Durbin deanna2 squared

Durbin, Deanna

Websites:  No
Origin: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Biography:

Edna Mae Durbin is born on December 4, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Later, her family moved to Los Angeles. A few years after Edna had been taking singing lessons, she was "discovered" by talent agent Jack Sherrill (1935) while singing at a recital. Then, at the young age of fourteen, she was signed to a standard contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the biggest and best movie studio at the time. In 1936, Edna did a screen test with another young singer/actress under contract at M-G-M, Judy Garland.

According to Judy Garland biographer John Fricke, the screen-test (now lost) contrasted the two girls' singing styles. Edna's option at M-G-M was allowed to lapse in June, after six short months. After a brief stay at Universal, she returned to M-G-M in around late June to do a short film Every Sunday with Judy Garland. The July 1 edition of the Hollywood Reporter stated that Universal has changed Edna's first name to "Deanna" [sic]. Deanna Durbin became a star virtually overnight after the success of her debut film, Three Smart Girls at Universal coupled with timely radio appearances. She was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1930s and 1940s. Deanna was also a successful recording artist and a highly acclaimed singer; she was the leading lady in big studio singing films such as Can't Help Singing (1944), which won Oscars for best music score and best original song. This was a high point in Deanna's career; she was recognized both as singer and a movie actress.

Hollywood has produced hundreds of stars; a few have attained cult status, that unique and somewhat scary kind of fame. Like Garbo, Dietrich, Monroe, and Bardot, Deanna Durbin also belongs to a rare breed of screen goddesses. To the public, she symbolizes an appealing yet intangible quality. What did Deanna Durbin symbolize? In her time, she was the young girl with what critics called the "voice of an angel." They heard a pure, ethereal quality in her soprano voice. She also symbolized the innocence and hopeful optimism of youth. In 1939, at the age of 18, she received a special Academy Award for making a significant contribution in bringing to the screen the "spirit and personification of youth and setting a high standard of ability and achievement." Durbin is mostly remembered for her stylish romantic and light operatic repertoire but she was also very good in light comic, mischievous routines as the track “It’s Foolish But It’s Fun” illustrates. The song was introduced in the Durbin film Spring Parade (1940) and originally released on the Decca label Though retired since the 1950s, Durbin still has many fans around the world who remember the great performances. They look for every scrap of news from their idol. She answers most of her fan mail herself and posts messages through The Deanna Durbin Society. Like Garbo and Dietrich, the allure, the image on the screen (and in Durbin's case, the pure soprano voice) are eternal.
-Jean-Pierre Sévigny

Discography

Photos

R 9402496 1586385185 2342.jpeg

R-9402496-1586385185-2342.jpeg

R 9402496 1586385185 6784.jpeg

R-9402496-1586385185-6784.jpeg

R 2853213 1304031063.jpeg

R-2853213-1304031063.jpeg

R 10669015 1502052349 4183.jpeg

R-10669015-1502052349-4183.jpeg

R 15357510 1590249569 5139.jpeg

R-15357510-1590249569-5139.jpeg

R 10657442 1501832260 4016.jpeg

R-10657442-1501832260-4016.jpeg

R 8010633 1453427866 3040.jpeg

R-8010633-1453427866-3040.jpeg

R 4866573 1378019786 2972.jpeg

R-4866573-1378019786-2972.jpeg

R 3996135 1351817372 8625.jpeg

R-3996135-1351817372-8625.jpeg

R 3836374 1457380654 7825.jpeg

R-3836374-1457380654-7825.jpeg

R 12395084 1550521927 8690.jpeg

R-12395084-1550521927-8690.jpeg

R 6229796 1414265045 2956.jpeg

R-6229796-1414265045-2956.jpeg

R 7754185 1463604483 5641.jpeg

R-7754185-1463604483-5641.jpeg

R 10853040 1505387253 3278.jpeg

R-10853040-1505387253-3278.jpeg

R 5617169 1398095866 9326.jpeg

R-5617169-1398095866-9326.jpeg

R 15855365 1599045007 1379.jpeg

R-15855365-1599045007-1379.jpeg

R 15463841 1596072419 8201.jpeg

R-15463841-1596072419-8201.jpeg

R 10637783 1501428592 8358.jpeg

R-10637783-1501428592-8358.jpeg

R 15288579 1589223798 9216.jpeg

R-15288579-1589223798-9216.jpeg

R 10665629 1501994099 3879.jpeg

R-10665629-1501994099-3879.jpeg

R 10635667 1501389619 1665.jpeg

R-10635667-1501389619-1665.jpeg

A 585782 1223900396.jpeg

Durbin, Deanna

Durbin deanna

Durbin, Deanna

Durbin deanna2 squared

Durbin, Deanna

Videos