It's a Date (1940)

An aspiring actress is offered the lead in a major new play, but discovers that her mother, a more seasoned performer, expects the same part. The situation is further complicated when they ... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Norman Krasna (screen play), Jane Hall (original story),

Stars:

Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, Walter Pidgeon

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Deanna Durbin	...	Pamela Drake
Kay Francis	...	Georgia Drake
Walter Pidgeon	...	John Arlen
Eugene Pallette	...	Governor Allen
Henry Stephenson	...	Captain Andrew
Cecilia Loftus	...	Sara Frankenstein
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Sidney Simpson
Lewis Howard	...	Freddie Miller
S.Z. Sakall	...	Karl Ober
Fritz Feld	...	Headwaiter
Virginia Brissac	...	Miss Holden
Romaine Callender	...	Evans
Joe King	...	First Mate Kelly
Mary Kelley	...	Governor's Wife
Eddie Polo	...	Quarter Master

Storyline

An aspiring actress is offered the lead in a major new play, but discovers that her mother, a more seasoned performer, expects the same part. The situation is further complicated when they both become involved with the same man.

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Plot Keywords:

actress | honolulu hawaii | puppy love | manhattan new york city | ocean liner | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Data Memorável

Filming Locations:

Honolulu, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In MGM's Technicolor remake, Nancy Goes to Rio, Jane Powell's repertoire included her rendition of a fabled aria sung by Deanna Durbin in Universal's black-and-write original: "Musetta's Waltz Song" from the opera "La Boheme" (music by 'Giacomo Puccini (I)', lyrics by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa). Worth noting is that Joe Pasternak, who departed Universal for the MGM's bigger budgets in late 1941, produced both musicals.

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Quotes

Karl Ober: I can't work in New York anyway. Is this place far from here?
Pamela Drake: Oh, no, Mr. Ober, it's only Maine. You know where Maine is!
Karl Ober: No.
Pamela Drake: Oh, it's practically a few minutes from here! You could write fine there.
Sidney Simpson: 'A few minutes'!
Pamela Drake: [to Sidney, blithely] Yes!
[to Ober]
Pamela Drake: That's all, really.
Karl Ober: [wagging his finger] Then it isn't quiet enough. I have to go further away from New York.
Pamela Drake: Oh, good - it *is* far away! Takes a whole day to get there.
[...]

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Connections

Edited into Gems of Song (1949)

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Soundtracks

"The Wedding March"
(1842) (uncredited)
from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

User Reviews

See This For Walter Pigeon, the Music and Norman Krasna's Script

If you discover this film, as I did on rerun on a television station, you will first notice that it is a comedy with musical numbers. It is not a drama; it is not a lost opportunity for heavy-duty angst between a mother and daughter nor a passionate romantic triangle. I claim it is just what its producers set out to make it to be--an opportunity for young singing star Deanna Durbin to show her abilities, a nice part for Kay Francis who is young enough to play leads and mature enough to suggest that she may have to consider giving up impersonating ingenues on stage, and a chance for Walter Pidegon to play the fascinating man who falls in love with her. Francis underplays and is intelligent, I claim, and capable in the part of a Broadway luminary, a sort of part which has overtaxed many a Hollywood actress because it requires high intelligence, a trained voice AND a trained accent. Durbin is energetic, bubbly and believable as an inexperienced human being and as a potential major talent. Pigeon is award-caliber as the wise, understanding and romantic plantation owner who she has a crush on; he is the one who switches his attention to Francis at first sight and then has to deal with the misunderstanding. This is a breezy, genial comedy about three ethical and nice people who are caught in a misprision that can easily be solved in five minutes, but fortunately takes long enough to serve as the framework for an entertaining movie for adults, albeit of an ideationally low-grade level. That's all it is--a clever excuse for the songs, the three stellar performers and a logical script devoid of very much social importance. Norman Krasna, a gentle-minded and very talented screenwriter, has provided a superior script here, which is believable, full of smart dialogue and never forced as so many comedies were and are; Frederick Kohner of "Gidget" fame, Ralph Block and Jane Hall also contributed to the logical story-line. Gowns were designed here by Vera West; sets were decorated by Russell A Gausman. Art direction was provided by veteran Joseph Otterson, with fine cinematography by Joseph A. Valentine. William A Seiter directed the production. Make no mistake; this is a "B" film in its attempt-level, but with unusual musical and visual values throughout. Judge this film for yourself; I believe you will be as amused; and perhaps as delighted as I was to find a film written by adults and for adults, about sensitive topics such as an actress's pride, a mature male's admiration for a beautiful woman and a young girl's emotional vulnerability.