One Hundred Men and a Girl

One Hundred Men and a Girl


(aka 100 Men and a Girl)

Universal, 1937, B/W, 84 minutes, ***½

Released September, 1937


 Deanna's father (Adolphe Menjou) is an unemployed trombone player, and most of his friends are unemployed musicians. His daughter Deanna figures the best thing to do for them is to find a sponsor and form an orchestra. Quite by accident, Deanna meets Alice Brady, wife of one of the wealthiest men in town who promises her she will sponsor the orchestra. Later, Brady's husband (Eugene Pallette) finds out about his wife's offer and is outraged. But, after some persuasion, he agrees that if the orchestra can put on one concert with Leopold Stokowski (!) conducting, he will sponsor the orchestra and give them a spot on his radio show. Now all Deanna has to do is to get Stokowski to agree to the plan!



Deanna sings "It's Raining Sunbeams", "A Heart That's Free", "Exultate Jubilate" and "Libiamo, Libiamo".



Associate Producer: Joe Pasternak

Executive Producer: Charles R. Rogers

Directed by: Henry Koster

Assistant Director: Frank Shaw

Original Screen Play: Bruce Manning, Charles Kenyon, James Milhauser

Based on an idea by: Hans Kraly

Song: "It's Raining Sunbeams" Music by Frederick Hollander, Lyrics: Sam Coslow

Associate Musical Director: Charles Previn

Vocal Instructor: Andres de Segurola

Leopold Stokowski conducting music from: Wagner's "Lohengrin," Tschaikowsky's "5th Symphony," Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," Verdi's "La Traviata"

Production Designed by: John W. Harkrider

Sets: Jack Martin Smith

Gowns: Vera West

Sound: Joseph A. Lapis, Bernard B. Brown

Director of Photography: Joseph Valentine

Film Editor: Bernard W. Burton



Awards: Academy Award for Best Score (Charles Previn); Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Story (Hans Kraly), Best Film Editing (Bernard W. Burton), Best Sound Recording (Homer Tasker)



Cast: Deanna Durbin [Patricia Cardwell], Adolphe Menjou [John Cardwell], Alice Brady [Mrs. Frost], Eugene Pallette [John R. Frost], Mischa Auer [Michael Borodoff], Billy Gilbert [Garage Owner], Alma Kruger [Mrs. Tyler], Jack Smart [Marshall, Stage Doorman], Jed Prouty [Tommy Bitters], Jameson Thomas [Russell], Howard Hickman [Johnson], Frank Jenks [Taxi Driver], Christian Rub [Gustave Brandstetter], Gerald Oliver Smith [Stevens, the Butler], Jack Mulhall [Rudolph, a Bearded Musician and Boarder], with Leopold Stokowski [Himself], James Bush [Music Lover], John Hamilton [Manager], Eric Wilton [Butler], Mary Forbes [Theater Patron], Bess Flowers, Rolfe Sedan, Charles Coleman, Hooper Atchley [Guests], Rosemary La Planche [Girl Bit], Leonid Kinskey [Pianist at Frosts' Party], Edwin Maxwell [Ira Westins, Music Editor]



Musical Program: [0:00] excerpt from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 (played by Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski, begins behind titles); [0:12] It's Raining Sunbeams (sung by Deanna Durbin); [0:23] A Heart That's Free (sung by Deanna Durbin); [0:33] unidentified classical piece (played by the unemployed musicians in Billy Gilbert's garage); [0:46] Prelude to the Third Act of Lohengrin (played by Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski); [0:54] excerpt from Exultate Jubilate (sung by Deanna Durbin with Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski); [1:20] Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 ("Unemployed Orchestra" conducted by Leopold Stokowski, beginning in Stokowski's home and ending at the concert hall); [1:22] Libiamo, Libiamo (from the opera LA TRAVIATA, sung by Deanna Durbin with Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski)