Film & Television

Every Sunday (1936) | Film

Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin
Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin in Every Sunday (1936)

Every Sunday

This 1936 short film is fascinating because MGM was showcasing their two incredible young singers, Judy Garland and Deanna Durbin.

Judy and Deanna both had amazing voices, but very different styles, as can be seen in this film.

Deanna Durbin

MGM let pretty Deanna’s contract lapse, and she was snapped up by Universal Studios.

She had talent and great charm, and success came quickly.  Deanna had a huge success with Three Smart Girls (1936), a sequel to that film, and several other films musical films.

Deanna Durbin was credited with saving Universal Studios from bankruptcy as it was struggling during the Depression.

Most of her films are delightful.

Durbin went on to a great 12-year film career until she retired at age 29 to marry her third husband, French director Charles David.

She lived in France the rest of her life, mostly shunning publicity, and lived apparently happily until 2013 when she died at age 91.

Judy Garland

Judy, of course, went on to make The Wizard of Oz three years later and became a cinema legend in the great MGM musicals.

She was a triple threat as a singer, actress, and dancer. She died tragically in 1969 at the age of 47.

You can read more about Every Sunday HERE

You can read Deanna’s last interview from 1983 HERE.

You can read my post about When You Grow Up (1973).

You can also read about one of the very first child movie stars in Baby Peggy Turns 100!

Thank you for reading The Literary Lioness!

I love books, writing, film, and television.

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