CAN'T HELP SINGING (Universal, 1944), directed by Frank Ryan, is a musical, naturally. What the title doesn't imply is that it's also a western. Starring Deanna Durbin, Universal's star attraction, who was earlier MAD ABOUT MUSIC (1938), here CAN'T HELP SINGING, is often classified as a movie inspired by the then current stage musical sensation of "Oklahoma," which lead to MGM's own musical western theme of THE HARVEY GIRLS (MGM, 1946) starring Judy Garland. While this edition lacks the singing flavor of "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from "Oklahoma" or "The Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe" from THE HARVEY GIRLS, it does have the brunette turned blonde Deanna Durbin, in glorious Technicolor for the only time in her movie career, vocalizing new songs composed by the legendary songwriter, Jerome Kern, with story passages to have avid film buffs think of Frank Capra's Academy Award winning "It Happened One Night" (1934), minus the bus, road camps and hitchhiking.Based on the story, "The Girl of the Overland Trail" by Samuel J. and Curtis B. Warshawsky, the narrative opens in Washington, D.C., 1849, where the first shipment of gold from California is presented to the President James Knox Polk (Edward Earle) at a crowd gathering. Caroline Frost (Deanna Durbin), having been away in the country, arrives early to meet with the man she loves, Lieutenant Robert Latham (David Bruce), forgetting she's scheduled to later sing at the White House reception. Her father, Senator Martin Frost (Ray Collins), disapproves of Caroline's involvement with Latham because he believes him to be an opportunist, thus, doing everything possible keeping them apart. Learning Latham has been stationed to California with his Fourth Calvary, Caroline sneaks away from home to follow and marry him. Tracking him down to Missouri, Caroline is told by Army officers that Latham has gone to Fort Richards. Learning her father has posted in newspapers a $5,000 reward for her return, Caroline keeps herself from being noticed by avoiding any personal contact. During the course of her travels, Caroline encounters such characters types as Gregory (Akim Tamiroff) and Koppa (Leonid Kinskey), a couple of Russian stowaways who help carry her trunk they believe to have its weight in gold; and Sam Archer (Andrew Toombes), a confidence man who swindles Caroline of her money for a horse and buggy belonging to somebody else. She then meets Johnny Lawlor (Robert Paige), a card sharp who, aware of her true identity, agrees to help the runaway heiress on a 2,000 mile trip to California at his asking price of $1,000 to be paid to him by her fictional fiancé, Jake Carstairs (Thomas Gomez) of Sonora, labeled "the best shot in the world," a man she knows about but has never met. If that isn't enough, Johnny, who detests liars, has Gregory act the part of her husband in order to gain passage on a wagon train. Once everyone reaches their California destination, further complications ensue.Others in the cast include: Clara Blandick (Caroline's Aunt Cissy); June Vincent (Frances McLean); George Cleveland (The Marshal); and in smaller roles, Irving Bacon, Roscoe Ates, Renie Riano and Arthur Housman. As much as Universal might have placed such accomplished male singers as Dick Foran or Allan Jones as Durbin's co-star, Robert Paige, basically an actor of forgettable second features, is acceptable in his John Payn-type of performance who surprisingly gets to sing, and quite well at that.In between doses of misunderstandings and comedy passages, such as a running gag of a little boy named Warren constantly twisting his hair and being disciplined by his mother, song interludes take place, including: "Can't Help Singing" (sung by Deanna Durbin); "Elbow Room," "Can't Help Singing" (reprise by Durbin with Robert Paige and others); "Any Moment Now," "Swing Your Sweetheart," "More and More," "Californ-I-Ay," FINALE: "Californ-I'ay," "More and More" and "Can't Help Singing." Regardless of Jerome Kern and E.Y. Harburg's collaboration with the composition, and the Academy Award Best Song nomination for "More and More," the songs in general are forgotten. "Can't Help Singing" is lively, with latter reprise set in a bath- house with Durbin singing in the bath-tub covered with bubbles, while the Award nominated "More and More" seems slow and dull, not living to any expectation to other song nominees. Durbin's solo song number of "Any Moment Now," with blue skies and visual mountain background in the manner of Julie Andrews' opening of THE SOUND OF MUSIC (20th Century-Fox, 1965), is the film's most diverting highlight.CAN'T HELP SINGING has some fine moments, but no lasting appeal once the movie is over. Aside availability on video cassette in 1997, and on DVD years later, television broadcasts have been few and far between over the years, ranging from public television (1980s), to cable's American Movie Classics (1996-2000); Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: May 3, 2010), RetroPlex and occasionally Encore Westerns. For those who enjoy Durbin, the girl who can't help singing, will find this 89 minute western musical/comedy pleasing, enjoyable fluff. (***1/2)

