Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie Review

A fantastic romantic-comedy gem.

3 Smart Girls Grow Up is the heartwarming sequel to the Academy Award winning feature-film, Three Smart Girls. Produced by Joe Pasternak (It Started with Eve, In the Good Old Srummertime), the film reunites actresses Deanna Durbin and Nan Grey while replacing Barbara Read with actress Helen Parrish. An exceptional romantic-comedy, 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is a must-watch gem.

Penny Craig (Deanna Durbin) notices romantic troubles when she realizes that her sisters, Joan (Nan Grey) and Kay (Helen Parrish), both have feelings for the same man (whom one of the sisters is now engaged to marry). Determined to somehow make things right for both of them, Penny decides to be matchmaker and help find her love-lorn sister as boyfriend. As the romantic matchmaking plays out, trouble ensues as the romantic lives of the girls start to swing in unexpected directions. Can Penny be the savior to her sisters love-life dilemmas or is there only trouble in the making?

Featuring a wonderful ensemble of actresses, 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is a great showcase for the talents of Deanna Durbin and her co-stars. Durbin steals the show and manages to be a comedic delight from start to finish. There is something magical about watching Durbin attempt to play matchmaker: there are many surprising twists in the story and the actress manages to handle each scene well. Helen Parrish and Nan Grey are similarly effective in their respective roles and give the film added depth.

The costumes by Vera West (Invisible Agent, The Witness Vanishes) are impressive and manage to make a solid impression throughout the production. The gowns are fantastic on each of the three leading ladies. West, one of Hollywood's greatest designers, manages to impress audiences with resounding success. The efforts of the designer make the filmmaking all the more compelling.

The Girls.

Art director Jack Otterson (The Flame of New Orleans, First Love) crafted an impressive landscape for the production. The sets and production aesthetics are well-detailed. The home of the girls was a fascinating accomplishment with great style. Showcasing the upper-class lifestyles of the girls was something the art director showcased in style.

The music by Frank Skinner (Harvey, Arabian Nights) is another reason to see 3 Smart Girls Grow Up. There is something charming about the songs featured throughout the production. The music livens up scenes and causes the storytelling to be even more effective. A classic example of how the golden age of Hollywood consistently made great use of music in film.

One of the greatest elements of the production is the striking cinematography by Joseph A. Valentine (Joan of Arc, Mad About Music). The black-and-white cinematography looks lush and beautiful. It sings. The efforts are unmistakable.

Directed by Henry Koster (Three Smart Girls, Flower Drum Song), 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is a nice return to the story for the filmmaker. Working alongside many of the same cast/crew members as on the first production in the series, Koster made the sequel a worthwhile entry for newcomers and established fans alike. Working with the screenplay by Bruce Manning (Eight Bells, Guest Wife) and Felix Jackson (Bachelor Mother, Appointment for Love), 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is a beautiful romantic-comedy that showcases just how much a filmmaker can accomplish with a simple but well-told story. A truly great gem.

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 full frame. The scan quality manages to be effective throughout the presentation. The clarity and level of detail in the cinematography impresses. The black and white cinematography looks remarkable. There are only minor instances of print scratches. Overall, 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is the best looking presentation included in the fantastic Deanna Durbin collection.

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release features a DTS-HD Master Audio mono presentation. The audio track sounds quite good overall. The music reproduction sounds quite lovely and manages to bring some warmth to the film. Dialogue reproduction is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The track never sounds overly harsh or fatiguing. When the audio presentation is compared to the other films included in the Deanna Durbin set, the audio quality for 3 Smart Girls Grow Up is the best of the bunch.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

3 Smart Girls Grow Up Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:02)

The release includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Christmas in July (SD, 1:49) and The Young In Heart (HD, 3:26).

Three Smart Girls Grow Up Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

3 Smart Girls Grow Up is remarkably effective filmmaking. The romantic-comedy elements are fantastic. Deanna Durbin steals the show and once again proves her remarkable star-power. An outstanding performance by the leading-lady. The Blu-ray release features a good video- audio presentation and comes highly recommended.