Deanna-durbin Quote by Jeanine Basinger
““Deanna Durbin's movies are about innocence and sweetness. They're from a different time and a different place. Outside the movie house, there was Depression, poverty, war, death, and loss. Audiences then were willing to pretend, to enter into a game of escape. No one really thought that the world was like a Deanna Durbin movie, they just wanted to pretend it was for about an hour and a half.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Hollywood in the Age of the Great Depression, Jeanine Basinger, 1993
Films starring Deanna Durbin offered a nostalgic escape from harsh realities, allowing audiences brief respite through innocence and sweetness.
In simple terms: Durbin movies gave viewers a temporary escape from hardship.
Key Takeaway
Use art to find brief relief in tough times.
Themes
escapism
nostalgia
cinema
social context
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
cultural
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- War era audiences
- modern viewers seeking comfort
- film studies curricula
Key Concepts
Hollywood golden age
cultural relief
psychology of entertainment
Questions to Reflect On
- How does nostalgia shape our perception of history?
- When is escapism beneficial versus harmful?
A Different Perspective
Escapism can mask underlying issues rather than address them.
![“She's another Deanna Durbin,' [Harry] Cohn said, 'except that she can't sing.” quote by Gene Tierney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb2/gene-tierney-7683_deanna-durbin_she-s-another-deanna-durbin-harry-cohn-s_1468877.jpg)
