HERS TO HOLD (Universal, 1943), directed by Frank Ryan, is a delightful comedy/drama with limited song interludes. It stars Deanna Durbin, the studio's top singer, who reprises her Penny Craig role originated from both THREE SMART GIRLS (1936) and THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP (1939). While the earlier editions of the Craig family featured Durbin as the youngest of three sisters with a talent for singing, for HERS TO HOLD, the older sisters of Joan and Kay have married, leaving Durbin the sole focus. Charles Winninger and Nella Walker return for the third and final time as Durbin's high society parents. The only change is the casting of Ludwig Stossel stepping in for the role originated by Ernest Cossart as Binns, the family butler. With the story brought up to date to World War II setting, the formula remains basically the same, only better. Whether Durbin resumes her Penny Craig role or enacts a different character really doesn't matter for her popularity and first-rate story certainly assures its great box-office success for 1943.
The story begins at the American National Red Cross where William Morley (Joseph Cotten), a bomber pilot, and his pal, Rosey Blake (Gus Schilling) are both resting after giving blood. The resting is cut short when Penelopie Craig (Deanna Durbin), daughter of a Wall Street business tycoon now living in Sycamore, California, enters to donate blood, with her legs only visible viewing for Bill and Rosey. Bill intends on getting Penny's name and address written in his little phone book of female listings by pretending to be a doctor. After examining her and getting the information needed, Bill kisses her, leaving Penny both stunned and angry. Returning home in time for her parents (Charles Winninger and Nella Walker) wedding anniversary, Penny is told by her butler, Binns (Ludwig Stossel) that she has received numerous phone calls from William Morley, and tells him the next time he calls, to simply hang up. Morley and Rosey invite themselves to the Craig gathering. Though Penny intends on making a fool of Bill with her guests, Bill is not only step ahead of her plot but gives Penny a public kiss before leaving. Feeling she might be in love, Penny traces down this fresh guy to the Vega Aircraft Factory where she obtains a job as a riveter with the married Hannah Gordon (Fay Helm), unaware that Bill might be receiving orders for active service overseas.
Other members in the cast include Samuel S. Hinds, Evelyn Ankers, Fay Helm, Iris Adrian, Irving Bacon and Nydia Westman. Songs include: "Seguidilla" from George Bizet's CARMEN; Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine," "Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There," "The Kashmiri Song" and "Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There" (reprise). Though Durbin's rendition of "Begin the Beguine" is excellent, "Say a Prayer for the Boys Over There" got the nomination for the Academy Award as Best Song. With Winninger's Judson Craig being somewhat absent-minded this time around, his serious father and daughter talk highlight the proceedings as well as he watching home movies of Penny's teenage years with scenes lifted from Durbin's earlier editions of THREE SMART GIRLS and THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP, MAD ABOUT MUSIC (1938) and FIRST LOVE (1939) adding that nostalgic feel to it. With Joseph Cotten a dramatic actor by profession, he shows his flare for light comedy as Durbin showing her ability in handling drama. Though a search for a note left inside a sandwich might be overlong, it adds to the purpose of suspense to the story.
HERS TO HOLD, clocked at 91 minutes, though available on home video and DVD, is one of those once popular movies that has become ignored for television broadcasts over the years. With the exception of limited public television showings in the 1980s, thus far it has never played on any major cable channel. A reflection of the times, on a personal level, HERS TO HOLD still holds up very well and worth the time seeing whenever available. (***1.2)
