Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Deanna Durbin.......

I hope it's not just me, but I have so much admiration for those few, rare beings who actually do live their lives exactly the way they wish, completely disregarding the expectations of others. 
Deanna Durbin
In an age where we routinely see people stay too long in their professions to the point where they begin to become an embarrassment, it is so refreshing to witness the rare individual who can live life on her/his own terms.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j32Fnb_8Bv4

In the 1930s and 40s, there was an actress/singer named Deanna Durbin (b 1921....still living).  At the age of 15, she first appeared with Judy Garland in Every Sunday.  Signing with Universal Studios, she won the Academy Juvenile Award in 1938.  She is credited with saving Universal Studios from bankruptcy.  In 1945 and 1947, Durbin was the top salaried woman in the United States.

Her talent and popularity were enormous.   Her fan club was the largest in existence during the 1940s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hju5YFPH_eA&feature=related

But, in 1949, at the age of 28, she abruptly retired from public life.  And, although she continued to be offered highly lucrative roles and engagements, she remained true to herself and went on to live a private life, free from interviews and appearances.

She and her husband, Charles David, moved to France and lived a quiet life.  In 1999, Charles died.  And the great Deanna Durbin remains in their home, true to herself, and an example to us all.

I love you, Deanna.
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17 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    There are a few cases like that and I can only admire those who give up the hoopla in favor of normalacy.
    I don't remember seeing her but I was really into westerns and doubt she made any. I'll watch TCM to see if they run any of her movies.
    Arkansas Patti

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  2. Cindy EllisonSeptember 14, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    I love Deanna Durbin, too! We need to find some of her old movies and watch them. Such talent and beauty!

    To Thine Own Self Be True ... and she was.

    ♥

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  3. alice alfredSeptember 14, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Great write up on a great actress!!

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  4. BitchSeptember 14, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    I did not know her.
    A true gem in the world of film business!!

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  5. NovaSeptember 14, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    Thanks for the story, very interesting.

    I also didn't know her. What a beautiful woman.

    I love reading your Blog, always fantastic to learn about not knowing things.

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  6. RHYTHM AND RHYMESeptember 14, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    This was very interesting Clint I never knew Deanna was still alive. Most enjoyable to read.

    Yvonne (Dannielle)

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  7. BevSeptember 14, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    Very interesting. You can be a wealth of information!

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  8. Sr Crystal Mary LindseySeptember 14, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    Oh wow! That story gave me goose bumps...I had heard of her, but didn't ever know her story. What a wonderful person.I wonder if she knew the Lord. I am going to look her up. My eldest daughter Femia, was a top fashion model in Sydney for about a year when she was eighteen, she was in magazines, in a movie, on T.V. commercials and catwalking..but she gave it up. She said she felt God should come first. Now she is a mother of grown children and a photographer.. I will have to feature her sometime. Good on you Clint, I will look up Deanna now.

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  9. LisaSeptember 14, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    This is beautiful and interesting. It makes me want to go to France and visit with her. Even though she wants privacy, I just know she'll enjoy my visit.

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  10. ShellySeptember 15, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    She is beautiful and classy, a sadly rare combination today. Great post!

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  11. Buttons ThoughtsSeptember 15, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    True to ones self is the best thing anyone could do for their self. B

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  12. kelliSeptember 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    i'd never heard of deanna durbin. she seems like a real genuine woman. some call the age around 28 "the return of saturn" - a time of awareness that can lead to a return to your true self. so very interesting. thanks for sharing!

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  13. kelliSeptember 15, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    *it's actually referred to as the "saturn return". return of saturn is an album i liked in high school.=)

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  14. darlinSeptember 16, 2011 at 3:35 AM

    Wow, what a beautiful lady. I admire her for what she did, I only wish I could escape to France and live my life the way I chose to... ah but to dream! Have a wonderful day!

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  15. AnonymousSeptember 17, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    Seems that Deanna Durbin's popularity is on the rise again. I have a tribute website all about her wonderful career. Just Google DEANNA DURBIN DEVOTEES where you will find much information and photos of Deanna.

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  16. Rebecca MecomberSeptember 17, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    I was an old movie buff (the movies were old, not the buff, haha!) and I remember Deanna Durbin.

    Irene Dunne did similar-- she was a very devout lady, married to ONE man for her entire life. She made some wonderful movies.

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  17. UnknownOctober 21, 2014 at 7:09 AM

    I knew Deanna. I originally wrote her as a fan in 1980. We corresponded by mail for 30 years until her(3 year) illness which eventually took her life. She was real, great sense of humor, animal lover, especially dogs. Most of her films are available on amazon.com, "Lady on A Train" being her best. When her first DVD collection was released & did not sell well, she told me, "bad prints, another good reason to leave the movies"!

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