Main Cast: Deanna Durbin, Donald O'Connor, John Dall, Charles Winninger, Helena Carter
Release Year: 1947
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
Deanna Durbin stars in the musical shaggy dog story Something in the Wind. When the wealthy uncle of the Read family dies, he leaves instructions in his will to bequeath a set amount of money to his mistress, one Mary Collins. The family assumes it to be a pretty young female radio personality called Mary Collins (and played by Deanna Durbin), when it is, in fact, her aunt of the same name (Jean Adair). Thus, when the young scion of the Read family, Donald (John Dall), tries to buy "Mary" off, he picks the wrong Mary -- and Durbin rebuffs him. Donald and brother Charlie (Donald O'Connor) then resort to kidnapping Mary from the radio station, but Mary turns the tables by demanding a million dollars as a settlement. Meanwhile, Charlie pines for Donald's fiancée, Clarissa Prentice (Helena Carter), while young Mary and Donald argue constantly and start to fall in love with one another. Amid these soapy events, Durbin finds time to sing five pop songs, as well as the Miserere aria from Verdi's Il Trovatore, on which she duets with Jan Peerce. Durbin's pop numbers include: "The Turntable Song," "You Wanna Keep Your Baby Lookin' Right," and "Happy Go Lucky and Free." ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
A very minor musical, Something in the Wind at least gets a few points for having a rather unusual jumping off place for its story: there simply aren't too many musicals of the period that revolve around a case of mistaken identity in which a virginal heroine is mistaken for the mistress of a recently deceased millionaire. In the hands of an Ernst Lubitsch, this could have been the basis for a delightful, sophisticated little romp. Instead, what we have is a ridiculous trifle that doesn't even try to make its twists and turns credible. The dialogue isn't exactly witty, but it is a cut above average at least -- with some significant exceptions. Of course, what really matters in a Deann Durbin musical isn't the story but the star and the songs. Durbin is in glorious voice, whether duetting with opera star Jan Peerce on "Miserere" or going pop in several other ditties, notably the attractive title song and the lively "You Wanna Keep Your Baby Looking Right." She looks lovely and she handles the light dramatic chores with aplomb. She has her hands full, however, keeping Donald O'Connor from stealing the picture away, which he threatens to do whenever he's onscreen and definitely does during his "I Love a Mystery" routine, which contains some seedw which would eventually burst forth in the "Make 'Em Laugh" sequence of Singin' in the Rain. John Dall is dull, but supporting players like Charles Winninger help to make up for Dall's lackluster performance. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
