Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:49 am
DEANNA DURBIN: THE QUEEN OF UNIVERSAL
The Heights Theater teams up with Take-Up productions to bring you the incomparable Deanna Durbin, in a rare five film retrospective, all presented in 35mm Archive prints from Universal pictures and the Library of congress! Deanna, who turned 90 last December, made her screen debut in 1936, and under the guidance of producer Joe Pasternack and director Henry Koster she became an international star by 1937 and Universal pictures' number one box office attraction. Unlike many other child stars of the 1930’s, Deanna moved over to adult roles with incredible ease and was just as popular as an adult actress as she was as a juvenile. Over the years there were several other wonderful sopranos who starred in movie musicals, but there was something completely unique about Deanna Durbin's screen presence. Her more mature characters radiate an unusual kind of calm, forthright honesty and serenity, and at the same time she was a wonderful comedienne as well as dramatic actress. In 1948 at the age of 27 Deanna married French director Charles David and retired from all performing and moved to southern France where she still lives today. For advance tickets to this series please go to www.heightstheater.com
FIRST LOVE (1939) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, ROBERT STACK, EUGENE PALLETTE, HELEN PARRISH, LEWIS HOWARD. Directed by HENRY KOSTER. Deanna Durbin received her first screen kiss from Robert Stack in this film, and it was a big enough event to push the coming war in Europe off the front pages of most daily newspapers in the USA. Deanna was growing up and this wonderful and funny update of Cinderella showcases her maturing charm and comedic skills to great advantage. Other standouts are Helen Parrish as Deanna’s evil and snobby cousin Barbara, and Lewis Howard as Barbara’s lethargic no work brother. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
BECAUSE OF HIM (1946) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, CHARLES LAUGHTON, FRANCHOT TONE, HELEN BRODERICK. Directed by RICHARD WALLACE. So successful was their paring in It Started With Eve, that Universal re teamed Deanna with Charles Laughton, who delivers an outstanding performance as a hammy Broadway thespian whom Deanna is trying to convince to put her in one of his shows. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY (1944) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, GENE KELLY. Directed by ROBERT SIODMAK. A powerful drama based upon the W. Somerset Maugham novel, Deanna plays completely against her standard screen persona and is superb in this film noir as a 'dance hall singer-hostess' who is determined to suffer as much as her murderous, jailed, asocial husband, very well done here by Gene Kelly. Durbin sings two standards beautifully, but it is her acting here that boosts the attention. Robert Siodmak, one of our finest noir directors, carries off this challenge with excellence. Herman J. Mankiewicz adapted the novel for this film. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
CAN’T HELP SINGING (1944) – IN TECHNICOLOR! 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JULY 5, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, ROBERT PAIGE. Directed by FRANK RYAN. One of Deanna Durbin’s most lavish films, and the only one she made in Technicolor, Can’t help Singing is an extravagant musical of the days of the California gold rush. This film features a great original score by Jerome Kern and E. Y. Harburg, including More and More, Any Moment Now, Can’t Help Singing and the rousing Californi-a. The stunning location Technicolor photography was done at the San Bernardino National forest and Cedar City Utah and provides a beautiful back drop for one of Deanna’s greatest musicals. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
The Heights Theater teams up with Take-Up productions to bring you the incomparable Deanna Durbin, in a rare five film retrospective, all presented in 35mm Archive prints from Universal pictures and the Library of congress! Deanna, who turned 90 last December, made her screen debut in 1936, and under the guidance of producer Joe Pasternack and director Henry Koster she became an international star by 1937 and Universal pictures' number one box office attraction. Unlike many other child stars of the 1930’s, Deanna moved over to adult roles with incredible ease and was just as popular as an adult actress as she was as a juvenile. Over the years there were several other wonderful sopranos who starred in movie musicals, but there was something completely unique about Deanna Durbin's screen presence. Her more mature characters radiate an unusual kind of calm, forthright honesty and serenity, and at the same time she was a wonderful comedienne as well as dramatic actress. In 1948 at the age of 27 Deanna married French director Charles David and retired from all performing and moved to southern France where she still lives today. For advance tickets to this series please go to www.heightstheater.com
FIRST LOVE (1939) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 14, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, ROBERT STACK, EUGENE PALLETTE, HELEN PARRISH, LEWIS HOWARD. Directed by HENRY KOSTER. Deanna Durbin received her first screen kiss from Robert Stack in this film, and it was a big enough event to push the coming war in Europe off the front pages of most daily newspapers in the USA. Deanna was growing up and this wonderful and funny update of Cinderella showcases her maturing charm and comedic skills to great advantage. Other standouts are Helen Parrish as Deanna’s evil and snobby cousin Barbara, and Lewis Howard as Barbara’s lethargic no work brother. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
BECAUSE OF HIM (1946) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, CHARLES LAUGHTON, FRANCHOT TONE, HELEN BRODERICK. Directed by RICHARD WALLACE. So successful was their paring in It Started With Eve, that Universal re teamed Deanna with Charles Laughton, who delivers an outstanding performance as a hammy Broadway thespian whom Deanna is trying to convince to put her in one of his shows. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY (1944) – 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JUNE 28, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, GENE KELLY. Directed by ROBERT SIODMAK. A powerful drama based upon the W. Somerset Maugham novel, Deanna plays completely against her standard screen persona and is superb in this film noir as a 'dance hall singer-hostess' who is determined to suffer as much as her murderous, jailed, asocial husband, very well done here by Gene Kelly. Durbin sings two standards beautifully, but it is her acting here that boosts the attention. Robert Siodmak, one of our finest noir directors, carries off this challenge with excellence. Herman J. Mankiewicz adapted the novel for this film. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.
CAN’T HELP SINGING (1944) – IN TECHNICOLOR! 35mm presentation.
THURSDAY JULY 5, 2012. ONE SHOW ONLY. 7:30PM. ALL SEATS $8.00
Starring DEANNA DURBIN, ROBERT PAIGE. Directed by FRANK RYAN. One of Deanna Durbin’s most lavish films, and the only one she made in Technicolor, Can’t help Singing is an extravagant musical of the days of the California gold rush. This film features a great original score by Jerome Kern and E. Y. Harburg, including More and More, Any Moment Now, Can’t Help Singing and the rousing Californi-a. The stunning location Technicolor photography was done at the San Bernardino National forest and Cedar City Utah and provides a beautiful back drop for one of Deanna’s greatest musicals. 35mm print courtesy Universal Pictures.