Three Daring Daughters

Three Daring Daughters
MGM, 1948, Color, 115 minutes, ***½
Released February, 1948


Jane Powell, Ann Todd and Mary Eleanor Donahue are the daughters of Jeanette MacDonald, who is divorced from her reporter husband. The girls are determined to get their parents together again, but when Jeanette goes on a getaway steamship cruise, she falls in love and marries Jose Iturbi. In the meantime, the girls have visited newspaper magnate Edward Arnold and persuaded him to bring their father home.

When Jeanette returns home with new hubby, she is angry at the girls for interfering, and she persuades Arnold to not bring her ex-husband home. But, the girls will not accept their new father and convince Arnold (once again) to bring their father home. Poor Arnold is exasperated and poor Mr. Morgan spends the entire movie onboard a steamship dashing all over the world, and never does show up! Anyway, the girls finally accept Iturbi and everyone lives happily ever after.

Really cute film! Musical highlights include: "The Dickey Bird Song" "Route 66" and Jeanette and Jane's wonderful duet of "Springtide."

Produced by: Joe Pasternak
Directed by: Fred M. Wilcox
Original Screen Play by: Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, Sonya Levien, John Meehan
Music Direction: Georgie Stoll
Musical Score: Herbert Stothart and Lothar Perl
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Preston Ames
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Arthur Krams
Costume Supervision: Irene
Associate: Shirley Barker
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography by: Ray June
Color by Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Adrienne Fazan

Cast: Jeanette MacDonald [Louise Rayton Morgan], Jose Iturbi [Himself], Jane Powell [Tess Morgan], Edward Arnold [Robert Nelson], Harry Davenport [Dr. Cannon], Moyna MacGill [Mrs. Smith], Mary Eleanor Donahue [Alix Morgan], Ann Todd [Ilka Morgan], Tom Helmore [Michael Pemberton], Kathryn Card [Jonesy], Additional Cast: Amparo Iturbi [Herself], Larry Adler [Himself], Dorothy Porter [Specialty Singer], Thurston Hall [Mr. Howard], Nan Bennett [Toney Tiger], Charles Coleman [Butler], Ian Wolfe [Butler], Stephen Hero [Ribs], Leon Belasco [Ship's Orchestra Leader], Virginia Brissac [Miss Drake], Frank Pershing [Steward], Bill Lewin [Steward], Thomas E. Breen [Steward], William Forrest [Ship's Captain], Joanee Wayne [Telephone Operator], Don Avalier [Headwaiter], Diane Stewart [Singer], Dorita Pallais [Singer], Nina Bara [Singer], Phyllis Gaffeo [Singer], Conchita Lamus [Singer], Jack Lipson [Fat Man on Street], Anita Aros [Telephone Operator], Estelita Zarco [Telephone Operator], Connie Mintoya [Telephone Operator], Aldana Rios [Telephone Operator], Wheaton Chambers [Stage Manager], Edward Peil Sr. [Waiter], Joan Valerie [Hostess], Brick Sullivan [Taxi Driver], Amparo Ballester [Cigarette Girl], David Cota [Cuban Bellboy], Pat Hyatt [singing voice for Ann Todd], Beverly Jean Garbo [singing voice for Mary Eleanor Donahue]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Alma Mater (sung by Jane Powell and School Girls at graduation ceremony); [0:03] Fleurette (sung by Jane Powell); [0:09] The Dickey-Bird Song (sung by Jane Powell, Pat Hyatt dubbing for Ann Todd, Beverly Jean Garbo dubbing for Mary Eleanor Donahue and Jeanette MacDonald); [0:16] Passepied (sung by Jane Powell); [0:23] Liebestraum (played by Jose Iturbi at the piano, joined by Orchestra); [0:34] Where There's Love (sung by Jeanette MacDonald with Jose Iturbi at the piano onboard passenger liner, joined by Orchestra); [0:39] Ritual Fire Dance (El Amor Brujo) (Jose Iturbi at the Piano, Amparo Iturbi at the Piano, Orchestra and Chorus); [0:46] You Made Me Love You (sung by Jeanette MacDonald with Jose Iturbi at the piano); [0:48] Happy Birthday to You / The Dickey Bird Song (sung by Jane Powell, Pat Hyatt dubbing for Ann Todd, Beverly Jean Garbo dubbing for Mary Eleanor Donahue); [0:48] Mulatta Likes the Rhumba (?) (sung by Girls Band at nightclub); [0:49] Feliz Compleaños (to the tune of "Happy Birthday to You" sung by Girls Chorus at night club); [1:05] Je veux vivre (from the opera ROMÉO ET JULIETTE, sung by Jane Powell with Jose Iturbi at the piano); [1:11] Rumanian Rhapsody No. 1 (played by Orchestra Conducted by Jose Iturbi); [1:21] Sweethearts (sung by Jeanette MacDonald with Jose Iturbi on piano, solo violinist and Orchestra); [1:25] Allegro Appassionato (played by Jose Iturbi at the piano); [1:27] Route 66 (sung by Jane Powell and Pat Hyatt dubbing for Ann Todd followed by Boogie piano solo by Jose Iturbi); [1:43] Springtide (sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Jane Powell -- beautiful!); [1:48] Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony (excerpt played by Orchestra Conducted by Jose Iturbi); [1:53] Finale: The Dickey-Bird Song (sung by Jane Powell, Pat Hyatt dubbing for Ann Todd, Beverly Jean Garbo dubbing for Mary Eleanor Donahue and Jeanette MacDonald with Jose Iturbi); There are also short excerpts of Hungarian Fantasy; Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A