Deanna Durbin: Ephemeral fame (photo: Deanna Durbin in 1981) [See previous post: "Deanna Durbin: 'Sweet Monster.'"] Unlike Greta Garbo, whose mystique remained basically intact following her retirement in 1941, Deanna Durbin’s popularity faded away much like that of the vast majority of celebrities who were removed — or who chose to remove themselves — from public view. Despite the advent of home video and classic-movie cable channels, Durbin remains virtually unknown to the vast majority of those who weren’t around in her heyday in the ’30s and ’40s. Yet, although relatively few in number, she continues to have her ardent fans. There are a handful of websites devoted to Deanna Durbin and her film and recording careers, chiefly among them the appropriately titled "Deanna Durbin Devotees." Fade Out Charles David, Deanna Durbin’s husband of 48 years, died in March 1999, at the age of 92; Institut Pasteur medical researcher Peter H. David is their only son. Durbin also had a daughter,...
- 5/7/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Deanna Durbin dies at 91: One of the top stars of Hollywood’s studio era (photo: Deanna Durbin in I’ll Be Yours) According to Hollywood lore, teen star Deanna Durbin saved Universal Pictures from bankruptcy in the mid-’30s, when her movies earned the Great Depression-hit studio some much-needed millions. The story may seem like an exaggeration, but in fact future Universal players such as Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Maria Montez, Rock Hudson, Doris Day, and even Jaws‘ Bruce the Shark and the assorted dinosaurs found in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park partly owe their film careers to the pretty, bubbly, full-faced, soprano-voiced Deanna Durbin, the star of immensely successful Universal releases such as Three Smart Girls, One Hundred Men and a Girl, and That Certain Age. Universal should be in mourning this week. Late this past Tuesday, April 30, it was announced that Deanna Durbin had died a...
- 5/4/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Deanna Durbin, a star whose songs and smile made her one of the biggest box office draws of Hollywood’s Golden Age with fans that included Winston Churchill, has died.
Durbin died on about April 20 in a village outside Paris where she had lived, out of public view, since 1949, family friend Bob Koster of Los Angeles told the Associated Press on Wednesday. Koster’s father, Henry Koster, directed six of Durbin’s films. Bob Koster did not know the cause of death.
At the height of her career, the Canadian-born Durbin, who made her first feature, Three Smart Girls, at...
Durbin died on about April 20 in a village outside Paris where she had lived, out of public view, since 1949, family friend Bob Koster of Los Angeles told the Associated Press on Wednesday. Koster’s father, Henry Koster, directed six of Durbin’s films. Bob Koster did not know the cause of death.
At the height of her career, the Canadian-born Durbin, who made her first feature, Three Smart Girls, at...
- 5/2/2013
- by Associated Press
- EW - Inside Movies
Deanna Durbin, a singer-actress who, as a child star, became one of the biggest box-office attractions of the 1930s and ‘40s has died at the age of 91. The announcement of her death was made by her son, Peter H. David, in her official fan newsletter. Durbin made her movie debut at 13 in an MGM short, Every Sunday (1936), in which she co-starred with a 13-year-old Judy Garland. Durbin had originally signed with MGM because the studio was planning to make a movie starring the opera singer Ernestine Schumann-Heink, and it was looking for someone who could play her ...
- 5/1/2013
- avclub.com
Former child star Deanna Durbin has died at the age of 91, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Durbin's son, Peter H. David, was quoted in the "Deanna Durbin Society" newsletter saying his mother had passed away several days ago, but he did not provide any other details about her death.
Durbin gained popularity during the Depression and was known for her "sweet soprano voice" that charmed American audiences, according to the New York Times.
The actress was born Edna Mae Durbin; her British parents moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Los Angeles when she was 2 years old, and she was discovered while still in junior high school. She made her film debut in the 1936 MGM short “Every Sunday,” with Judy Garland. Soon after, she signed a contract with Universal, changed her name to Deanna, and was cast in a series of musical comedies, reports Variety.
The Canadian-born actress was reportedly the second-highest...
Durbin's son, Peter H. David, was quoted in the "Deanna Durbin Society" newsletter saying his mother had passed away several days ago, but he did not provide any other details about her death.
Durbin gained popularity during the Depression and was known for her "sweet soprano voice" that charmed American audiences, according to the New York Times.
The actress was born Edna Mae Durbin; her British parents moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Los Angeles when she was 2 years old, and she was discovered while still in junior high school. She made her film debut in the 1936 MGM short “Every Sunday,” with Judy Garland. Soon after, she signed a contract with Universal, changed her name to Deanna, and was cast in a series of musical comedies, reports Variety.
The Canadian-born actress was reportedly the second-highest...
