In the late 30s and 40s there was a sub-genre of murder mystery movies, the plucky heroine film. They were about young women, usually a bit scatty but brave, who’d get involved in a murder, which they’d solve with the help of an initially-unwilling male co-star. This was Deanna Durbin’s contribution, and it’s good fun.
She’s a young woman with a penchant for mystery novels who witnesses a murder on a train but no one believes her, so she investigates. (This set up was used in an Agatha Christie novel over a decade later.) Her co star is some guy called David Bruce, who plays a mystery writer with a (surprise) bitchy fiancée.
The plot is a bit silly and full of contrivances – Durbin is confused with a night club singer who was associated with the dead man, and goes on to impersonate said singer (enabling her to warble a few tunes). But it is brightly handled and the support cast is excellent, including Ralph Bellamy, Dan Duyrea and Edward Everett Horton.
Deanna sings a couple of songs, including ‘Silent Night’ (superb) and ‘Night and Day’ (wasn’t as wild about that one). She is very spunky and likeable – important in movies which depend on the lead character being a busy-body and a bit stupid. I love her sexy look at the end when she’s about to have a roll in the hay with Bruce. She went on to marry the film’s producer, then divorce him and marry the film’s director, Charles David. The latter union lasted until his death in 1999.
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