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Spring Parade
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Wikipedia article
'Spring Parade' is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin. It is a remake of the 1934 film.Spring Parade
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 7, Iss. 73, (Jan 1, 1940): 189.
Plot
Based on a story by Ernst Marischka, the film is about a Hungarian woman who attends a Viennese fair and buys a card from a gypsy fortune teller which says she will meet someone important and is destined for a happy marriage. Soon after the woman gets a job as a baker's assistant and meets a handsome army drummer who dreams of becoming a famous composer and conductor, but is held back by the military which discourages original music. Wanting to help the army drummer, the woman sends one of his waltzes to the Austrian Emperor with his weekly order of pastries, which leads to the tuneful and joyous fulfillment of the gypsy's prediction.
Cast
* Deanna Durbin as Ilonka Tolnay
* Robert Cummings as Corporal Harry Marten
* Mischa Auer as Gustav
* Henry Stephenson as Emperor Franz Joseph
* S. Z. Sakall as Laci Teschek - the Baker
* Billy Lenhart as Max
* Kenneth Brown as Moritz
* Walter Catlett as Headwaiter
* Anne Gwynne as Jenny
* Allyn Joslyn as Count Zorndorf
* Peggy Moran as Archduchess Irene
* Reginald Denny as The Major
* Stanley Blystone as Detective (uncredited)
* Paul Hurst as Headwaiter (uncredited)
Production
In January 1940 Universal announced Durbin's next film would be 'Spring Parade'.'Spring Parade' Named as Next Durbin Film
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 27 Jan 1940: A9. Joe Pasternak called it "a musical of Old Vienna" that was similar to 'Blossom Time'.BRONX SPRING-CLEANING AND OTHER FILM NEWS:. New York Times (31 Mar 1940: 127. It was a remake of a film Pasternak had made in 1934.A COMIC'S COMEBACK: New York Times 24 Mar 1940: 111.
Cummings was cast in March 1940.BRONX SPRING-CLEANING AND OTHER FILM NEWS: Biograph Studios Prepare for Action-- Mr. Chaplin's 'No. 6'--Addenda
By THOMAS M. PRYOR. New York Times 31 Mar 1940: 127.
Filming took place from 27 May to August 1940.
Koster called it "a lovely picture" although he said Durbin "was getting a little more demanding" during filming. On one occasion they were filming after midnight and Durbin went home because she did not want to work that late. Koster threatened to quit the movie but the two made up.
Awards
The film was nominated for four Academy Awards.
* Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) (Joseph Valentine)
* Best Original Song (Robert Stolz and Gus Kahn, for "Waltzing in the Clouds")
* Best Musical Score (Charles Previn)
* Best Sound Recording (Bernard B. Brown)
'Spring Parade' received four Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, Best Musical Score, and Best Sound Recording.
References
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