Three Daring Daughters [The Birds and the Bees] *** (1948, Jeanette MacDonald, José Iturbi, Jane Powell, Edward Arnold, Harry Davenport) – Classic Movie Review 11,362

Director Fred M Wilcox’s 1948 musical comedy Three Daring Daughters [The Birds and the Bees] stars Jeanette MacDonald, José Iturbi, Jane Powell, Edward Arnold and Harry Davenport. The Catholic National Legion of Decency declared this MGM musical ‘morally objectionable’ for portraying divorce as respectable. It was a hit, costing $2,538,000 and earning $4,010,000 at the box office.

After a gap of six years (apart from a guest spot in 1944’s Follow the Boys) Jeanette MacDonald makes an enjoyable comeback in a middle-aged role as Louise Rayton Morgan, a working mum going on a cruise, and meeting and remarrying famed pianist and conductor José Iturbi (as Himself), and then having to smooth the ruffled feathers of her daughters Tess (Jane Powell), Alix (Elinor Donahue) and Ilka (Ann E Todd).

MGM back their old star with good people and a Technicolor production, and there is ample opportunity to enjoy songs from MacDonald and Powell, plus music from pianist/conductor José Iturbi, his sister Amparo Iturbi (as Herself) and harmonica player Larry Adler (as Himself).

There is a mild, unsurprising story, but, if it is mild as drama, the film is tuneful, and the comedy holds up well thanks to the deft playing.

Also in the cast are Moyna MacGill, Tom Helmore, Kathryn Card, Dick Simmons, Leon Belasco, Thomas E Breen, Virginia Brissac, Wheaton Chambers, Charles E Coleman, David Cota, William Forrest, Phyllis Graffeo, Thurston Hall, Stephen Hero,, Jack Tiny Lipson, Connie Mintoya, Dorita Pallais, Edward Peil Sr, Frank Pershing, Dorothy Porter, Diane Lee Steward, Brick Sullivan, Joan Valerie, Joanee Wayne, and Ian Wolfe.

Three Daring Daughters [The Birds and the Bees] is directed by Fred M Wilcox, runs 115 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, John Meehan and Sonya Lieven, is shot in Technicolor by Ray June, is produced by Joe Pasternak, is scored by George E Stoll, and designed by Cedric Gibbons and E Preston Ames.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,362

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