Themes: Sibling Relationships, Musician's Life, Servants and Employers
Main Cast: Deanna Durbin, Pat O'Brien, Franchot Tone, Akim Tamiroff, Evelyn Ankers
Release Year: 1943
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
Plot
In this frothy musical comedy, Ann Carter (Deanna Durbin) is an aspiring singer from the Midwest who decides to move to New York in hopes of advancing her career. Her half brother, Martin Murphy (Pat O'Brien), is already living in the Big Apple, and has told her that he's doing well as a businessman; however, when she arrives at his door, she discovers that he's actually working as a valet for Charles Gerard (Franchot Tone), a well-known composer. This is good news for Ann, since Charles could doubtlessly do a great deal to give her career a boost, but Martin is hesitant to talk to his boss about Ann. Charles is inundated with pleas from semi-talented would-be musicians all day long, and putting another in his path would earn Martin no favors. However, Martin soon has bigger worries; it seems that Charles has developed an interest in Ann which Martin is convinced has nothing to do with music. As you might expect, Durbin sings several songs, including "In the Spirit of the Moment," "When You're Away," and an aria from Puccini. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
His Butler's Sister is a silly little Deanna Durbin vehicle, but if its charms are modest, they are nonetheless very real. Chief among those charms, of course, is La Durbin herself. She's a curious creature, an actress with a diva-like soprano yet a most un-diva-like personality. "Girl next door" doesn't begin to describe her wholesome appeal, and yet she's not corn-fed; there's an air of quiet sophistication about her, and the combination of her qualities makes her perhaps the most plain likeable of all the screen's operatic stars. Her appeal is put to good use in Sister, wherein men are tripping all over themselves minutes after meeting her; it's not because of her beauty (although she's certainly attractive), it's because she's so gosh-darn fun to be with. Durbin also gets to show off her beautiful voice, of course (even if she has to wear a hideous outfit to do so in one sequence), and if the screenplay doesn't give her then most sparkling of dialogue, it's still more than decent. Franchot Tone seems a bit uninvolved, but Pat O'Brien more than makes up for this, as does the excellent supporting cast. Frank Borzage directs with style and skill, and all adds up to a lightweight but enjoyable little trifle. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
John B. Goodman - Art Director, Martin Obzina - Art Director, Charles Previn - Art Director, Adrian - Costume Designer, Vera West - Costume Designer, Frank Borzage - Director, Ted Kent - Editor, Hans Salter - Composer (Music Score), Charles Previn - Musical Direction/Supervision, Elwood Bredell - Cinematographer, Felix Jackson - Producer, Russell A. Gausman - Set Designer, Ted Offenbecker - Set Designer, John P. Fulton - Special Effects, Samuel Hoffenstein - Screenwriter, Elizabeth Reinhardt - Screenwriter
