Because of Him

The picture and audio qualities are very good. English SDH subtitles are available, but there is no menu of any kind. You have to select the subtitles through the player's menu.Charles Laughton is terrific as usual. Deceit leads to misunderstandings and heartaches.

The always wonderful Deanna Durbin turns this mix of comedy and music into delightful and charming fun. It was the second time she and Charles Laughton would work together, leaving us a memory of what makes the movies great. Durbin once more exudes that something special that made her the great star she was.Kim Walker (Deanna Durbin) is a waitress trying to get her big break on stage and with a letter of introduction from the great John Sheridan (Charles Laughton) she might just have found it. The letter, of course, was simply an autograph Kim managed to get before Sheridan goes fishing in Maine. The author of the play (Franchot Tone) doesn't want her in it, even though she sets his heart in motion. When Sheridan returns earlier than expected and gets it all figured out the film really comes to life.Laughton and Durbin are wonderful together as he feels sorry for her and she begins to win over the wise old Sheridan. When both Sheridan and Paul Taylor (Tone) mistakenly think their dismissal of her has brought her to the brink of suicide they begin to come around. Kim has fallen in love with Taylor and once again the wise old Sheridan will maneuver events on stage and off to bring about a happy ending for his sweet and talented protege from North Dakota.Durbin's spirit makes this one of her best films before walking away from Hollywood forever. Laughton teaches her how to faint and what becomes their routine of placing her head on his shoulder as he escorts her out the door is fun. Her chasing around Tone singing "Goodbye" as he tries to shake her is fun as well. She also gets to sing the most sentimental and beautiful version of "Danny Boy" you'll ever hear in this light comedy classic.This is a fun time at the movies, especially for Deanna Durbin fans. She made the transition gracefully from child musical star and became a wonderful light comedic actress who exuded charm and sincerity in all her roles. There has not been, and never will be, anyone to replace her. She was lovely to look at, enchanting to watch, and her soprano voice was heavenly to hear. "Because of Him" is just further evidence that Deanna Durbin truly was the Last Rose of Summer.

great entertaining story about how show biz works

What a disappointment "Because of Him" was! I enjoy all sorts of classic and modern movies, and really like four of the six films on the "Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack", but "Because of Him" is just bad. Stories need to have internal logic and characters need plausible motivations, but you won't find those in this cine-turkey.Deanna Durbin is waitress Kim Walker, who aspires to be a leading-lady on stage, despite the fact that she's only acted in high school plays and disdains to work her way up through off-Broadway and summer stock. Not her! She wants to leap immediately to the top, and she contrives to do so by lying and by manipulating Charles Laughton as esteemed stage actor John Sheridan and Franchot Tone as playwright Paul Taylor. Moreover, Kim Walker's matronly waitress friend is eager to assist her in every way -- including lying to the press that Walker has attempted suicide because Sheridan has rejected her advances. We never learn why the friend is willing to do all this, nor anything about their relationship beyond the fact that they share a fabulous apartment on their diner waitress salaries.These are all good actors, but the acting here is not good, probably because the characters and the plot are ridiculous -- insultingly so. Just one more example: when John Sheridan offers reasonable praise and advises Kim Walker to return to him in a few years after she's honed her craft, Kim begins to cry (because she has to be a leading lady NOW!) and sings "Danny Boy". That makes all the difference! Now Sheridan will throw his full-support behind Kim and will coach her as the lead in Paul Taylor's new play, despite the fact that Taylor quite reasonably does not want an untested newcomer in the role.This DVD cost me $15 and 90-minutes of my life, every penny and minute of which I regret. Do yourself a favor and skip this junk. If you don't have the "Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack", go for that. It's well worth the twenty dollars, as four of the six films are quite fine.

I like this Blu-ray movie it’s good

My expectations were high for this film. My two favorite Deanna movies have the same co-stars [Charles Laughton in It Started with Eve and Franchot Tone in His Butler's Sister], so initially I was disappointed, especially in Tone's role--his character wasn't even likeable, so it was difficult to hope he would be Deanna's love interest.. But on the second viewing, with my expectations lowered, I found myself enjoying the film. Laughton is wonderful in any role, and this was no exception for him. He can convey so much with his facial expressions.It was strange to find a role for Deanna that doesn't include her having undiscovered singing talent. In this film it's all about her acting talent and the singing is a side talent. But sing she does and O Danny Boy is very moving. But one has to wonder why Sheridan [Laughton] doesn't immediately see she belongs on a singing stage rather than an acting stage. Still, the song wins him over as she is adorable as per usual in all her films.I gave four stars because while it was far from being my favorite Deanna film, anything she does is worth seeing.........and especially hearing.

When I ordered this product I was worried how long it would take to get to me. Before I knew it it had been delivered & I was watching it.

Excellent audio-video quality and a very good movie, Charles Laughton is superb as usual!

Laughton and Durbin make an engaging comedy team in this story of a charming but scheming aspiring stage actress who Laughton's character takes under his wing to teach her the tricks of the trade. He gives a brilliant self-parodying performance as a cynical old ham, using both his classical genius and innate sense of fun to great effect. Durbin certainly holds her own as his mischievous student and is rivetting when singing Tosti's 'Goodbye' in an imaginative scene that moves the action along rather than having her performing on stage. Sharp and glossy black and white print, with reasonable sound quality but no subtitles. Attractive image gallery. Aspect ratio 4:3.

Somewhat of an 'oddity' this film, starring the odd teaming of Charles Laughton and Deanna Durbin.I only really purchased this DVD because I'd heard Durbin's beautiful rendition of one of my favourite old Songs - Tosti's 'Goodbye' which she sings in the movie. It ad famously been recorded by the great Eva Turner. It really is a fabulous version, and was well worth it.As for the movie; a little odd, and not always easy to follow (despite the simple plot) without having read a bit about it beforehand. Sound quality is not brilliant which is a shame, but only really noticeable when wearing headphones. The soundtrack tends to drift from one ear to the other in waves which is very irritating...

Durbin may be the star but Laughton steals the film.

Great old fashioned film, filled withgreat humour and charm.The quality was as good as watching a television broadcast.

an excellant film from the 1940s not quite what we expect from todays standards but ideal if you like old romantic films