Product Details

• Actors: Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings
• Format: NTSC, Black & White, Full Screen
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hollywood's Attic
• Run Time: 89 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00157GQ3C
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,056 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Spring Parade is a lovely, lilting, swirling romantic musical that Deanna Durbin fans are sure to enjoy. A fortune teller in a small Austrian village claims that perky Ilonka (Durbin) is destined to marry an "artist" whom she'll meet in Vienna. Ilonka is puzzled because she doesn't live in Vienna, but miraculously ends up there after falling asleep in a hay wagon. She meets a soldier drummer (Robert Cummings) who has the potential to be a talented composer (as such, an artist), but the military won't let him. To gain recognition, Ilonka smuggles one of his compositions to the Austrian Emperor in one of his weekly pastry deliveries. Difficulties and misunderstandings inevitably follow, although Ilonka's hair-brained act sets the stage for a melodious and happy fulfillment of the fortune teller's predictions. Deanna's charming singing voice is a treasure to the ears. These DVD's are produced by Nostalgia Family Video and Come in a "No Frillz" set. DVD titles come in clear clamshell packaging with no DVD menu and no individual title artwork.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Deanna Durbin Film, May 18, 2008

By 

Bobby Underwood "starlighthotel" (Manly NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spring Parade (DVD)

This wonderful and long-negleted film full of charm and happiness is one of Deanna Durbin's best. The mood is lighter than air in an original story by Ernst Marischka adapted to the screen for producer Joe Pasternak by Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson.

Directed by Henry Koster, who helmed many of Deanna Durbin's best films, this delicious pastry has a great cast and three memorable songs from Robert Stolz and Gus Kahn. Deanna and Anne Gwynne both look lovely in gowns by Vera West and the musical direction of Charles Previn puts the icing on the cake for a fun film to watch.

Deanna is a peasant girl from the mountains on her way to the fair to sell her goat. Ilonka (Durbin) haggles with Mischa Auer over the price and before it's all over, they have a dance to decide who will prevail that is truly fun. It is the six cents she spends on a fortune card that shows the way, however, telling her she will find romance in Vienna and love will hit her with a stick!

Ilonka has no intention of traveling to Vienna and thinks she's been had until she finds herself on a hay cart driven by baker S.Z. Sakall. His destination, of course, is Vienna, and Ilonka begins to believe there might indeed be love in her future.

There is a terrific scene full of magic where Ilonka, a simple girl from the country, sees the lights of Vienna for the first time. The baker from Poland, whose only dream is to be the official baker for the Emperor, takes Ilonka into his shop and home along with his two nephews (Butch and Buddy) and daughter Jenny (Anne Gwynne).

When a mix-up occurs regarding a note from a young Army drummer meant for the engaged Jenny, Ilonka finds herself falling in love with the brash Harry (Robert Cummings). His dream to compose music fits right in with her fortune, which says he will be an artist. The scene at the wine garden where they dine and dance to "Waltzing In the Clouds" is what the movies are all about.

There are the usual romantic complications and Ilonka will have to charm the wise Emperor (Henry Stephenson) to make it all right again. Before you get there, however, there are charming scenes like a kiss behind a pillar in the moonlight, and Ilonka getting hit in the head with a stick! It's all just sheer and delightful fluff.

Bob Cummings does everything right here, as usual, and Deanna Durbin shines in a film best described as simply, happy. Songs like "Waltzing In the Clouds," "It's Foolish but It's Fun," and "When April Sings" add some sparkling musical moments to the story. A trip to the baker may be in order after watching this sweet confection. An absolute must for Deanna's fans.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Durbin Film, May 12, 2006

By 

Samantha Glasser "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Spring Parade (VHS Tape)

Spring Parade is a simple, sweet vehicle for Deanna Durbin to showcase her vocal talents and sweet personality. She does so winningly. She plays a Hungarian peasant girl with business savvy and a goat to sell. At the market she comes across a fortune teller who sells her a fortune telling her that she will marry an artist and several details about him, including that the two will meet in Vienna. She is angry she spent the money on such a ridiculous prophesy, but when she accidentally hitches a ride on a carriage headed to Vienna, she changes her mind. Slowly, everything begins to come true with some strange occurrences along the way.

There are several pretty songs in the film which Durbin's voice compliments beautifully. Her personality really makes the film interesting and fun to watch.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deanna Durbin - "Spring Parade", March 3, 2010

By 

Will-C - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spring Parade (DVD)

DEANNA DURBIN - "THE SONGBIRD OF WINNIPEG" and daughter of parents from England.

Thank goodness Universal were saved from financial ruin when they gave Deanna a career from 1936 to 1950 as a true "STAR" in the "Golden Days of Hollywood".
It is such a pleasure that the Studios saved her films and original recordings that we now have her films on DVD, and records on CD, to remind us of the days when Deanna Durbin was truly the world's Sweetheart of Song.
Deanna is still the major influence behind many of the great sopranos of today like Renee Fleming and Kiri te Kanawa. For example - Dame Sister Mary Leo (Kiri's singing teacher) was so taken with Deanna's "technique", that she trained her students to sing in this way.
This film "SPRING PARADE" is typical of the uncomplicated life before the war, and Deanna plays the part of a plain but "very life-loving" girl from rural Austria who manages to make it to meet "Royalty" in Vienna. This is where we get to hear her beautiful voice singing to Johan Strauss II music of the "Viennese Waltz" and the "Blue Danube" - before the days of electronic trickery in pop songs - !
Deanna's acting is also very natural but slick and enjoyable in this film. Thoroughly recommended to all who love a good lively well acted story with excellent vocals to beautiful melodies.