His Butler's Sister (1943)

A young girl visits New York for two reasons: to see her half-brother, and to try to start a musical career.

Director:

Frank Borzage

Writers:

Samuel Hoffenstein (original screenplay), Elizabeth Reinhardt (original screenplay) (as Betty Reinhardt)

Stars:

Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Deanna Durbin	...	Ann Carter
Franchot Tone	...	Charles Gerard
Pat O'Brien	...	Martin Murphy
Akim Tamiroff	...	Popoff
Alan Mowbray	...	Buzz Jenkins
Walter Catlett	...	Mortimer Kalb
Elsa Janssen	...	Severina
Evelyn Ankers	...	Elizabeth Campbell
Frank Jenks	...	Emmett
Sig Arno	...	Moreno
Hans Conried	...	Reeves
Florence Bates	...	Lady Sloughberry
Roscoe Karns	...	Fields
Russell Hicks	...	Sanderson
Andrew Tombes	...	Brophy

Storyline

A young girl visits New York for two reasons: to see her half-brother, and to try to start a musical career.

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Plot Keywords:

career | half brother | master servant relationship | male female relationship | train | 

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Taglines:

They're Terrific Together!...It's Pat in Hot Water...It's Deanna in Love...It's Franchot in-trigued!(print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Tower Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - April 2, 1945)

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 7, 1944 with Deanna Durbin and Pat O'Brien reprising their film roles.

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Goofs

During the scene in the kitchen when Gerard's guests wait on Ann, the coffee that is almost spilled on her reveals to be solid inside the cup.

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Quotes

Martin Murphy: No sir, a job like this is thicker than blood. And sister or no sister, I'm not gonna lose it.

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Crazy Credits

The foods, drinks, clothes, shoes, rubber, gas and other articles consumed or used in this picture are purely imaginary and have no relation to any actual foods, drinks, clothes, shoes, rubber, gas and other articles of today, rationed or unrationed. Any resemblance is purely accidental. This is a fable of the day before yesterday.

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Soundtracks

When You're Away
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Henry Martyn Blossom
Music by Victor Herbert
Sung by Deanna Durbin

User Reviews

Horrible Film

I am a lover of all old movies especially musicals, and I find this to be the absolute worst I've seen. I do enjoy Judy Garland, so that may be partially why I don't like Durbin's style. She doesn't seem to have the sparkle of any of the great musical stars such as Alice Faye or Kathryn Grayson. She is very beautiful, but I think she should have been a chorus girl, or a musical specialty. Most movies that I have seen that weren't the greatest still had the leading actress giving a good performance even under the most stupid circumstances.

Now that I've expressed my opinion of the star I can restate much of what others have commented on, the script. In this movie I didn't believe anything. I thought the way Durbin was acting towards her brother was real LOVE, not family love. It was horrible. I'll see another Deanna Durbin film and hopefully I can find something nicer to say about it.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

My Girl Godfrey

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1