- 5/1/2013
- by Stephanie Marcus
- Huffington Post
These days, being a child and teen star is packed with serious perils. But Deanna Durbin -- a world-famous young movie actress during the 1930s and 1940s -- managed to do it right. One of Hollywood's biggest and most highly-paid stars during her heyday, Durbin died "a few days ago" at age 91, her son Peter H. David said in a fan club newsletter published on Tuesday, April 30. Offering no additional details on his mother's passing, David thanked Durbin's fans for respecting her privacy. Unlike [...]...
- 5/1/2013
- Us Weekly
Deanna Durbin has died, aged 91.
The musical actress was one of the most popular and highest-paid young stars in the 1930s.
Her son Peter H. David told the Deanna Durbin Society newsletter that his mother had died several days ago, but did not give further details and thanked her fans for respecting her privacy.
By the end of the 1930s, Durbin had become one of the biggest box-office stars, appearing in several musical comedies and presented with a special Academy Award with Mickey Rooney, marking their "significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth".
She was said to have saved Universal from bankruptcy during the period, while she was also Sir Winston Churchill's favourite star. The Prime Minister would have access to her films before anyone else in the UK, and would allegedly celebrate military victories by watching her 1937 film One Hundred Men and a Girl.
The musical actress was one of the most popular and highest-paid young stars in the 1930s.
Her son Peter H. David told the Deanna Durbin Society newsletter that his mother had died several days ago, but did not give further details and thanked her fans for respecting her privacy.
By the end of the 1930s, Durbin had become one of the biggest box-office stars, appearing in several musical comedies and presented with a special Academy Award with Mickey Rooney, marking their "significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth".
She was said to have saved Universal from bankruptcy during the period, while she was also Sir Winston Churchill's favourite star. The Prime Minister would have access to her films before anyone else in the UK, and would allegedly celebrate military victories by watching her 1937 film One Hundred Men and a Girl.
- 5/1/2013
- Digital Spy
Deanna Durbin, whose wholesome movie roles entertained Depression era audiences, has died at the age of 91. Her death was reported by fan club The Deanna Durbin Society, who quoted her son Peter H. David as saying Durbin died "a few days ago."
That no specific cause or date of death were given is not a huge surprise, considering Durbin fiercely guarded her privacy in the 64 years she spent retired from Hollywood. Although she was a major child star from 1936 to 1942 and rose to the level of second-highest-paid woman in America in 1946 (with a salary of $323,477 putting her just $5,000 behind Bette Davis, according to the New York Times), Durbin retired to France in 1949 to live with her third husband.
She had remained out of public view ever since, and was believed to resent the image manufactured for her by the Hollywood studio system.
Among Durbin's most famous films were 1936's "Three Smart Girls,...
That no specific cause or date of death were given is not a huge surprise, considering Durbin fiercely guarded her privacy in the 64 years she spent retired from Hollywood. Although she was a major child star from 1936 to 1942 and rose to the level of second-highest-paid woman in America in 1946 (with a salary of $323,477 putting her just $5,000 behind Bette Davis, according to the New York Times), Durbin retired to France in 1949 to live with her third husband.
She had remained out of public view ever since, and was believed to resent the image manufactured for her by the Hollywood studio system.
Among Durbin's most famous films were 1936's "Three Smart Girls,...
- 5/1/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Deanna Durbin, who attained worldwide popularity as a child star in the 1930s while starring in a series of musicals, has died. She was 91. The actress' son, Peter H. David, was quoted in a Deanna Durbin Society newsletter saying his mother had died several days ago. He did not provide additional details and thanked her fans for respecting her privacy. Nurtured and promoted by producer Joe Pasternak, the blue-eyed, brown-haired Durbin had been discovered in junior high school in Los Angeles and cast in a series of warm musical comedies. By age 17, she was one of Hollywood's hottest stars.
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- 5/1/2013
- by Duane Byrge
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's almost time for WonderCon 2012 to start packing fans into the Anaheim Convention Center, and we have the horror highlights of the three-day event that runs from March 16th-18th right here.
Along with the horror, we've included a few other panels that we thought would be of interest to our readers. For more info be sure to visit the official WonderCon website.
Friday, March 16th
12:30-1:30 Idw Presents: The Idw Panel!— Chief creative officer Chris Ryall and sergeant of marketing Dirk Wood, give out prizes, make announcements, and evade questions! Featuring a host of creators, including Steve Niles, Ben McCool, Jason Ciaramella and more! All this, plus the Smoke & Mirrors boys, Mike Costa and Jon Armstrong, perform live magic! Yes, you read that right! Room 203
1:30-2:30 Monsters Anonymous— Comics and prose authors discuss the pros and cons of world-building with monsters and whether or not...
Along with the horror, we've included a few other panels that we thought would be of interest to our readers. For more info be sure to visit the official WonderCon website.
