R.I.P. Deanna Durbin (born Edna Mae Durbin; December 4, 1921 c. April 20, 2013) true talent!
The huge success of Durbin's films was reported to have saved Universal from bankruptcy. In 1938 she received a special Academy Juvenile Award, along with Mickey Rooney. Joe Pasternak, who produced many of the early Deanna Durbin movies, said about her:
Deanna's genius had to be unfolded, but it was hers and hers alone,
always has been, always will be, and
no one can take credit for discovering her.
You can't hide that kind of light under a bushel. You just can't, no matter how hard you try!
1983, film historian David Shipman was granted a rare interview by Durbin. In the interview, she steadfastly asserted her right to privacy and maintained it until the end of her life, declining to be profiled on internet websites.
Durbin made it known that she did not like the Hollywood studio system. She emphasized that she never identified herself with the public image that the media created around her. She spoke of the Deanna "persona" in the third person, and considered the film character "Deanna Durbin" to be a by-product of her youth and not her true identity.
In her heyday, she lived near W.C. Fields, who was no fan of her music. Hearing her practise her singing infuriated the comedian.
On television talk shows as The Jack Paar Program and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1960s, Judy Garland, who was jealous of Deanna's early fame (3 years before her own) -- Judy would tell humorous anecdotes (or just plain mean?) about Durbin's "one eyebrow". It was never revealed how Durbin felt about Garland. However, in the early 1950s when Garland was performing in England, she telephoned Durbin in France. When Durbin asked her what she was up to, Garland told her she was in Great Britain singing in concerts. Upon hearing that, Durbin was reported to have said, "My God, girl, are you still at it?".
Durbin's husband of more than 48 years, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999.
On April 30, 2013, a newsletter published by the Deanna Durbin Society reported that Durbin died, quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. No other details were given.
Born Edna Mae Durbin at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, The daughter of James Allen Durbin and his wife Ada (née Read), who were originally from Manchester, England, she was taken to Hollywood when just a year old and began to sing children's songs as soon as she could talk. Her parents would become U.S. citizens after moving their family from Winnipeg to Southern California in 1923. By the time she was ten, her parents recognised that she had definite talent and took her to a singing teacher, leading her to sing in local entertainments.
She was given the professional name Deanna at the beginning of her association with Universal Studios in 1936, when she was still 14 years old. Durbin had an older sister named Edith, who recognized Deanna's musical talents at an early age and helped Deanna to take singing lessons at Ralph Thomas Academy. This led to her discovery by MGM in 1935.
In late 1936, Cesar Sturani, who was the General Music Secretary of the Metropolitan Opera, offered Deanna Durbin an audition.
Durbin turned down his request because she felt she needed more singing lessons. Andrés de Segurola, who was the vocal coach working with Universal Studios (and himself a former Metropolitan Opera singer), believed that Deanna Durbin had an excellent opportunity to become an opera star. De Segurola had been commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera to watch her progress carefully and keep them advised.
Durbin started a collaboration with Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1936. This collaboration lasted until 1938 when her heavy workload for Universal Studios made it imperative for Durbin to discontinue her weekly appearances on Cantor's radio show.
Deanna Durbin (born Edna Mae Durbin; December 4, 1921 – c. April 20, 2013) DIED THIS YEAR, 2013. She was a Canadian singer and actress, who appeared in a number of musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, her singing voice being variously described as being light but full, sweet and unaffected. With the technical skill and vocal range of a legitimate lyric soprano, she performed everything from popular standards to operatic arias.
Durbin made her first film appearance with Judy Garland in Every Sunday (1936) at a time when both she and Garland were unknown. Durbin subsequently signed a contract with Universal Studios. Her success as the ideal teenage daughter in films such as Three Smart Girls (1936) was credited with saving the studio from bankruptcy. In 1938, at the age of 17, Durbin was awarded the Academy Juvenile Award.
Durbin on the cover of Yank Magazine, January 1945
Durbin tried to assume a more sophisticated movie persona in such vehicles as the World War II story of refugee children from China, The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943), directed in part by Jean Renoir, who left the project before its completion; the film noir Christmas Holiday (1944), directed by Robert Siodmak; and the whodunit Lady on a Train (1945), but her substantial fan base preferred her in light musical confections.
