One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)

The daughter of a struggling musician forms a symphony orchestra made up of his unemployed friends and through persistence, charm and a few misunderstandings, is able to get Leopold ... See full summary »

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Bruce Manning (original screen play), Charles Kenyon (original screen play),

Stars:

Deanna Durbin, Leopold Stokowski, Adolphe Menjou

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Deanna Durbin	...	Patricia Cardwell
Leopold Stokowski	...	Himself
Adolphe Menjou	...	John Cardwell
Alice Brady	...	Mrs. Frost
Eugene Pallette	...	John R. Frost
Mischa Auer	...	Michael
Billy Gilbert	...	Garage Owner
Alma Kruger	...	Mrs. Tyler
J. Scott Smart	...	Stage Doorman (as Jack Smart)
Jed Prouty	...	Bitters
Jameson Thomas	...	Russell
Howard C. Hickman	...	Johnson (as Howard Hickman)
Frank Jenks	...	Taxi Driver
Christian Rub	...	Brandstetter
Gerald Oliver Smith	...	Stevens

Storyline

The daughter of a struggling musician forms a symphony orchestra made up of his unemployed friends and through persistence, charm and a few misunderstandings, is able to get Leopold Stokowski to lead them in a concert that leads to a radio contract.

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Plot Keywords:

misunderstanding | concert | musician | orchestra | sponsor | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 1937 (USA)

Also Known As:

100 Men and a Girl

Filming Locations:

Stage 28, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$762,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Deanna Durbin's vocal coach was Andrés de Segurola, a former Metropolitan Opera bass who had sung with Enrico Caruso.

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Goofs

The position of Patsy's hands when she's crying on the bed.

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Quotes

Himself, Leopold Stokowski: [Patsy has come to apologize for telling a newspaper that Stokowski would be conducting her orchestra of jobless musicians] But why did you do it? You must have had a reason.
Patricia "Patsy" Cardwell: Oh, yes! I had a hundred reasons! Would you like to hear them?
Himself, Leopold Stokowski: I certainly would.
Patricia "Patsy" Cardwell: [Goes to the door of his study and counts:] One! Two! Three! Four!
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Great Performances: The Maestros of Philadelphia (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Alleluja: from the motet 'Exultate, jubilate' (K.165)"
(1773)
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)
Sung by Deanna Durbin (uncredited)
Played by a symphony orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski

User Reviews

The Pasternak factory does it again

This movie was nominated for best picture in an era when they used to have ten nominees. I can see why it was nominated. Generally, in the days of ten nominees there was always a spot for a smartly written family picture and this is the exact definition I am talking about. Deanna Durbin is the best child actress Hollywood has ever produced, period and she brings the charms to this movie that already had her getting above the title billing while such established names and stars like Adolphe Menjou are relegated to below the title. This is her movie from start to finish. The plot line of this movie is not original if you are familiar with the Pasternak musicals. He always opted for classical music over current pop and standard pop songs of their time were always done opera style to suit the sopranos he liked to cast in his movies. Durbin, a not very pretty teen who makes up for it with an avalanche of charisma sings the song. It's the depression. 100 musicians are out of work and need a job. Therft leads to reward which leads to deceit which leads to the fate of circumstances which leads to harmony in this hopeful picture. And a scene in the conductor's house when the 100 men come to play is one of the better constructed and filmed shots in cinema history. Old pro henry Koster nails every shot and makes you want to throw away all those auteur theory books. And the final scenes leave you warm as apple pie inside and happy and cheerful. If this is not what cinema is meant to do, then what else is it for! A classic!