Spring Parade

Spring Parade


Universal, 1940, B/W, 89 minutes, ***

Released September, 1940



A very charming story set in pre-war Austria. Deanna Durbin plays a peasant girl who inadvertently ends up working in a bakery in Vienna. She falls in love with a Corporal (Bob Cummings) who is also a "genius" of a composer, but military rules forbid him from pursuing any occupation other than the duties assigned to him by his commanding officer. Deanna thinks that the Corporal should be allowed to publish his compositions, and she gets the baker (S. Z. Sakall) in hot water with the government when she sends a note to the emperor about the young man's talents. The film is filled with music and dancing, and could almost be classified as an operetta. Very pleasant to watch and a lot of fun!



The film begins with the statement: "Not so long ago in the Old City of Vienna every night ended with a waltz and every day started with a song... It was in those days that a young peasant girl left her mountain home to go to the fair to sell a goat..."



Produced by: Joe Pasternak

Directed by: Henry Koster

Assistant Director: Frank Shaw

Screen Play: Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson

Original Story: Ernst Marischka

Music: Robert Stolz

"It's Foolish But It's Fun," "Walking in the Clouds," When April Sings"

Lyrics: Gus Kahn

Musical Director: Charles Previn

Vocal Coach: Andres de Segurola

Orchestrations: H. J. Salter & Frank Skinner

Dances by: Larry Ceballos

Technical Advisor: Richard de Opel

Art Director: Jack Otterson

Associate: Richard H. Riedel

Set Decorations: R. A. Gausman

Gowns: Vera West

Sound Supervision: Bernard B. Brown

Technician: Joe Lapis

Director of Photography: Joe Valentine

Film Editor: Bernard W. Burton



Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Sound Recording (Bernard B. Brown), Best B/W Cinematography (Joseph Valentine), Best Score (Charles Previn) and Best Song ("Waltzing in the Clouds")



Cast: Deanna Durbin [Ilonka Tolnay], Robert Cummings [Corporal Harry Marten], Mischa Auer [Peasant], Henry Stephenson [Emperor], S.Z. Sakall [Baker], Butch and Buddy [Baker's Nephews], Walter Catlett [Headwaiter], Anne Gwynne [Jenny], Allyn Joslyn [Count Zorndorf], Peggy Moran [Irene], Reginald Denny [Captain], Franklin Pangborn [Wiedelmeyer], Edward Gargan [Fortune Teller], Samuel S. Hinds [von Zibberl]



Musical Program: [0:01] It's Foolish but It's Fun (sung by Deanna Durbin as she walks to the fair); [0:10] unidentified instrumental (danced by Deanna Durbin and Mischa Auer at the fair); [0:16] Blue Danube Dream (sung by Deanna Durbin and Mixed Chorus); [0:23] In a Spring Parade (instrumental played by parading army band, reprised throughout film); [0:36] When April Sings (sung by Mens Chorus at cafe in Vienna); [0:42] When April Sings (sung by Deanna Durbin at cafe); [0:45] Waltzing in the Clouds (sung by Bob Cummings, then by Deanna Durbin; danced by Bob and Deanna and by patrons at the cafe); [0:57] It's Foolish but It's Fun (more lyric, sung by Deanna Durbin in the bakery); [1:03] It's Foolish but It's Fun (more lyric, sung by Butch and Buddy at bakery); [1:23] unidentified instrumental (danced by guests at the Emperor's ball); [1:26] Waltzing in the Clouds (sung by Deanna Durbin; danced by Bob and Deanna and guests at the Emperor's ball)