Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Felix Jackson (writer)
Bruce Manning (writer)

Release Date:

24 March 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Plot:

Now that their parents are back together, the Craig girls think life is going to be easy. It is, until Kay falls in love with Joan's fiance...

Plot Keywords:

Sister | Father Daughter Relationship | Sequel | Matchmaking | Number In Title

Cast

Deanna Durbin	...	Penny Craig
Charles Winninger	...	Judson Craig
Nan Grey	...	Joan Craig
Helen Parrish	...	Kay Craig
Robert Cummings	...	Harry Loren
William Lundigan	...	Richard Watkins
Ernest Cossart	...	Binns the Butler
Nella Walker	...	Dorothy Craig
Felix Bressart	...	Music Teacher

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S

Company:

Universal Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Penny and Harry are first leaving the balcony, their arms are linked. In the following shot they are holding hands, but when they enter the living room, their arms are linked once again.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hers to Hold (1943)

Pleasant, Enjoyable Romantic Comedy

This follow-up to the charming "Three Smart Girls" is almost as pleasant and enjoyable as the original. The story is similar to the first one in some respects, but with enough new ideas to keep it from becoming stale. Most of the cast is back, most importantly Deanna Durbin and Charles Winninger. Durbin's energy and charm make even the more implausible moments seem natural, and Winninger gets some even better moments as the befuddled but good-hearted father in "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" than he did in the first picture. Ernest Cossart also gets some good moments as Binns.

Durbin's character again gets a chance to try to straighten out some romantic mis-matches, and to show her musical talents along the way. It's a simple combination that can be quite enjoyable when handled well. There are not a lot of new ideas here, but it has the same good-natured, unpretentious atmosphere and sympathetic characters as its predecessor. It delivers just what it promises, and it makes for a very nice way to pass an hour and a half.