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Features Deanna Durbin, Herbert Marshal, and William Frawley. Walter Huston fills in for Cecil B DeMill. The background and personal aspects of Deanna are given, then the show opens.
A crowd gathers to rave about the newest star, but in the dressing room she talks to her agent about her long lost daughter. William Frawley pleads with her to keep the secret of the daughter a little longer, but soon she can quit and leave stardom for motherhood.
Meanwhile, Deanna Durbin is in a boardinghouse in Switzerland. She isn’t entirely happy as she shows off and competes with the other girls there. She makes up stories about her aledged adventuresome dad, but it looks like she can’t keep up her charade for much longer.
The girls march about their daily chores, and notice the cute boys in the military academy. After managing to get a date with one of the guys, Deanna sings, Ave Maria.
Gloria, Deanna Durbin has been telling tall tales about her dad, but they still don’t impress her rival at school. Has her dream father become a nightmare? To keep up her act, she has to find a man to stand in for her dad, and snags herbert Marshall. She acts as something of a tour guide to him, but doesn’t let him know what she’s up to. Will her act as tour guide be what it takes to impress the other girls, or will it just dig her a deeper hole. It may have impress the school too much when they take time off the usual routine to have a special welcoming event for the imaginary dad.
Will Herbert Marshal play along with her game? When the moment comes for him to tell the truth, he melts and plays dad for Deanna. Being a composer, he manages to tell a few tall tales of his own to impress the gals. It’s time for a song when Dad plays and Deanna sings, Chapel Bells.
In private, Deanna shares the truth about her real dad, a downed Navy pilot, and her mom to Herbert Marshall. Although she doesn’t mention that her mom is a famous movie star. Later, the boy who is sweet on Deanna goes to talk to the fake dad. He wants to ask permission to date Deanna.
There’s to be a party at school, but fake dad gets a telegram that has him leaving for business. Deanna helps him pack, and in the process learns that mom is doing shows in France. I feel some more secrets and identity revelations coming on. Time for the sponsor break before the climax of the show continues. In the break, Deanna’s Hollywood tutor tells about her excellent work at school, amid plugging Lux soap.
Deanna goes to send dad off, and makes sure she stows away on the train. She wants to accompany her fake dad to Paris, where her mom is. Deanna talks with William Frawley, who isn’t happy about her escape from school. All she wants is to see her mom, but will it ruin mom’s image?
Depressed over her visit, Deanna goes to find fake dad, and she sings another song, Will I Find the One, until she is so upset that she breaks down in tears. Being the confirmed liar that she is, Deanna spins a tale of her bittersweet meeting with mom that is much more elaborate than the real thing. Herbert Marshal sees through the lie, and takes her to confront mom in person.
Meanwhile, Mom finally learns that Deanna is missing from school, and that her agent sent her on her way. Mom has had enough and cracks. She spills the beans to the press about her daughter, just in time for fake dad to bring Deanna to mom for a reunion. Maybe fake dad will become real dad? Deanna sings a few lines of one last song.
Note: I really enjoyed the acting of Deanna Durbin in her portrayal of Gloria. Although, I though Gloria ought to have had her bubble of lies burst long before, but what can be expected when mom has been living a lie as well? I’m just glad the truth came out, and I hope the long distance relationships have come to an end.
