Themes: Love Triangles, Mothers and Daughters, Actor's Life
Main Cast: Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, Walter Pidgeon, Samuel S. Hinds, Eugene Pallette, S.Z. Sakall, Henry Stephenson
Release Year: 1940
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
Plot
In It's a Date, the teenage diva Deanna Durbin is cast as Pamela Drake, the daughter of celebrated stage actress Georgia Drake (Kay Francis). Hoping to find success as an actress herself, Pamela energetically lobbies for the role of the maid in an upcoming play based on the life of St. Bernadette -- a role that has already been given to Georgia. When those conducting the auditions hear Pamela's singing, however, they quickly change their mind and offer the part to her. The rivalry between Pamela and Georgia intensifies when both fall in love with handsome middle-ager John Arlen (Walter Pidgeon). Innumerable complications follow, leading to a happy ending for both mother and daughter, though not quite the ending that either one had in mind. Deanna Durbin's musical repertoire this time out includes "Musetta's Street Song" from La Bohème, "Loch Lomond," "Love Is All," and a curious climactic rendition of "Ave Maria." It's a Date was remade in 1950 as Nancy Goes to Rio, with Jane Powell and Ann Sothern. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
It's a Date is an enjoyable little trifle, even if it's totally improbable and often ridiculous. Of course, a viewer's reaction to any Deanna Durbin showcase is going to rest on his or her feelings toward the star (and a very young star in Date). Durbin's operatic singing voice is often a turnoff to those who simply don't appreciate opera, but even that camp should appreciate her lovely renditions of "Loch Lomond" and "Ave Maria." And Durbin is in fine form as an actress here, turning in a sprightly and winning performance that makes the silly screenplay quite enjoyable. Though it's silly, it does provide the star with a number of set pieces that she handles very nicely. Durbin also has a humdinger of a supporting cast, starting with the estimable Walter Pidgeon, whose rather bemused performance fits in quite well with the proceedings. There's also the delectable and always enjoyable Kay Francis, playing the material as if it were pure gold rather than a presentable but undistinguished copperplate. Throw in the likes if Eugene Pallette, S.Z. Sakall, and Fritz Feld, and the result is very pleasant, if nothing more. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Cecilia Loftus - Sarah Frankenstein; Lewis Howard - Freddie Miller; Fritz Feld - Headwaiter; Virginia Brissac - Holden; Romaine Callender - Evans; Eddie Polo - Quartermaster; Eddie Acuff - Ship's Steward; John Arledge - Newcomer; Leon Belasco - Captain; John Day - Sleepy-Eyed Blonde; Anna Demetrio - Cook; Joseph King - First Mate; Fay McKenzie; Phyllis Ruth; Charles Lane - Horner; Virginia Engels - Young Girl; Linda Deane; Mary Kelly - Governor's Wife; Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians; Mark Anthony - Officer
