himself in some rambunctious musical numbers while Deanna not only sings some lively numbers but also joins Jan Peerce, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, for an operatic aria.

Obviously the film was designed to give Deanna a new and more glamorous look and wardrobe and some popular melodies to sing rather than the usual operatic or semi-classical numbers. Unfortunately, the plot is no more adult than her "little Miss Fix-it" fluff earlier in her career. But she looks wonderful and is in extremely good voice for all of her vocals. A pleasant and diverting experience for true Deanna Durbin fans.

Most of the reviewers before mine here have nailed this film, with little difference in most ratings. It is really a bad plot with an even worse screenplay. That is for the story with the young Mary Collins getting kidnapped by the descendants of the wealthy Read patriarch who recently died. The comedy writers must have been on strike, because silly and dopey plots at times have been saved by at least some witty and funny dialog. But this film's script is dull as well as dumb.

It's too bad, because those were the days before Universal was a major studio, and it really did owe its survival to Deanna Durbin. As others have noted, had the studio provided quality scripts and roles for Durbin, she likely would not have walked away from Hollywood and a film career in her late 20s. And movie fans of the 20th century and beyond could have had some more memorable movies - perhaps musicals, to enjoy.

But, even as weak and poor as the plot was, this film didn't flop at the box office. Durbin considered it a dud, and while it wasn't a big hit, fans still turned out for the musical show. And that's truly what saves this film and even earns it a high mark from me - at 7, because of the very good song and dance numbers. Durbin sings several songs, including her hit tune, "Round 'n Round 'n Round" (the Turntable Song), and Donald O'Connor gives a dazzling performance of "I Love a Mystery." For as good as Durbin's singing is with popular music, the routine that helps put this film over just for its musical showcase is the duet she sings with Metropolitan Opera singer and star Jan Peerce - an aria from "Il Travatore."

I am one of those fans who enjoys the good and great musicals of the past. And, I too would like to have seen more films with Deanna Durbin. She not only had a superb voice, but she was a very good actress, especially in comedy. It's a stretch to rate this movie a 7 for the plot and screenplay overall, but the music and dance are exceptional for a musical revue film, and the stars are deserving at least.

Here are some lines that show the level of comedy in this goofy plot

Orchestra leader at the Fashion Show, after a fanfare, announces "And now for our new collection of evening gowns. These gowns are designed to ensure that large amounts of money change hands. The fainthearted are advised not to look."

Mary Collins, "Why, you old crook." Uncle Chester Read, "Heh, at your service, my dear."

Mary Collins, "Would you swindle your own flesh and blood?" Uncle Chester, "It's ever so more simple than swindling strangers."

I recently purchased this DVD as part of a six movie pack. I wished to review "Something In The Wind" because I had focused on Donald O'Connor too much. I was pleased to note that Deanna Durbin was an accomplished light comedy actress in addition to her vocal talents. The ease with which she performed her first song in this movie as a disc jockey is an excellent example of her innate acting ability.

The role played by John Dall seemed too far removed from his role in "The Corn Is Green". There seemed to be little chemistry between Durbin and Dall.

Donald O'Connor was polished as usual but then he had been in movies for over a decade by this time having debuted with Bing Crosby and Fred MacMurray in "Sing You Sinners". It was interesting to realize that the zany short routine he did for Deanna was the groundwork for his 'Make 'Em Laugh' routine in "Singing In The Rain".

Although the impact of "100 Men And A Girl" was never realized again, Deanna Durbin left an enjoyable body of work in her career in Hollywood. There were five or so as a young teen-ager beginning with "Three Smart Girls", "100 Men And A Girl", "Mad About You", "That Certain Age" and Three Smart Girls Grow Up".

With the advent of "First Love" (her'first screen kiss')and pairing with Bob Stack, she began to leave the adolescent stage. Her subsequent movies showed that she had acting ability in addition to her juvenile charm and appealing voice. She did not experience the awkward stage of Shirley Temple and graduated smoothly into adult roles. She may not have been another Irene Dunne nor Rosalind Russell but her comedy was enjoyable and her vocalization always pleasant albeit somewhat schmaltzy to some.

The Williams Bros received billing in this movie but it would be difficult to pick out which one was Andy.

For those not fortunate enough to have grown up in the Deanna Durbin 'saves Univeral Studio' era, this movie is one fine example of how she did it. Light but very entertaining.

After seeing her Three Smart Girls on the same DVD, I watched the other of Deanna Durbin's movies on it-this one, Something in the Wind. Made more than a decade after the previous one I mentioned, Ms. Durbin is no longer a young teen here but quite an alluring adult. She sings both her familiar opera songs and some more contemporary music of the time to fine effect. One of her costars is Donald O'Connor, just out of the military and doing his funny enough shticks-some of which may be familiar to modern viewers if they've seen Singin' in the Rain. Another of Ms. Durbin's costars one may be familiar with here is Charles Winninger-who I just watched play her father in TSG-playing Donald's Uncle Chester. No, she doesn't end up with Donald but the leading man named John Dall. Don't really want to reveal the plot which isn't really all that believable, just turn your brain off and enjoy Something in the Wind.