This week’s mystery movie was the 1944 Universal picture Can’t Help Singing, with Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige, Akim Tamiroff, David Bruce, Leonid Kinskey, June Vincent, Ray Collins, Andrew Tombes, Thomas Gomez, Clara Blandick, Olin Howlin and George Cleveland.
Associate producer Frank Shaw.
Screenplay by Lewis R. Foster and Frank Ryan.
Story by John Klorer and Leo Townsend.
Based on “Girl of the Overland Trail,” by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky.
Photography by Woody Bredell and W. Howard Greene.
Technicolor director Natalie Kalmus.
Associate William Fritzsche.
Costumes by Walter Plunkett.
Art direction by John B. Goodman and Robert Glatworthy.
Set decorations by Russell A. Gausman and Edward R. Robinson.
Makeup by Jack Pierce.
Assistant director William Holland.
Edited by Ted J. Kent.
Music by Jerome Kern.
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.
Musical score and direction by H.J. Salter.
Musical director for Miss Durbin, Edgar Fairchild.
Orchestrations by Frank Skinner.
Vocal coach, Andre de Segurola.
Sound by Bernard B. Brown and Joe Lapis.
Produced by Felix Jackson.
Directed by Frank Ryan.
Can’t Help Singing is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
Further information about Can’t Help Singing is available from the AFI Catalog.
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As usual, I picked Can’t Help Singing by going through the trades, but it wasn’t my first choice. I initially considered a film that I saw mentioned on social media, then discovered that despite the big-name director and cast, the reviews were iffy. Then I considered a second film, but wasn’t in the mood for a World War II propaganda film, no matter how good it was supposed to be. Which brings us to Can’t Help Singing, which is light and upbeat and has Deanna Durbin (for remember: Elizabeth Short was sometimes called “the Deanna Durbin of Medford High.”)
I’m going to imagine that Bosley Crowther (or whoever reviewed it) had numerous quibbles with the film.
No, he liked it (The New York Times, Dec. 26,1944), but what’s THIS??? Oklahoma! was a “modest Broadway hit?” He’s kidding, right? He’s kidding. He has to be kidding.
Those Yuletide herald angels hit some vocal competition yesterday in the neighborhood of Lowe’s Criterion, where the caroling concession was in the hands of melodious Deanna Durbin in Can’t Help Singing, a Universal film. And, by all the holiday evidence, Miss Durbin’s generosity with songs was none the less seasonal and triumphant than that of the seraphic choir. For songs in abundance and par excellence are the best things in this gaudy color film, and Miss Durbin sings them in a fashion which makes it thoroughly pleasing that she can’t desist.
As for the show itself, it happens to be an airy outdoor musical which might, just by chance, bear faint resemblance to Oklahoma!, a modest Broadway hit.
For Monday, we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Ruby Dandridge.
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious woman.
Update: This is Renie Riano.
We also have several mysterious gents.
Update: This is Frank Lackteen, left and Harry Woods, center.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery woman), B.J. Merholz (Monday’s mystery woman), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious woman), Bob Hansen (Monday’s mystery woman), and Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s mysterious woman).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have these mysterious fellows.
Update: This is Akim Tamiroff, left, and Leonid Kinskey.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman, Tuesday’s mystery woman and gunslinger who doesn’t approve of such goings-on), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery women), Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery woman), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie) and Sylvia E. (Tuesday’s mystery woman and mysterious gunslinger who does not approve of such goings-on).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mysterious gent.
Update: This is Thomas Gomez.
We also have this mysterious couple.
Update: This is Clara Blandick and Ray Collins.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie and all mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery women and Wednesday’s mystery guests) and Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery man No. 2).
For Friday, we have a mysterious leading lady and leading man.
Update: This is Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests), Greg (mystery movie, Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mysterious couple), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Benito (Wednesday’s mystery man No. 2), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests) and L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast).
ladailymirror.com 
Ruby Dandridge in CAN’T HELP SINGING (1944).
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Libby Taylor, possibly?
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An interesting guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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I’m gonna go with Ruby Dandridge,
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Monday – Ruby Dandridge
not sure of the movie yet.
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I’m going to guess that our movie is “Can’t Help Singing” 1944. We’ll see a lot of ‘future TV stars’ this week if that’s correct.
Monday – Ruby Dandridge (Mom of Dorothy and Vivian).
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Monday’s woman might be Ruby Dandridge, but I don’t know which movie.
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Ruby Dandridge looking at Deanna Durbin in I CAN’T HELP SINGING.
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Renie Riano;
Harry Woods. Frank Lacteen.
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Wish I knew the movie, but between Monday and Tuesday’s actresses it should be called “Arms Akimbo.”
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Ruby Dandridge, Renie Riano and Harry Woods in CAN’T HELP SINGING.
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Ruby Dandridge (Monday) and Renie Riano (Tuesday) in Can’t Help Singing (1944)?
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Renie Riano and Olin Howland, Richard Alexander, and Roscoe Ates.
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Michael Ansara on the right.
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Tuesday – image #1 is of Renie Riano I think.
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I don’t know why, but I can’t help feeling a song coming on trying to solve this mystery.
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Tuesday – image 1 is of Renie Riano.
Image 2 – maybe that’s Harry Woods in the middle? will continue the hunt for his runnin’ buddies.
Interesting to learn that this was Ms Durbin’s first and only Technicolor picture. That scene where she’s wandering around the forest singing is just beautiful (love the ‘deer’ touch. Comes up in animated movies all the time.)
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akimbo tamiroff and Leonidas kinskey.
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On Monday, Ruby Dandridge; Tuesday is Renee Riano and Harry Woods as the gunman; Wednesday is Akim Tamiroff and Leonid Kinskey, appearing in “Can’t Help Singing.”
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Akim Tamiroff, Leonid Kinskey.
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Akim Tamiroff and Leonid Kinskey.
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Wednesday – Akim Tamiroff and Leonid Kinskey in the cool chapeaus. Their images appear on the bottom of the movie posters, too.
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Ruby Dandridge, Renie Riano, Akim Tamiroff and Leonid Kinskey, ‘Can’t Help Singing’?
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Our second guest for today is Leonid Kinskey, in Can’t Help Singing. Monday’s guest is Ruby Dandridge.
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Thomas Gomez, Clara Blandick, and Ray Collins.
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Thursday – image 1 is of Thomas Gomez.
Image 2 shows the parents of the leading lady, Clara Blandick and Ray Collins.
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Ruby Dandridge, Leonid Kinskey, Thomas Gomez, and Ray Collins all add up to the movie being “Can’t Help Singing” from 1944.
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Dick Alexander; Clara Blandick, Ray Collins.
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On Thursday, Thomas Gomez, Clara Blandick and Ray Collins.
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saw squinty Leonid Kinskey
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Thomas Gomez, Clara Blandick and Ray Collins.
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Thursday: Thomas Gomez, Clara Blandick and Ray Collins in Can’t Help Singing (1944)
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Can’t Help Singing (1944) w/ Ruby Dandridge, Akim Tamiroff, Leonid Kinskey, Clara Blandick, Ray Collins, Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige, June Vincent, Thomas Gomez…
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Tuesday’s gunslinger is Harry Woods and the gent on the right bears a striking resemblance to John Qualen.
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Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige.
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Friday – Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige
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Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige.
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“Can’t Help Singing” with Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige.
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