Main Cast: Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Barry Fitzgerald, Arthur Treacher, Harry Davenport
Release Year: 1943
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
Plot
Making her first film appearance since 1941, Deanna Durbin plays the title role in The Amazing Mrs. Holliday. Truth to tell, however, there is no Mrs. Holliday: it's the guise assumed by idealistic missionary Ruth (Durbin) to sneak a group of Chinese war orphans into the US. With the help of ship's steward Timothy (Barry Fitzgerald), Ruth poses as the wife of a wealthy shipping magnate who was lost at sea. This enables her to safely sequester the orphans in the Holliday family mansion until she can cook up her next scheme. But things begin to unravel when Ruth falls in love with her "husband"'s grandson (Edmond O'Brien)-and, of course, when Mr. Holliday (Harry Davenport) himself turns up alive and well. The Amazing Mrs. Holliday was originally intended as Durbin's dramatic debut, and originally directed by Jean Renoir, but Universal insisted upon retakes and added songs. Though virtually all of Renoir's completed footage was retained, final directorial credit was bestowed upon Bruce Manning, the film's producer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Originally intended as a more serious film than it ended up, The Amazing Mrs. Holliday suffers a bit from its change in tone -- as well as from the ultimate replacement of Jean Renoir as director. It would have been interesting to see what Renoir might have done with the material had he seen it through from beginning to end, for his skill and delicacy might have softened some of Holliday's more awkward moments and given the final film a more consistent tone. Renoir also was quite adept at exploring the nuances that give life to individual characters and, more importantly, their relationships. As it is, Holliday hints at a greater depth that it never really plumbs. That said, the film is undeniably heartwarming and definitely has charm, even if it veers over into sentimentality rather too often. The implausibility of the script is also a bit of a problem, but fans of Deanna Durbin are unlikely to care too much about that. Durbin is in good voice and her pleasant personality, sweet looks, and engaging way with a line build up considerable good will among viewers. Barry Fitzgerald provides some fine comic relief and Edmond O'Brien handles the romantic element with aplomb. If less than classic, The Amazing Mrs. Holliday is an agreeable little trifle. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Bruce Manning - Director, Ted Kent - Editor, Hans Salter - Composer (Music Score), Frank Skinner - Composer (Music Score), Charles Previn - Musical Direction/Supervision, Elwood Bredell - Cinematographer, Bruce Manning - Producer, Boris Ingster - Screen Story, Leo Townsend - Screen Story, John Jacolby - Screenwriter, Frank Ryan - Screenwriter, Hans Jacoby - Screenwriter