Durbin's international popularity was HUGE, diarist Anne Frank pasted her picture to her bedroom wall in the Achterhuis where the Frank family hid during World War II. The picture can still be seen there today.
Deanna's genius had to be unfolded, but it was hers and hers alone,
always has been, always will be, and
no one can take credit for discovering her.
You can't hide that kind of light under a bushel. You just can't, no matter how hard you try!
1983, film historian David Shipman was granted a rare interview by Durbin. In the interview, she steadfastly asserted her right to privacy and maintained it until the end of her life, declining to be profiled on internet websites.
Durbin made it known that she did not like the Hollywood studio system. She emphasized that she never identified herself with the public image that the media created around her. She spoke of the Deanna "persona" in the third person, and considered the film character "Deanna Durbin" to be a by-product of her youth and not her true identity.
In her heyday, she lived near W.C. Fields, who was no fan of her music. Hearing her practise her singing infuriated the comedian.
On television talk shows as The Jack Paar Program and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in the 1960s, Judy Garland, who was jealous of Deanna's early fame (3 years before her own) -- Judy would tell humorous anecdotes (or just plain mean?) about Durbin's "one eyebrow". It was never revealed how Durbin felt about Garland. However, in the early 1950s when Garland was performing in England, she telephoned Durbin in France. When Durbin asked her what she was up to, Garland told her she was in Great Britain singing in concerts. Upon hearing that, Durbin was reported to have said, "My God, girl, are you still at it?".
Durbin's husband of more than 48 years, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999.
On April 30, 2013, a newsletter published by the Deanna Durbin Society reported that Durbin died, quoting her son, Peter H. David, who thanked her admirers for respecting her privacy. No other details were given.
Born Edna Mae Durbin at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, The daughter of James Allen Durbin and his wife Ada (née Read), who were originally from Manchester, England, she was taken to Hollywood when just a year old and began to sing children's songs as soon as she could talk. Her parents would become U.S. citizens after moving their family from Winnipeg to Southern California in 1923. By the time she was ten, her parents recognised that she had definite talent and took her to a singing teacher, leading her to sing in local entertainments.
She was given the professional name Deanna at the beginning of her association with Universal Studios in 1936, when she was still 14 years old. Durbin had an older sister named Edith, who recognized Deanna's musical talents at an early age and helped Deanna to take singing lessons at Ralph Thomas Academy. This led to her discovery by MGM in 1935.
In late 1936, Cesar Sturani, who was the General Music Secretary of the Metropolitan Opera, offered Deanna Durbin an audition.
Durbin turned down his request because she felt she needed more singing lessons. Andrés de Segurola, who was the vocal coach working with Universal Studios (and himself a former Metropolitan Opera singer), believed that Deanna Durbin had an excellent opportunity to become an opera star. De Segurola had been commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera to watch her progress carefully and keep them advised.
Durbin started a collaboration with Eddie Cantor's radio show in 1936. This collaboration lasted until 1938 when her heavy workload for Universal Studios made it imperative for Durbin to discontinue her weekly appearances on Cantor's radio show.
Deanna Durbin (born Edna Mae Durbin; December 4, 1921 – c. April 20, 2013) DIED THIS YEAR, 2013. She was a Canadian singer and actress, who appeared in a number of musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, her singing voice being variously described as being light but full, sweet and unaffected. With the technical skill and vocal range of a legitimate lyric soprano, she performed everything from popular standards to operatic arias.
Durbin made her first film appearance with Judy Garland in Every Sunday (1936) at a time when both she and Garland were unknown. Durbin subsequently signed a contract with Universal Studios. Her success as the ideal teenage daughter in films such as Three Smart Girls (1936) was credited with saving the studio from bankruptcy. In 1938, at the age of 17, Durbin was awarded the Academy Juvenile Award.
Durbin on the cover of Yank Magazine, January 1945
Durbin tried to assume a more sophisticated movie persona in such vehicles as the World War II story of refugee children from China, The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943), directed in part by Jean Renoir, who left the project before its completion; the film noir Christmas Holiday (1944), directed by Robert Siodmak; and the whodunit Lady on a Train (1945), but her substantial fan base preferred her in light musical confections.
Durbin's international popularity was HUGE, diarist Anne Frank pasted her picture to her bedroom wall in the Achterhuis where the Frank family hid during World War II. The picture can still be seen there today.
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