Product Details

• Actors: Deanna Durbin, Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Akim Tamiroff, Alan Mowbray
• Directors: Frank Borzage
• Writers: Elizabeth Reinhardt, Samuel Hoffenstein
• Producers: Felix Jackson, Frank Shaw
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: November 27, 1996
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303929966
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #140,698 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Songs, September 17, 2001

By 

K. Anderson "bromfieldhall" (UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: His Butler's Sister [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I really like this film. OK, the plot isn't brilliant but when it comes to Deanna Durbin and her amazing voice, you won't find a much better film than this.

The 'Russian Medley' and 'Nessun Dorma' are fantastic - I'm in awe when I listen.

The film revolves around Ann Carter (Durbin) going to stay with her brother, Martin (Pat O'Brien) a rather shady character who's told her he's better off than he actually is.

She wants to make it bigtime as a singer and when she learns that her brother's boss, Charles Gerard (Franchot Tone) is a famous songwriter/playwright she gets herself hired by him as a maid.

What follows is quite an amusing film where she constantly tries to sing for Gerard, but keeps getting prevented. Of course, then she falls for him and he her, but, Martin, doesn't like it and decides to ruin the day.

Add to the mix about seven butlers from the other households within the apartment building who develop a crush on her and do their utmost to please her and aggravate each other and you've got yourself quite a funny movie.

True, the plot and writing isn't a great standard, but it's still a very charming, feel good film that's very easy to watch.

A definite must for all fans of Ms. Durbin.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cinderella-like story from Durbin's prime-exquisitely filmed, November 8, 1999

By 

Hisato Masuyama "Kaede" (LA, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: His Butler's Sister [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though hailed as one of her hits from the 40's, the film itself is routine and makes her up to be this goddess figure through the film (all 7 of the butlers hopelessly fall in love with her) and having Franchot Tone as her leading man did not help matters either. On the Lux Radio program, Robert Paige had played the role (her co-star in "CAN'T HELP SINGING") and seem to be a much better choice, but his name was not big enough as yet--(it never got any bigger either). However, this happens to be one of my favorite Durbin picture, since this is the first "grown-up" film I have ever seen of hers. She is simply gorgeous in the film (possibly the prettiest, despite the fact that they gave her 3 different eyebrows..one thicker, one pencil-thin (a left over from her previous film HERS TO HOLD), and the third one in-between. Watch the first number, her eyebrows change in mid-song, twice!) and the songs are all out of this world. IN THE SPIRIT OF THE MOMENT, WHEN YOU'RE AWAY, RUSSIAN MEDLEY, and finally, NESSUN DORMA (The Prince). Great selection for a fabulous talent. The British people would kill me if they read this review, since this film is a cult classic over there, but let's be honest about the script. It is Hollywood fluff. But it is also extremely enjoyable, and I do remember not being able to keep my eyes off the screen for a second. It is simply wonderful as an entertainment piece. So, despite what anyone says, I would say it is one of her best.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and Charming, July 18, 2005

By 

Bobby Underwood "starlighthotel" (Manly NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: His Butler's Sister [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This endearing film from director Frank Borzage is filled with the warmth and charm of its star, Deanna Durbin. An original screenplay fashioned for Deanna by Samuel Hoffenstein and Beth Reinhardt and a glossy production from Universal really make this one of Deanna's best films. A great cast which includes Franchot Tone, Pat O'Brien, Akim Tamiroff and Elsa Janssen lend sparkling support to Deanna's joyous performance as Ann Carter.

Ann is on her way from Indiana to New York by train to live with her rich half-brother while she tries to become a broadway musical star. She wants to sing for composer Charles Gerard (Franchot Tone) and just misses her chance when she finds out he is on her train. When her half-brother Martin (Pat O'Brien) turns out to be only a butler, her hopes sink low until she discovers he is the butler in the swanky New York penthouse of you know who!

Martin plays the ponies more than he works but since his main job is keeping away girls who want to sing for Charles Gerard, he has his hands full. It gets even more complicated when Gerard mistakes Ann for the new maid and she is right under Gerard's nose and Martin's feet! Elsa Janssen is wonderful as the housekeeper Severena, who takes a shine to the sweet Ann. She isn't the only one, however, taken with Ann's smile and effervescence.

Some very funny moments are given birth from Ann's effect on every butler in the building. They are all enamored of her and do everything they can to compete for her affections. Akim Tamiroff is foremost of these as Martin's Russian pal Popoff. Ann of course, begins to fall for her boss Gerard who is about to dump his latest work and run off to Maine with his society girlfriend Elizabeth Campbell (Evelyn Ankers).

She finally gets to sing but in an only in the movies mix-up Charles thinks it was the radio. When they do get together she forgets all about the music and the two fall in love. But her brother feels threatened and also thinks Gerard might just be fooling around. This causes Charles to make plans for Maine again, but true love may make him stay.

Tone is excellent as the wealthy but down to earth Gerard and Deanna simply glows in fashions by Adrian. A walk home holding hands and a kiss goodnight are filled with romance and magic, as is this film. There are, of course, some wonderful musical interludes, including "Nessun Dorma" from Puccini's "Turnadot" and the beautiful "In the Spirit of the Moment."

This sweet fable of "the day before yesterday" as it calls itself is a must for Deanna's fans and a fine film in its own right. A real gem from the last rose of summer, Deanna Durbin.