Six year old "Mike" joins her sister Barbara Ainsworth who plays in a classical orchestra during WW II.Six year old "Mike" joins her sister Barbara Ainsworth who plays in a classical orchestra during WW II.Six year old "Mike" joins her sister Barbara Ainsworth who plays in a classical orchestra during WW II.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Madeleine Lebeau
- Jane
- (as Madeleine LeBeau)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn a scene in which June Allyson and Margaret O'Brien were supposed to cry to harmonica player Larry Adler's rendition of "Clair de Lune," the six year-old star asked director Henry Koster, "Shall I let the tears run all the way down my face, or shall I stop then halfway down?"
- Crazy creditsAfter "The End," the following message is seen: "To families and friends of servicemen and women: Pictures exhibited in this theatre are given to the armed forces for showing in combat areas around the world---War Activities Committee, Motion Picture Industry."
- ConnectionsReferenced in Top Secret! (1984)
- SoundtracksClair de Lune
(1890) (uncredited)
Written by Claude Debussy
Performed by Larry Adler on harmonica
Also performed by José Iturbi on piano
Featured review
Magical, funny, a perfect feel-good film
This is sheer magic. Margaret O'Brien, aged seven, is the perfect pixie. Unlike Shirley Temple, who could be over-sweet, Margaret O'Brien as a child star was too honest and direct ever to be saccharine, and she never catered to an audience at the expense of her character. Although she could doubtless turn tears on for the camera like a true pro, she never compromised her integrity of genuine childlike innocence, the portrayal of which on the screen borders on the supernatural. Although I met her briefly once before, just to say hello to, I knew her for a few days when she was already a young woman. At that time she was wearing an excessive amount of makeup to try to appear 'grown up' and shed the childlike image which was costing her work as an adult. I saw her once with no makeup at all, and was astounded that even when grown up, underneath her disguise, she had exactly the same child's face. She was very shy and difficult to communicate with because of her apparent introversion. It was evident, however, that her ability to portray innocent adorable waifs on the screen was because it was all true deep inside. Matched here with the childlike June Allyson, the pair are real heart-breakers, and the business of Kleenex must have doubled when this film was released towards the end of the War, especially as there is a husband away fighting in the Pacific, which is a thread throughout the story. This film was directed by Henry Koster, best known for 'My Cousin Rachel' in 1952, who on occasion could tease the very best out of actresses. Larry Adler aged 30 is in the film, in a small speaking part, and plays Debussy's 'Clair de la Lune' beautifully. This is after all a film based round music and a symphony orchestra conducted by real-life conductor and pianist Jose Iturbi, who has a prominent part in the story and does very well. It is fascinating to watch his technique of conducting from the piano, where he leaps up and down with a jack-in-the-box. There are many absolutely hilarious moments in this delightful film, some brought about by Jimmy Durante, whose thick accent however becomes less comprehensible with every passing year that takes us further away from those New York days of Damon Runyon which produced him. (Ethnicity is no longer guaranteed to be funny like it was then, either.) This is one of those films where you will either cry because you are crying or cry because you are laughing, but either way, there is no escape. This film is pure delight, an absolute joy. It is guaranteed to cure any case of depression instantly.
helpful•173
- robert-temple-1
- Jun 14, 2008
Details
- Release date
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- Also known as
- 100 Girls and a Man
- Filming locations
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,744,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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