Can't Help Singing

{{Infobox film

| name = Can't Help Singing

| image = Can't Help Singing FilmPoster.jpeg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Frank Ryan

| producer = Felix Jackson

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

Lewis R. Foster
Frank Ryan

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

John D. Klorer
Leo Townsend

}}

| based_on = {{based on|Girl of the Overland Trail|Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Jerome Kern (composer)
Yip Harburg (lyricist)
H.J. Salter and Edgar Fairchild (music directors){{cite book|title=Musicals In Film: A Guide to the Genre|chapter= Can't Help Singing|publisher=Greenwood Press|last=Hischak|first= Thomas S.|pages=169-170|year=2017|isbn=9781440844225}}

| cinematography = {{Plainlist|

}}

| editing = Ted J. Kent

| studio = Universal Pictures

| distributor = Universal Pictures

| released = {{Film date|1944|12|25|}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $2,600,000{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety155-1944-07#page/n59/mode/1up|title=U's 1944–45 Production Budget|newspaper=Variety|date=12 July 1944|page=21}}

}}

Can't Help Singing is a 1944 American musical western film directed by Frank Ryan and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige, and Akim Tamiroff.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1944/12/26/archives/the-screen-cant-help-singing-in-which-deanna-durbin-goes-west-to.html|title=THE SCREEN; 'Can't Help Singing,' in Which Deanna Durbin Goes West to Find Her Man and Music, Is New Feature at the Criterion|first=Bosley|last=Crowther|authorlink=Bosley Crowther|work=The New York Times|location=New York City|date=December 26, 1944|accessdate=August 26, 2020}} Based on a story by John D. Klorer and Leo Townsend, the film is about a senator's daughter who follows her suitor West in the days of the California gold rush. Durbin's only Technicolor film, Can't Help Singing was produced by Felix Jackson and scored by Jerome Kern with lyrics by E. Y. Harburg.Speed, Maurice F. Film Review 1945. MacDonald, 1945.

The movie was one of the most expensive in Universal's history.

Plot

Set during the early years of the California Gold Rush, the film tells of the adventures of Caroline Frost, the wilful and spoilt daughter of a US Senator. He does not approve of her beau, Lt Robert Latham, of the US cavalry, and persuades President James K. Polk to post Latham to guard gold shipments from the California mines owned by Jake Carstairs.

Caroline travels by train and steamboat and manages to join a wagon-train about to trek overland to the West. She shares a wagon with Johnny (Robert Paige), a debonair but ruthless gambler with whom she falls in love, and two comically inept opportunists, Prince Gregory Stroganovsky and his much put-upon servant Koppa.

At first, she tells Johnny she is engaged to Carstairs. However, no unattached women are allowed to join the wagon train, so Johnny tells everyone she is married to the Prince and she is forced to go along with the ruse.

Eventually, she eventually reaches Sonora, California. Here, her problems are quickly sorted out. After some confusion between Carstairs and his real wife, Caroline decides that she really loves Johnny. Her father, who has followed her, is reconciled.

Cast

Deanna Durbin as Caroline Frost
Robert Paige as Johnny Lawlor
Akim Tamiroff as Prince Gregory Stroganovsky
David Bruce as Lt. Robert Latham
Leonid Kinskey as Koppa
June Vincent as Jeannie McLean
Ray Collins as Sen. Martin Frost
Andrew Tombes as Sad Sam
Thomas Gomez as Jake Carstairs
Clara Blandick as Aunt Cissy Frost
Olin Howlin as Bigelow, the Wagonmaster
George Cleveland as U.S. Marshal
Chester Conklin as Poker Player (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin as Waiter (uncredited)
Edward Earle as President Polk (uncredited)
Robert Homans as Albert (uncredited)

Production

The film was known as Caroline.{{Cite news|title=Deanna Durbin Grows Up; She'll Wed Killer in Next: Youthful Star Begins Adapting Herself to Role Durbin Joins Adult Ranks|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|date=Jan 16, 1944|work=Los Angeles Times|page=C1}} Jerome Kern signed to write music in September 1943.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: International Picture Corp. to Star Gypsy Rose Lee in 'The Belle of the Yukon' RUSSIAN FILM HERE TODAY 'The City That Stopped Hitler' Opens at Victoria Under Theatre's New Policy|work=THE NEW YORK TIMES|date=Sep 4, 1943|page=14}} In October, Frank Ryan was assigned to direct.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|date=Oct 22, 1943|page=21}}

In December Jack Yellen signed to do the script.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|date=Dec 14, 1943|page=31}}

In March 1944 the title was changed to Can't Help Singing. David Bruce was cast the same month.{{Cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD|work=New York Times|date=Mar 21, 1944|page=16}} Universal had traditionally borrowed leading men to appear opposite Durbin but for this film they used contract players Bruce and Robert Paige.{{cite news|title=Borrowing Spree Fills 'Hunter Girl' Roster: Universal Selects Robert Paige, David Bruce as Leads for Deanna Durbin|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Mar 23, 1944|work=Los Angeles Times|page=17}}

=Filming locations=

Johnson Canyon, Cascade Falls, Duck Creek, Strawberry Point, Navajo Lake (Utah), and Cedar Breaks in Utah.{{cite book|last1=D'Arc|first1=James V.|title=When Hollywood came to town: A history of moviemaking in Utah|date=2010|publisher=Gibbs Smith|location=Layton, Utah|isbn=9781423605874|edition=1st}}{{rp|287}}
Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA{{cite web|title=Filming locations for Can't Help Singing |website=Internet Movie Database |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036692/locations |accessdate=September 12, 2012}}

Reception

=Critical response=

The Los Angeles Times called it "delightful".{{Cite news|title=Deanna Durbin Delights in Musical Trek|author=Schallert, Edwin|date=Jan 6, 1945|work=Los Angeles Times|page=5}} Bosley Crowther of The New York Times said of Durbin's singing as "thoroughly pleasing" and the film "gaudy".

=Home media=

Can't Help Singing was released on VHS on January 25, 1997, by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Help-Singing-Deanna-Durbin/dp/6304296991/|title=Can't Help Singing|medium=VHS|work=Universal Studios Home Entertainment|publisher=Universal Pictures|location=Universal City, California|date=January 25, 1997|accessdate=August 26, 2020|asin=6304296991}} The film was released on DVD on September 6, 2016, by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Help-Singing-Deanna-Durbin/dp/B01LTHMWQ2/|title=Can't Help Singing|medium=DVD|work=Universal Studios Home Entertainment|publisher=Universal Pictures|location=Universal City, California|date=September 6, 2016|accessdate=August 26, 2020|asin=B01LTHMWQ2}}

=Awards and nominations=

1946 Academy Award Nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Jerome Kern and Hans J. Salter)
1946 Academy Award Nomination for Best Music, Original Song (Jerome Kern and E.Y. Harburg)