Copyright 11 December 1936 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Roxy: 24 January 1937. U.S. release: December 1936. 84 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Three wealthy, spoilt teenage girls decide to wreck the forthcoming marriage of their estranged father (a New York banker) to a beautiful socialite.
NOTES: Sequels are Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) and Hers To Hold (1943). Nominated for three prestigious Hollywood awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound Recording.
COMMENT: Pleasant enough if rather facile entertainment, no great shakes in the writing department, though it is enlivened by Binnie Barnes, Alice Brady, Mischa Auer and Ray Milland, who have all the best lines.
Winninger stumbles through his poorly written part as best he can, while newcomer Durbin usurps center stage. Her fans will be disappointed she has only three songs, of which only "Il Bacio" is handsomely recorded, so perhaps it's just as well.
Koster's direction is smooth but not in the least involving. As usual, he relies on his players to do all the work. Production values are otherwise up to scratch. In fact, much of the photography is rather attractive.
SYNOPSIS: Three wealthy, spoilt teenage girls decide to wreck the forthcoming marriage of their estranged father (a New York banker) to a beautiful socialite.
NOTES: Sequels are Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) and Hers To Hold (1943). Nominated for three prestigious Hollywood awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound Recording.
COMMENT: Pleasant enough if rather facile entertainment, no great shakes in the writing department, though it is enlivened by Binnie Barnes, Alice Brady, Mischa Auer and Ray Milland, who have all the best lines.
Winninger stumbles through his poorly written part as best he can, while newcomer Durbin usurps center stage. Her fans will be disappointed she has only three songs, of which only "Il Bacio" is handsomely recorded, so perhaps it's just as well.
Koster's direction is smooth but not in the least involving. As usual, he relies on his players to do all the work. Production values are otherwise up to scratch. In fact, much of the photography is rather attractive.