One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937) in Color — Starring Deanna Durbin & Leopold Stokowski

One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937) — Buy This Classic in Color

One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937) is a delightful comedy directed by Henry Koster, starring Deanna Durbin and Adolphe Menjou, with legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski appearing as himself. A spirited teenage girl schemes to convince a famous conductor to lead an orchestra of unemployed musicians, including her father, in this heartwarming Depression-era story that celebrates the transformative power of music and the unstoppable force of youthful optimism. Featuring Durbin’s extraordinary soprano voice and a screenplay that balances comedy with genuine emotional depth, the film became one of the most financially successful pictures of its era. This professionally colorized version brings the musical performances and Depression-era charm to vivid new life. Buy your colorized copy today for €15.00 and own this uplifting classic movie in color.

Plot Summary

Patsy Cardwell (Deanna Durbin) is a determined, irrepressibly optimistic teenager living in Depression-era New York with her father John (Adolphe Menjou), a talented trombonist who has been out of work for years along with dozens of other skilled musicians. The once-proud orchestral players have been reduced to auditioning for any gig they can find, their spirits sinking lower with each rejection. Patsy, who possesses both a magnificent singing voice and an unshakeable belief that things will work out, hatches an audacious plan: she will convince the great maestro Leopold Stokowski to conduct a symphony orchestra made up entirely of unemployed musicians, which would give them all jobs and restore their dignity and self-respect.

Through sheer persistence, boundless charm, and a series of creative fibs that grow more elaborate with each telling, Patsy infiltrates Stokowski’s rarefied world of concert halls and high society. She crashes private rehearsals, talks her way past suspicious servants, and even follows the maestro to a restaurant where she serenades him with an aria that stops the room in its tracks. Along the way, she gains the support of a wealthy and eccentric patroness (Alice Brady), whose generosity might provide the financial backing needed for the concert. The unemployed musicians themselves — including a skeptical but gradually won-over collection of talented players — begin to believe that the impossible might actually happen. But Stokowski repeatedly and firmly refuses, and Patsy’s father is deeply humiliated by his daughter’s increasingly outrageous schemes, fearing she is making a fool of herself and of him. The tension between Patsy’s dream and the crushing reality of the Depression builds to a thrilling musical climax in Stokowski’s own concert hall, where the power of music, determination, and one extraordinary young voice prove that even the most impossible dreams can come true. This classic movie is a joyous celebration of resilience and the unifying power of art.

Cast & Crew

Director: Henry Koster

Stars: Deanna Durbin, Adolphe Menjou, Leopold Stokowski, Alice Brady, Mischa Auer, Eugene Pallette, Billy Gilbert, Frank Jenks, J. Scott Smart, Alma Kruger

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This colorized version of One Hundred Men and a Girl reveals the grand concert halls with their gilded moldings and velvet seats, the modest Depression-era apartments where the musicians struggle to make ends meet, and the jubilant musical performances with warm visual richness. The contrast between the opulent world of classical music — Stokowski’s elegant rehearsal spaces and the patroness’s lavish mansion — and the humble reality of the unemployed musicians’ lives gains powerful new dimension through the colorization. The professionally colorized restoration brings the orchestral splendor, the elegant concert settings, and the emotional triumph of the climactic performance to life with frame-by-frame precision. Deanna Durbin’s radiant screen presence shines even brighter in color, her youthful energy and luminous smile perfectly complemented by the warm palette. Watch this restored classic film in bright, joyful color. Now also available in colour.

Buy One Hundred Men and a Girl in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

One Hundred Men and a Girl made Deanna Durbin one of the biggest box office stars in the world at the age of fifteen, and the film is widely credited with helping save Universal Studios from the bankruptcy that threatened to shut the studio down entirely. Leopold Stokowski’s appearance was a cultural event, bringing classical music — including works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner — to mainstream movie audiences who might never have entered a concert hall. The film won the Academy Award for Best Musical Score, with Charles Previn’s arrangements showcasing the classical repertoire alongside Durbin’s vocal performances. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Story, Best Sound Recording, and Best Editing. Durbin received a special Academy Juvenile Award in 1938, shared with Mickey Rooney, “for their significant contribution in bringing to the screen the spirit and personification of youth.” Director Henry Koster, a German émigré who had fled the Nazis, found his greatest early success with this film and would go on to a distinguished Hollywood career. The film’s Depression-era message of hope through collective action and the redemptive power of art resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. The colorization adds radiant visual charm to this beloved classic, enhancing the emotional warmth that has made it endure.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 84 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: Does Leopold Stokowski really appear in the film?
A: Yes, the legendary conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra plays himself and conducts the orchestra in the film’s thrilling climax, performing works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt, and other classical composers.

Q: What songs does Deanna Durbin sing?
A: Durbin performs several classical pieces including excerpts from Mozart and Verdi, as well as lighter musical numbers. Her extraordinary soprano voice was central to the film’s appeal and commercial success.

Q: Is this the complete version?
A: Yes, this is the full 1937 theatrical release presented in its colorized version.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: DRM-free MP4, compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: €15.00 for instant download. The colorization process ensures every scene looks stunning in color.

Q: Can I watch on multiple devices?
A: Absolutely. The file is DRM-free, so you can watch on your TV, tablet, phone, or computer.

Related Colorized Classics

• Born to Dance (1936)
• Song of Love (1947)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)
• The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
• For the Love of Mary (1948)