Ruth Kirke
traveled with her missionary parents to China when she was a young girl. She grew up at the children’s orphanage
her parents started and now she is running the place after the death of her
parents. World War II makes Ruth
leave the area with nine orphans.
They make their way to a boat and the First Mate smuggles them on
board. He also helps her when they
are sunk by a Japanese torpedo.
The Captain had agreed to help them when they arrived in America but he
goes down with the ship along with one of the boys. They encounter a lot of problems when they reach America because of paperwork.
I
thought it was unusual to have someone with Deanna’s singing talent singing in
a movie with war and orphans? Her
lullabies to the children sound like opera singing? This film is predictable but entertaining. 3* (This movie is OK)
96
min, Drama directed by Bruce Manning, Jean Renoir with Deanna Durbin, Edmond
O’Brien, Barry Fitzgerald, Arthur Treacher, Harry Davenport, Grant Mitchell,
Frieda Inescort, Elisabeth Risdon, Jonathan Hale.
Note: Imdb 6.6 out of 10, 50% audience on
Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 33 reviews.
Special
Note: This is in black and white
and was filmed at Universal Studios in California. I wonder about the scenes in Asia? Originally, Jean Renoir was directing but Universal wanted
retakes and additional songs. Even
thought almost all of Renoir’s footage was used, he was not credited as the
director. Deanna Durbin gave up Hollywood
after her first two marriages failed.
When she married her third husband, she wanted the “life of nobody!” She spent her remaining years in France living in a farmhouse outside of Paris.
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