Hers to Hold

This was Deanna Durbin's third take on Penny Craig, who by now has grown into a beautiful young woman featuring in the gossip columns with tit-bits about her love life. She falls in love with dashing young pilot Bill, even volunteers for work at the aircraft factory where he works, but Bill is afraid to commit to her, and when he learns that he is about to go overseas and join the armed forces, he dumps her. But Penny is nothing if not resourceful ...

This is not among the handful of really wonderful Deanna Durbin vehicles, although sworn fans won't be disappointed. Her character here is a gutsy, no-nonsense go-getter, and it is quite a moving experience to watch and hear her, as she takes the podium in the factory canteen, singing first 'Begin the Beguine', this most glamorous of show smoochers, in her assembly-line outfit, no MGM glitzy witzy style her, and then when she touches everyone's heart with the languid and heartfelt 'Say a Pray'r for the Boys Over There', one of the great Durbin moments.

Joseph Cotten certainly never looked handsomer, oozing charming insolence, as aviator Bill.