Every Sunday *** (1936, Judy Garland, Deanna Durbin, Jack Lindquist) – Classic Movie Review 7932

Director Felix E Feist’s 1936 movie history-making MGM short film Every Sunday features the first notable screen appearances of both upcoming teenage stars Judy Garland (aged 14) and Deanna Durbin (aged 15), who makes her film debut. Their contrasting personalities combine appealingly in this tale of a Sunday band show success.

Garland and Durbin play teenage girls Judy and Edna (Durbin’s real name) who gather a crowd and sing with the small orchestra led by Edna’s grandfather when city council officials threaten to cancel the orchestra’s Sunday concerts in the park through diminishing audiences. Durbin sings an aria Il Bacio (music by Luigi Arditi,  lyrics by Gottardo Aldighieri) and Garland sings ‘Americana’ (written by Roger Edens) and ‘Waltz with a Swing’ (written by Con Conrad). Garland and Durbin reprise ‘Americana’.

Every Sunday is now best known for the excerpt featured in 1974 compilation film That’s Entertainment!.

Durbin signed a contract with MGM in 1936 at 14, but was immediately dropped by them, but she was then picked up by Universal Pictures, who turned her into the most highly paid female star in the world who saved the studio from bankruptcy.

Every Sunday is directed by Felix E Feist, runs 15 minutes, is made and released by MGM, is written by Mauri Grashin, is shot by Charles G Clarke in black and white, and produced by George Sidney.

Durbin was already released by MGM and signed by Universal before Every Sunday’s production. George Sidney said that MGM executives instructed him to ‘dump the fat one’ (Garland) after viewing this short film, but Judy stayed signed to MGM.

It is included on the DVD release of For Me and My Gal (1942).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7932

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