Friday, March 16th
12:30-1:30 Idw Presents: The Idw Panel!— Chief creative officer Chris Ryall and sergeant of marketing Dirk Wood, give out prizes, make announcements, and evade questions! Featuring a host of creators, including Steve Niles, Ben McCool, Jason Ciaramella and more! All this, plus the Smoke & Mirrors boys, Mike Costa and Jon Armstrong, perform live magic! Yes, you read that right! Room 203
1:30-2:30 Monsters Anonymous— Comics and prose authors discuss the pros and cons of world-building with monsters and whether or not...
- 3/7/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
“Devil Bat Diary – The Journal of Johnny Layton” by Peter H. Brothers
Inspired by the famous 1940 film, “Devil Bat Diary” (CreateSpace, Isbn: 9-781461-070924), tells the “true” story of what really happened to the unhappy citizens of Heathville, Illinois, during that terrible prewar summer, as recorded in the long-suppressed journals of Chicago City Register’s principal newspaper correspondent, Jonathan “Johnny” Layton.
The Devil Bats were furiously furry fiends created by a scientific genius who believes… More...
Inspired by the famous 1940 film, “Devil Bat Diary” (CreateSpace, Isbn: 9-781461-070924), tells the “true” story of what really happened to the unhappy citizens of Heathville, Illinois, during that terrible prewar summer, as recorded in the long-suppressed journals of Chicago City Register’s principal newspaper correspondent, Jonathan “Johnny” Layton.
The Devil Bats were furiously furry fiends created by a scientific genius who believes… More...
- 2/12/2012
- by HorrorNews.net
- Horror News
It may be the second to last day of Comic Con, but things are far from slowing down. In fact, both movies and TV are in great supply the Saturday of the show. Maybe even to abundant...surely attendees and press alike will be making sacrifices as they pick and choose which events to see. Make your decision after the jump.
10:00-10:45 Chuck Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con fan-favorite Chuckreturns with a bang for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Executive producer and co-creator Chris Fedak, along with series stars Zachary Levi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Yvonne Strahovski(upcoming My Mother's Curse), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Pursuit of Happyness), Vik Sahay (Good Will Hunting), Scott Krinsky (The O.C.) with Sarah Lancaster(The Good Doctor), and Adam Baldwin (Serenity), offer a Q&A with fans and an unforgettable video presentation.
10:00-10:45 Chuck Screening and Q&A— Comic-Con fan-favorite Chuckreturns with a bang for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Executive producer and co-creator Chris Fedak, along with series stars Zachary Levi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Yvonne Strahovski(upcoming My Mother's Curse), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Pursuit of Happyness), Vik Sahay (Good Will Hunting), Scott Krinsky (The O.C.) with Sarah Lancaster(The Good Doctor), and Adam Baldwin (Serenity), offer a Q&A with fans and an unforgettable video presentation.
- 7/10/2011
- Cinelinx
George W. Bush said after bin Laden's killing that he wanted to stay out of the public eye. But Peter H. Stone of the Center for Public Integrity's iWatch News says 43's becoming a high-profile figure on the buck-raking circuit.
When George W. Bush declined President Obama's invitation to a ceremony at New York's ground zero after Osama bin Laden was killed, the former president cited his desire to keep a low public profile.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Democrats' Negotiator in Chief
But Bush has been raising his profile in a different, and lucrative, way: He has raked in millions of dollars since leaving office by making scores of speeches that typically earn him six figures a pop.
In the week after Obama's May 5 ground zero event, the 43rd president made time for three separate speeches to hedge-fund executives, a Swiss bank sanctioned for keeping secret bank accounts,...
When George W. Bush declined President Obama's invitation to a ceremony at New York's ground zero after Osama bin Laden was killed, the former president cited his desire to keep a low public profile.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Democrats' Negotiator in Chief
But Bush has been raising his profile in a different, and lucrative, way: He has raked in millions of dollars since leaving office by making scores of speeches that typically earn him six figures a pop.
In the week after Obama's May 5 ground zero event, the 43rd president made time for three separate speeches to hedge-fund executives, a Swiss bank sanctioned for keeping secret bank accounts,...
- 5/20/2011
- by Peter H. Stone
- The Daily Beast
The next presidential race will be driven by more money than ever before-and the Gop is already besting the Dems' fundraising. Peter H. Stone of the Center for Public Integrity reports on the tactics behind the furious money grab.
At a Washington hotel and a building blocks from the White House, the smell of money-big money-was in the air.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Obama's War on Schools
In a speech Wednesday to some 500 top Democratic fundraisers, President Obama focused on what's he's accomplished so far and the serious challenges ahead such as energy, the red-ink budget and the Middle East.
