One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937)

83% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
71% of users liked it
(127 ratings)

The girl is teenaged singing sensation Deanna Durbin; the one hundred men are out-of-work musicians. Still in her "little miss fix-it" stage, Durbin connives to help the musicians crack the big time. The person Durbin is most concerned with is her father (Adolphe Menjou) the 100th and most… More The girl is teenaged singing sensation Deanna Durbin; the one hundred men are out-of-work musicians. Still in her "little miss fix-it" stage, Durbin connives to help the musicians crack the big time. The person Durbin is most concerned with is her father (Adolphe Menjou) the 100th and most underemployed of the bunch. The men organize their own orchestra; all they need is a prestigious leader. Enter legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski, who after several refusals to listen to Durbin's entreaties is captivated when he hears the sounds of Liszt's 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody, as played by 100 shabby instrumentalists camped out on the stairway of his house. This film literally saved Universal Studios from receivership in 1937, assuring Ms. Durbin a movie career until she was too rich to care. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Henry Koster
Written By: Bruce Manning, Charles Kenyon, Hans Kraly
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 5, 1937 Wide
On DVD: Jan 17, 1995

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Universal survived the Depression thanks to Boris Karloff and Deanna Durbin, the latter horror being a reedy-voiced child star who infected a number of late 30s musicals before creeping puberty ended her career. This is one of her more tolerable vehicles.
, Film4
Music by Mozart, Verdi and others, plus songs sung by the youthful Deanna, fill a brisk and rather charming 85 minutes.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
There are many child stars who have been horrors to work with, but that was not the case with Deanna Durbin, who was surely one of the most agreeable tykes ever to don greasepaint.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
The film doesn't pack any surprises, but ... there's sometimes a happy reassurance that comes from watching a movie you know won't surprise you.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Ever so cloying as it serves up dollops of sweetness, but it's entertaining, satisfyingly fairy tale-like and put over with much skill.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Deanna Durbin's most popular film, which stars conductor Leopold Stokowski, was nominated for five Oscars, including Best Picture.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Cast

            Deanna Durbin as Patricia Cardwell

            Adolphe Menjou as John Cardwell

            Leopold Stokowski as Himself

            Mischa Auer as Michael Borodoff

            Eugene Pallette as John R. Frost

            Alice Brady as Mrs. Frost

            Frank Jenks as Taxi Driver

            Edwin Maxwell as Ira Westing Music Editor

            Jack Smart as Stage Doorman

            John Hamilton as Manager

            Jack Mulhall as Rudolph a Bearded Musician

            Jed Prouty as Tommy Bitters

            Christian Rub as Gustave Bandstetter

            Rolfe Sedan as Guest

            Gerald Oliver Smith as Stevens butler

            Jameson Thomas as Russell

            Hooper Atchley as Guest

            Rosemary La Planche as Girl

            Tommy Bitters as Jed Prouty

            James Bush as Music Lover

            Charles Coleman as Guest

            Bess Flowers as Party Guest

            Mary Forbes as Theater Patron

            Billy Gilbert as Garage Owner

            Howard Hickman as Johnson

            Leonid Kinskey as Pianist

            Alma Kruger as Mrs. Tyler

            Eric Wilton as Butler
See full cast

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