"Can't Help Singing" isn't a bad movie. It's a pleasant time-passer. However, the film isn't any more--mostly due to too many forgettable songs and a paper-thin plot. Because of such movies as this, you can easily understand why the star, Deanna Durbin, only made 28 films and then retired--even though she was a top box office star.The film begins with Caroline (Durbin) insisting that she's going to marry some dashing cavalry officer. However, her father, the Senator (Ray Collins), isn't about to let her marry the guy. So she does what any impetuous and goofy young lady would do--she runs off and joins a wagon train heading west so she can find her sweetie. However, this incredibly naive lady ends up getting into no end of trouble. Eventually, she ends up going west with a professional gambler--and because they dislike each other so much, you just know that by the end of the film they'll be in love--such are the clichés in this movie.I would consider this brainless fun. As I mentioned above, the songs aren't very good and distract from the plot--not a major plus for the film. But the characters are kind of cute--even if Caroline is a bit flighty. Not a bad film, as it will keep your interest...except whenever she breaks into song!By the way, as a retired history teacher I should point out that the guns in this film are anachronistic. Everyone with a gun in this film has a revolver, though the film is set around 1847 and such weapons weren't widely used until around the Civil War.

A very silly production is "Can't Help Singing." This 1944 film did not give the opportunity for Deanna Durbin to showcase her talent. Her voice was good; in fact, too good for this inane film. Her singing was way above the plot where a senator's daughter flees her father to run off with an army officer. This time dad is right. The only reason why the guy is interested in her is to further his career via her political father.Along the way, she meets a card shark and the two hit it off. The ending becomes silly when Durbin is forced to admit the stories she has made up along the way.Durbin sings the title song "Can't Help Singing" with great enthusiasm but the other songs, especially California-y are ridiculous as is the plot.

For reasons beyond comprehension, "Can't Help Singing" is a film no one I know has even heard of, much less seen, probably because Deanna Durbin, a child actress of the mid-1930s who blossomed into an alluring,witty, beautiful young woman in the 1940s, suddenly chucked her career in 1948, started a new life in the French countryside with her husband and subsequent children, and has never been heard from since. But, within a little more than a decade, she not only saved Universal studios from bankruptcy but was the most popular female star of her time. Watching her films today, one is amazed at how contemporary they--and she--are, particularly when she graduated from child star ("100 Men and a Girl," "Three Smart Girls") to a spunky young lady with a voice of pure velvet and a melting range of emotions (from rueful to sensual). "Can't Help Singing" is a luscious introduction to the timeless charm of Ms. Durbin. Her first--and only-- film in Technicolor, this lighthearted musical Western must have cost Universal a fortune--filmed mainly on outdoor locations in the Northwest, with one of Jerome Kern's most beautiful (and underappreciated scores). Forget the plot about a politician's daughter who, against her father's orders, heads West to track down her handsome cavalry lover (David Bruce) but, en route via covered wagon to the wild, wild West, finds herself locking horns--and finally arms--with a dashing, sarcastic cowboy (Robert Paige--whose good looks and soaring baritone are more than a match for Ms. Durbin's beauty and exquisite soprano).What counts is the ravishing color photography of Kern's songs--filmed on location in the great outdoors (the highlight, for me, is Ms. Durbin's soaring rendition of "Any Moment Now" filmed as she wanders through the breathtaking backdrop of Bryce Canyon--truly one of the most exquisite musical interludes in movie history). Add "More and More" (Oscar-nominated), "Californiay," and the knockout title song (performed by Ms. Durbin & Mr. Paige in adjoining outdoor bathtubs--don't ask!)and there's little more you could wish for in a movie--musical or otherwise. I've read that the film was a boxoffice disappointment and hastened Ms. Durbin's decision to call it quits a few years later. And most of the reviews I occasionally come across are generally lukewarm, if not hostile. Movie scholars might argue that, from an historical viewpoint, "Can't Help Singing" was an unintentional precursor of all the zesty, musical Westerns that were to enchant movie audiences during the next decade. Perhaps so. Who cares. I can't see how anyone can resist the once-in-a-lifetime glories of Deanna Durbin in her dazzling prime, the most beauteous use of Technicolor imaginable, and the entrancing melodies of probably our finest American composer, Mr. Kern. Thank you all very much.