Across town, Wisconsin Republican lawmakers were toasted at a fundraiser hosted by the lobbying shop Bgr Group, founded by potential Gop presidential candidate Haley Barbour. Bgr was picketed by liberal groups furious over the state's gutting of collective bargaining for public employee unions.
It was a curious juxtaposition...
At a Washington hotel and a building blocks from the White House, the smell of money-big money-was in the air.
Related story on The Daily Beast: Obama's War on Schools
In a speech Wednesday to some 500 top Democratic fundraisers, President Obama focused on what's he's accomplished so far and the serious challenges ahead such as energy, the red-ink budget and the Middle East.
Across town, Wisconsin Republican lawmakers were toasted at a fundraiser hosted by the lobbying shop Bgr Group, founded by potential Gop presidential candidate Haley Barbour. Bgr was picketed by liberal groups furious over the state's gutting of collective bargaining for public employee unions.
It was a curious juxtaposition...
- 3/17/2011
- by Peter H. Stone
- The Daily Beast
This article was written by fellow blogger and writer Ed Sum.
Fans of the Canadian produced series, "Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal" can rejoice. The complete series is available on DVD from Alliance Home Entertainment. Each season can be bought individually or all in one full scoop.
Originally airing from 1996 to 2000, this fictional drama focused on a group of scientists working for the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research (O.S.I.R.), trying to validate claims of encounters with the unknown and dealing with government conspiracies. While "X-files" took off, "Psi Factor" fell behind due to scheduling conflicts and moderate ratings.
One problem stemmed from Dan Aykroyd's claims that these case files were based on actual case logs. There was no validity despite the well-known fact that Aykryod is enamored with the world of the supernatural. But his contribution is not just limited to himself. His father,...
Fans of the Canadian produced series, "Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal" can rejoice. The complete series is available on DVD from Alliance Home Entertainment. Each season can be bought individually or all in one full scoop.
Originally airing from 1996 to 2000, this fictional drama focused on a group of scientists working for the Office of Scientific Investigation and Research (O.S.I.R.), trying to validate claims of encounters with the unknown and dealing with government conspiracies. While "X-files" took off, "Psi Factor" fell behind due to scheduling conflicts and moderate ratings.
One problem stemmed from Dan Aykroyd's claims that these case files were based on actual case logs. There was no validity despite the well-known fact that Aykryod is enamored with the world of the supernatural. But his contribution is not just limited to himself. His father,...
- 11/11/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Cologne, Germany -- Veteran TV producer Thilo Kleine has been named co-managing director at VIP Medienfonds joining Tilo Seiffert to run the German private equity fund.
VIP has invested nearly $1 billion in over 50 feature films since its founding in 1989, including Tom Tykwer's "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book" and Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There."
But when German tax authorities took aim at the country's film funds, VIP, the largest private fund, became a poster child for corporate malfeasance. One of the fund's founders, Andreas Schmidt, was imprisoned for tax evasion and other crimes.
Since then, VIP has gone through several bosses. Seiffert took up the reigns last year, replacing Thierry Potok. Potok in turn took over in 2008 from Peter H. Riedel, who replaced Dirk Specht and held the job for less than a year.
VIP has invested nearly $1 billion in over 50 feature films since its founding in 1989, including Tom Tykwer's "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer," Paul Verhoeven's "Black Book" and Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic "I'm Not There."
But when German tax authorities took aim at the country's film funds, VIP, the largest private fund, became a poster child for corporate malfeasance. One of the fund's founders, Andreas Schmidt, was imprisoned for tax evasion and other crimes.
Since then, VIP has gone through several bosses. Seiffert took up the reigns last year, replacing Thierry Potok. Potok in turn took over in 2008 from Peter H. Riedel, who replaced Dirk Specht and held the job for less than a year.
- 10/11/2010
- by By Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Falcon 9 is SpaceX's flagship rocket, and a great leap forward for President Obama's plans to diversify the space industry (video of launch below). The vehicle will help ferry cargo up to the International Space Station in the years between Nasa's retirement of the Space Shuttles and developing a new heavy-lift launch capability of its own. It's 55 meters tall, and powered by nine of the same Merlin engines that SpaceX has been developing for years to power its fleet. These specs make the vehicle a promising medium-heavy lift rocket, capable of carrying payloads that measure up to 11 meters tall. And they're also good enough that one day the rocket may be able to be human cargo-ratable, turning it into a serious alternative launch system for Nasa to consider for the manned space missions.
There is a fantastic shot of the second stage booster disconnecting at 3:27 into the video.
[twistage e7097ab367bde]
Here's...
There is a fantastic shot of the second stage booster disconnecting at 3:27 into the video.
[twistage e7097ab367bde]
Here's...
- 6/5/2010
- by Noah Robischon
- Fast Company
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