It’s a Date (1940) in Color — Starring Deanna Durbin & Kay Francis

It’s a Date (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the sparkling mother-daughter comedy of errors in It’s a Date (1940) Colorized, directed by William A. Seiter and starring Deanna Durbin, Kay Francis, and Walter Pidgeon — now available for purchase in stunning color for just €15.00. One of the cleverest entries in Deanna Durbin’s Universal catalog, this witty romantic comedy sets a mother and daughter on a collision course — competing for the same theatrical role, the same romantic interest, and the same spotlight. This professionally colorized version brings the glamorous world of 1940s theater and Hawaiian holiday to vivid new life through era-accurate frame-by-frame colorization. Own this DRM-free digital download and watch this sparkling classic movie beautifully restored in colour.

Plot Summary

Georgia Drake (Kay Francis) is a celebrated Broadway actress whose career has been built on her youthful image and considerable talent. Her daughter Pamela (Deanna Durbin) has grown up in the shadow of her mother’s fame, dreaming of the stage herself. When a new play comes along, the impresario John Arlen (Walter Pidgeon) has the roles both women want: Georgia is the obvious choice for the lead, but after a chance encounter, he becomes convinced that the fresh-faced, enormously talented Pamela would be even more perfect.

The situation is complicated further when both Georgia and Pamela independently develop romantic feelings for the charming Arlen himself — each unaware that the other has done the same. As the three of them converge during a voyage to Hawaii, where Georgia is performing, the misunderstandings multiply with comic precision: Pamela meets Arlen without knowing who he is, Georgia believes he is interested in the play and nothing more, and Arlen finds himself simultaneously attracted to both mother and daughter while trying to navigate professional and personal minefields.

The Hawaii setting adds exotic glamour — a novelty for Depression-era audiences — as the palm-fringed backdrop to a story about ambition, generosity, and what it means for a mother and daughter to finally see each other as equals. The resolution manages the considerable trick of being both genuinely funny and genuinely moving.

Cast & Crew

Director: William A. Seiter

Screenplay: Norman Krasna

Stars: Deanna Durbin as Pamela Drake, Kay Francis as Georgia Drake, Walter Pidgeon as John Arlen, Eugene Pallette as Gov. Allen, Henry Stephenson as Capt. Andrew, S.Z. Sakall as Carl Ober, Cecilia Loftus as Sara Frankenstein, Samuel S. Hinds as Sidney Simpson, Lewis Howard as Freddie Miller, Fritz Feld as Oscar the Headwaiter

The inspired casting of Deanna Durbin opposite Kay Francis is one of the film’s great pleasures. Francis, by 1940 winding down her peak years at Warner Bros. and beginning a new chapter at smaller studios, brings genuine warmth and dignity to a role that could easily have become a comic caricature. The mother-daughter dynamic between the two actresses feels genuinely believable — a real achievement given the fourteen-year age gap between them. Walter Pidgeon, between major dramatic roles, proves himself an accomplished light comedian. S.Z. Sakall, the beloved “Cuddles” of so many 1940s comedies, provides irresistible supporting comedy as the excitable headwaiter. The Hawaiian location photography adds genuine visual delight that the colorization reveals in full richness.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization of It’s a Date is a particular revelation for the Hawaii-set sequences — the tropical flowers, the ocean sunsets, the lush green landscapes, and the vivid traditional costumes of the Hawaiian performers all come alive in ways that the original black and white photography could only suggest. The fashionable 1940 wardrobes worn by both Durbin and Francis gain their full elegance through the professionally colorized restoration. The era-accurate frame-by-frame colorization process uses advanced digital techniques to honor every detail of the original cinematography. Buy It’s a Date (1940) Colorized today for €15.00 and own this witty classic movie in a DRM-free colorized version.

Historical Significance

It’s a Date was one of Universal’s major productions of 1940 and confirmed that Deanna Durbin’s appeal extended well beyond the simpler coming-of-age stories of her earlier films. The screenplay by Norman Krasna — one of Hollywood’s sharpest comic writers — gives the film a sophistication that rewards adult audiences. The film was a significant commercial success and helped establish the template for the more mature Durbin vehicles that would follow. The restored colorized version gives new life to this underappreciated gem of Golden Age comedy and showcases the remarkable range of all three leads. The Hawaiian sequences in particular gain magnificent new visual impact in color.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 / MKV digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes, professional AI-assisted colorization
• Audio: English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 103 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Where was It’s a Date filmed?
A: While the film’s story begins in New York and moves to Hawaii, it was shot primarily at Universal Studios in Hollywood, with location footage incorporated for the Hawaiian sequences. The production team went to considerable lengths to create an authentic tropical atmosphere that the colorization now renders in gorgeous detail.

Q: What songs does Deanna Durbin sing in this classic film?
A: Durbin performs several memorable numbers including “Love is All,” “Musetta’s Waltz” (from Puccini’s La Bohème), and a spirited rendition of “Loch Lomond.” Her musical performances in this black and white classic span from grand operatic moments to charming popular songs, demonstrating her extraordinary versatility.

Q: How does Kay Francis compare to Deanna Durbin in this film?
A: The two actresses play wonderfully against each other — Francis brings the poise and slight melancholy of a woman at the peak of her career watching a younger generation rise, while Durbin brings fresh-faced ambition. The generosity with which Francis ultimately plays the mother gives the film its emotional heart.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the complete It’s a Date film?
A: Yes. This is the complete 1940 feature at its full runtime of approximately 103 minutes. The colorization has been applied to the entire classic film — nothing has been cut or altered beyond the addition of color.

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4/MKV file in HD 720p resolution. This colorized version lets you watch on any modern device or media player — television, laptop, tablet, or phone.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You own the file outright and can watch it on any device without restrictions or recurring fees.

Q: How quickly will I receive the download?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment is confirmed. You can begin watching It’s a Date (1940) Colorized within minutes of your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Three Smart Girls (1936)
• Mad About Music (1938)
• First Love (1939)
• Nice Girl? (1941)
• Because of Him (1946)