- Actors: Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy, Dan Duryea, Edward Everett Horton, William Frawley
- Directors: Charles David
- Format: Black & White, Full Screen, Mono, PAL
- Language English
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Classification: U
- Studio: Dd Video
- VHS Release Date: 16 Aug 2004
- Run Time: 91 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0002JK6XA
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 26,488 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a Christmas snowflake from the wonderful Deanna Durbin. She may have saved Universal from bankruptcy as a young musical sensation in the late 30's, but by the mid 40's she had matured into a pleasantly gorgeous actress who made several memorable light comedies. This breezy murder mystery is one of her best. The entire film takes place over a snowy Christmas weekend and it makes a marvelous backdrop to this fun film.
Nikki Collins (Deanna) is on a train bound for New York for the Christmas holiday, reading a mystery by her favorite author, Wayne Morgan (David Bruce), when out the train window she witnesses the murder of Josiah Warring. Since no one will believe her, she hunts down mystery writer Morgan and slowly drags him into her enthusiastic search for the killer. He is engaged to a rather stuffy society babe, and we know right away that he and Durbin will end up together before the final curtain.
The murdered man was a rich shipping magnate and when Durbin attempts to snoop around the tycoon's mansion she is mistaken by nephew Arnold (Dan Duryea) for Margo Martin, the nightclub singer to whom Josiah has left everything, much to the chagrin of everyone. This gives Durbin an opportunity to go to the nightclub and do some amateur detective work, as well as do a sexy rendition of "Give Me a Little Kiss, Will Ya?" and the lovely "Night and Day," the latter in an alluring black dress you'll definitely remember.
The real Margo gets murdered of course, as does the owner of the swanky nightclub "The Circus," and everyone seems to be after the blood stained slippers Nikki has found that prove the tycoon was really murdered! David Bruce does a nice job as the mystery writer Morgan as does Duryea as the black sheep of the family, Ralph Bellamy being the good nephew. Edward Everett Horten gives a very funny performance as Mr. Haskell (of the New York office!) who has been instructed to keep an eye on Durbin by her father, a nearly impossible task!
This is an entertaining muder mystery that is a lot of fun to watch. Deanna Durbin and the great cast make this film light and airy. She married director Charles David II later on and maybe that's part of the happiness you feel from the screen. We get to watch a glowing Durbin solve a murder, fall in love and sing some nice songs, all during a snowy Christmas weekend. What could be wrong with that?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This film is a fast-paced, fun thriller set in a film noir style but ultimately would fit into the category of screwball comedy fine. Chuck in one or two sing-along moments with its main star Deanna Durbin and you have the recipe of a fun classic.
Durbin looks particularly beautiful in this role, she is no longer a child star either.
In what is a mature role as Nikki who, on a train, notices the killing of a man, determined to find the culprit and bring justice, she approaches the police with her story but they refuse to listen to her; assuming she's affected by her hyper imagination, and somewhat influenced by the crime novels she has been reading.
However, it is those very novels that help her solve the crime. She hires a famous mystery author to help her on her journey to solving the riddle of the crime she witnessed as the lady on the train.
Durbin does add a few bits of childlike silliness but this adds the fun element to a film, which is meant to be a screwball comedy after all. She also wears a number of beautiful outfits, enough to make any classically inclined lady swoon and is gorgeous throughout! Durbin's voice is absolutely stunning as well.
Classic screwball with fun, thrills and tunes!
Durbin looks particularly beautiful in this role, she is no longer a child star either.
In what is a mature role as Nikki who, on a train, notices the killing of a man, determined to find the culprit and bring justice, she approaches the police with her story but they refuse to listen to her; assuming she's affected by her hyper imagination, and somewhat influenced by the crime novels she has been reading.
However, it is those very novels that help her solve the crime. She hires a famous mystery author to help her on her journey to solving the riddle of the crime she witnessed as the lady on the train.
Durbin does add a few bits of childlike silliness but this adds the fun element to a film, which is meant to be a screwball comedy after all. She also wears a number of beautiful outfits, enough to make any classically inclined lady swoon and is gorgeous throughout! Durbin's voice is absolutely stunning as well.
Classic screwball with fun, thrills and tunes!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was very pleased to find this on Amazon.co.uk as a single disc! It was only available as part of a Deanna Durbin collection here in the U.S. Also, it was a much cleaner and crisper print! If you like this movie, I strongly suggest that you purchase it here...:-)...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Deanna Durbin, grown up and starring in a sort of a noir, with comedy...
A film noir starring Deanna Durbin may seem as natural as eating an oyster with a splash of chocolate syrup, but if you're adventurous, well, somebody has to be the first to try... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2007 by C. O. DeRiemer
Deanna Durbin, grown up and starring in a sort of a noir, with comedy...
A film noir starring Deanna Durbin may seem as natural as eating an oyster with a splash of chocolate syrup, but if you're adventurous, well, somebody has to be the first to try... Read more
Published on 29 July 2007 by C. O. DeRiemer
A Light and Breezy Murder Mystery
This is a Christmas snowflake from the wonderful Deanna Durbin. She may have saved Universal from bankruptcy as a young musical sensation in the late 30's, but by the mid 40's she... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2005 by "starlighthotel"
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