MGM Days

Deanna Durbin began her film career in 1935 at Metro Goldwyn Mayer.



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Deanna Durbin explains how she began her career in 1935 at MGM:

The arrangement was made for me to sing before a group of executives. Madame Schumann-Heink became ill and plans for the picture were indefinite, but I was called to the studio and sang "Il Bacio" again.

Mother was with me. I remember I was nervous and a little frightened before we left the house and after we went into the studio, but it passed off when I began to sing. It always does.

When you sing you forget people and things around you. Everything but the song itself is just a blur in your mind and you're not really conscious of anything but the music.

Mr. Mayer was in New York that afternoon. Miss Ida Koverman, who was his executive secretary, heard me sing and asked me to wait a little while. She went into another room and very soon she came back to tell us that Mr. Mayer was waiting to hear me. They held the transcontinental wire open while I sang for him.

He sent me a telegram of congratulation and before we left the studio I signed a contract.

I am certain it was the most thrilling experience of my life up to then. I had listened to recordings of Madame Schumann-Heink hundreds of times and the prospect of singing on the same stage with her was almost frightening. I knew though, that once I began to sing, I would forget even her presence.

Although I didn't suspect it then, of course, I understand that Hollywood plans can never be absolutely certain. The lesson came early and it will probably always be valuable.

Madame Schumann-Heink was unable to regain her health. There was nothing else but to abandon the picture and the world lost the story of a life that was inspiring and full of beauty and great music.

I had won the friendship of Judy Garland. We both loved music and we had fun times planning our futures. It was a new sort of life and each day bought its particular thrills.

Judy stayed with MGM and I was with Universal. We still hold our friendship and we have the same problems and pleasures. Conditions have changed a great deal since those days in the little white frame school house on the lot, but life in Hollywood is still as exciting as it was in those early days.

Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland practice their singing at MGM:

Deanna Durbin at MGM with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney near the start of their careers:



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Deanna Durbin with Jackie Cooper and Judy Garland taken in May of 1936 at MGM:

Mickey Rooney making Deanna Durbin laugh while having lunch at MGM:

Lunch time at MGM for child stars Freddie Bartholomew, Peggy Ryan, Mickey Rooney, Deanna Durbin, Judy Garland, and Jackie Cooper:

Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland enjoyed skating at MGM:

Deanna Durbin & Judy Garland seen skipping at MGM:

Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland find time to play at MGM:

Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland working in the warm sunshine at MGM:

This is a 1936 photo taken at MGM of Deanna Durbin with Judy Garland and Buddy Ebsen:



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Deanna Durbin with Judy Garland in the MGM short film called EVERY SUNDAY:



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Going by the historical reports that can be found, it would seem that MGM based its decision to drop either Deanna Durbin or Judy Garland on the screening of a 1936 "Exhibitor's Reel" featuring the two young girls which was produced before EVERY SUNDAY.

The "Exhibitor's Reel" has been lost in history, but Judy Garland may of made mention to it when she stated one time, "I had a dirty face and an apple in my mouth, and she was the 'Princess of Transylvania' or some such crazy thing."

The story goes that while Louis B. Mayer was away on a trip he instructed his people at MGM to "drop the fat one." They misunderstood and mistakenly let Deanna go.

When Mayer found out that Judy Garland was still at the studio and that Deanna was gone – he was very upset. That's just one of the reasons Mayer was never overly fond of Judy. He also preferred Deanna's classical singing over Judy's jazzy repertoire.

Soon after Deanna was released by MGM, Universal Studios gave her a contract on the 13th of June and cast her in the September production of THREE SMART GIRLS which was a smash hit.

To this day, Deanna Durbin is the only actress in motion picture history to have ten hits in a row. The first ten were both artistic and financial successes. All of that money rolling into Universal certainly bothered Louis B. Mayer.

Judy eventually became a major star for MGM and brought in a lot of revenue. The biggest problem was that Louis B. Mayer treated his stars like family and Judy was always causing trouble.

Even Mickey Rooney was not a problem. Mickey was there, he knew what to do, and a lot of times covered-up for Judy. She cost MGM a lot of money with production costs going way overboard. That more than anything is what put Mayer against her.

We can only imagine how movie history would have changed if Deanna Durbin had stayed with MGM.

In 1940, Judy Garland said, "They (MGM) probably would never have done anything with me except that Deanna made such a hit just then and all the studios were looking for kids who could sing."

MGM seriously considered Deanna Durbin as an alternative to Judy Garland to play the role of Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Comparing the two, Deanna was the superior actress, a much better singer, and more attractive. So there is no doubt that she would have made THE WIZARD OF OZ an even more legendary motion picture!!



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Deanna Durbin and Judy Garland chat about the old days with Hollywood talent agent Henry Willson:



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In 2003, BBC Radio in Wales conducted a poll asking its listeners to name "The 30 Greatest Performers of the 20th Century."

Deanna Durbin was voted #3 and Judy Garland was voted #10.



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