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Hers To Hold

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"You can see anything you want to see if you close your eyes." -- Deanna Durbin



This charming wartime romance was Deanna Durbin's third turn as the youngest member of the three Craig daughters, Penny. While it doesn't quite have the energy of "Three Smart Girls" or "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," and there are only references to Penny's sisters during home movies, the appeal of Cotten and Durbin make this one of Deanna's most underrated films.

Penny's all grown up in this one and the only sister who has yet to find love and fly the coup. She is still the apple of her dad's eye, however, once again portrayed in winning fashion by Charles Winninger. It's all the talk of the society pages when Penny donates blood during wartime at a Red Cross hospital. That's where she meets flyboy Bill Morley (Joseph Cotten) who poses as a doctor to get her phone number and address.

When Penny discovers the ruse she and Bill parry and thrust at her big party until he kisses her and she gets that "forever and ever look" in her eyes. Pretty Evelyn Ankers knows the score with Bill but her Flo can't hold a candle to Penny Craig on a mission when the flyboy with no strings attached bolts.

Penny joins the war effort building planes so Bill can fly them once he's shipped out. When he finally caves in the couple make the most of his last 48 hours, having fun and falling in love ever deeper. There is a light and charming feel to their courtship, a scene on a romantic moonlit beach especially memorable for Durbin's fans, as she's never been lovelier.

Bill's pal Rosy Blake will come to Penny's rescue with a note in a sandwich that becomes a funny scene when he can't remember which one he put it in. There is a nice wartime atmosphere in Lewis Foster's screenplay which contrasts the building of B-17's right across the street from where Bill and Penny dance at a nightclub.

But the mood is kept light and romantic by director Frank Ryan. Those who love Deanna's voice won't be disappointed as she gets to sing at a party and for the plant workers. She looks terrific dressed by Adrian and renders a most beguiling version of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." A scene where she tries to dance with Bill in an old-style party dress will bring a few smiles as well.

Cotten recalls Durbin fondly in his bio and put old Hollywood gossip to rest. The two were very nice together and it's a shame there wasn't an opportunity for them to make another film. The print is excellent in this limited release version Durbin fans will jump on since it hasn't had a formal studio release in a region one format. A must own for Deanna's fans!

Deanna Durbin is known for her beautiful voice in a series of romantic comedies from the 1930's and 1940's. Typecast by Universal as their answer to Judy Garland, she was forbidden a role with mature emotions until "Hers To Hold." This was the third go-around for her as Penny Craig -- the first time made her a star and earned "Three Smart Girls" a Best Picture nomination. What is refreshing is that this World War 2 film does not have a happy romantic ending but a realistic ending. Joseph Cotten is so superb as the flyboy with committment issues that rumors flew that they had an affair. The movie is enjoyable, the singing is excellent and it takes one back to a time that has long past.

This is a film, loosely the 3rd one in the 3 smart girls series. You get
to see your favorite characters that you loved and also provided with
a good movie. Set during the war, we have a chance to see our men and women
working at a B17 assembly plant. Should give the viewers a chance to see these
great scenes and get to feel what they had to go through in the 40's.
Deanna is all grown up, sisters are gone but she is still unmarried. Good
little script, great signing....what else do you want.

Note: These movies are not just for Grandma and Grampa,,,they are unique, they
show off some great signing by our past artists...and you never get to
see movies like this anymore....does our youth have the patience for
movies without special effects....

Loved it at 13 years old.....still loving it now at 52 years old.

I bought this as a surprise gift for my grandmother. She went to see this movie at the theatre back in the 40s when it first came out. She was so surprised when I gave it to her for her 80th birthday. The quality is surprisingly really good.

Deanna Durbin stars a Penny Craig, a role she has played twice before. She's a society girl and very beautiful. She visits a hospital for a checkup where Bill Morley (Joseph Cotten) spots her and impersonates a doctor to meet her. When she learns the ruse, she gets annoyed and tries to avoid him, but he won't give up. Finally, he wins her over and she falls desperately in love with him, but the possibility that he might have to go to war looms over their heads.

Durbin is stunning in this film, and her trademark mischieviousness is present even in spite of growing up. She sings several songs including "Say a Pray'r for the Boys Over There." Cotten is adequate as her romantic interest, although his character isn't entirely swoon-worthy.

For fans of Three Smart Girls and Three Smart Girls Grow Up, there are many references to Penny's past. There is even a bit where Penny and her parents relive moments through home movies; in reality they are clips from past films.

MY MOM LOVES THIS MOVIE SHE HAD SPOKEN ABOUT IT AND WOULD WAIT FOR IT ON TURNER CLASSIC I SEARCHED IT ON AMAZON AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT AS A GIFT FOR HER BDAY
SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT AND NOW DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO BE ON THE CLASSIC
CHANNEL ANYMORE SHE CAN WATCH IT ANY TIME SHE WANTS - SHE ESPECIALLY LOVES THE
MUSIC SCORE...

HERS TO HOLD was the third and final installment of the "Three Smart Girls" series. Deanna Durbin rose to fame in 1936 when she first played Penny Craig in "Three Smart Girls", which was followed in 1939 with "Three Smart Girls Grow Up". In 1943, with the world at war, Durbin once again took up the persona of her most famous movie role, but this time the series took a dramatic turn with it's hard-hitting storyline detailing Penny's first real romance with an army pilot. The movie again reunites Durbin with her screen 'parents' Charles Winninger and Nella Walker.

As the movie opens, society personality Penny Craig (Deanna Durbin) is in a city hospital donating blood, where she meets airforce pilot Bill Morley (Joseph Cotten). After an amusing comedy of errors, the two hook up again at an army canteen where their romance really takes off. Soon Penny is volunteering for work at Bill's army base, but the courtship hits a rough spot when Bill reveals his desire to enter the airforce. Penny frantically pleads for her father (Charles Winninger) to use his heavy influence in preventing Bill's enrolment, but eventually Penny must accept his fate and stay strong until he returns home...

HERS TO HOLD is the movie where Durbin's beloved character of Penny finally grows up. With her two older sisters married and out of the picture, the third "Three Smart Girls" title ties up the whole saga nicely with the dramatic war years providing an effective backdrop for the action. Joseph Cotten's chemistry with Durbin was so successful that gossip columnists of the day suspected them of carrying their onscreen romance into their private lives, something which the happily married Cotten vehemently denied.

Durbin dazzles in a wardrobe designed by Adrian, and performs such great numbers as Bizet's "Seguidilla", Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" and Amy Woodford-Finden's "Kashmiri Love Song". She also introduces the stirring wartime ballad "Say a Pray'r for the Boys Over There".

A great title for Deanna devotees!