Changing her name to Deanna Durbin at the commencement of her career, Durbin signed a contract with MGM in 1935 and made her first film appearance in a short subject Every Sunday with another contractee, Judy Garland.
Durbin was released from her contract shortly thereafter as studio executive Louis B. Mayer felt he did not need two young female singers under contract. Hollywood legend has recorded that he instructed his staff to "drop the fat one" and that they had dismissed Durbin, misunderstanding that Mayer had in fact intended to terminate the contract of Garland.
Durbin was quickly signed to a contract with Universal Studios and made her first feature-length film Three Smart Girls in 1936. The huge success of her films were reported to have saved the studio from bankruptcy. In 1938 she received a special Academy Juvenile Award, along with Mickey Rooney. Such was Durbin's international fame and popularity that she was mentioned in Anne Frank's diary as a personal favorite.
She married an actor, Vaughn Paul, in 1941 and they were divorced in 1943. Her second marriage, to producer Felix Jackson in 1945, produced a daughter, Jessica Louise Jackson, and ended in divorce in 1949. She also had an affair with Joseph Cotten, sixteen years her senior, which was publicized by Hedda Hopper, whose chair an understandably peeved Cotten kicked out from underneath her just as she was about to sit down at a Hollywood affair, to the applause of spectators.
By the mid 1940s Durbin had tried to assume a more sophisticated film persona in such films as the film noir Christmas Holiday (1944) and the whodunnit Lady on a Train (1945), but the public preferred her as the sweet and wholesome adolescent she had come to represent.
She retired from public life in 1950, after her marriage to Charles David, who had directed her in Lady On A Train. The couple moved to Paris, France, with Durbin vowing that she would never return to show business, and raised Durbin's second child, Peter David. Since then she has resisted all offers to perform and has refused to be interviewed, steadfastly asserting her right to privacy.
Her husband, Charles David, died in Paris on March 1, 1999.
Deanna Durbin has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1722 Vine Street.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]
Silent Night
Deanna Durbin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night
Son of God love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Deanna Durbin's "Silent Night" is an iconic Christmas hymn that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse speaks of a serene and peaceful night, with all being calm and bright. The second verse describes the reaction of the shepherds upon seeing the glory of heaven and hearing the angels sing. The final verse declares that Jesus is the son of God, and his birth brings about the dawn of redeeming grace.
The hymn incorporates a beautiful blend of simplicity and divinity. The words "sleep in heavenly peace" hold deep meaning, signifying the peace and contentment that one feels when in the presence of God. The phrase "radiant beams from Thy holy face" evokes a sense of warmth and comfort, with the light of God guiding and protecting us. The final line, "Jesus Lord, at Thy birth" is a beautiful reminder that Jesus is the Lord and savior of all.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent night, holy night
The night is quiet and holy
All is calm, all is bright
Everything is peaceful and illuminated
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Around the Virgin Mother and her child
Holy infant so tender and mild
The infant is pure and gentle
Sleep in heavenly peace
Rest in a peaceful, heavenly state
Silent night, holy night
The night is still and sacred
Shepherds quake at the sight
The shepherds are frightened at what they see
Glories stream from heaven afar
Great beauty and splendor are coming from heaven
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Angels are singing praises to God
Christ the Savior is born
Jesus, the Savior, has been born
Silent night, holy night
The night is silent and holy
Son of God love's pure light
Jesus, the Son of God, is a pure light of love
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
Great light emanates from Jesus' holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace
Bringing the hope of forgiveness and redemption
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, the Lord, has been born
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cinder Ellie
Voice of an angel... that's a voice I wouldn't mind hearing at the end of this life and beginning of another.
Paul Basso
It didn't matter what Deanna Durbin sang, the music just floated out of her heart and into the air to soothe the listener's ears. I like to think that is what the angel choir in Heaven will sound like.
Davis Germain
This is the way I imagine an angel would sing this song.
Ada Fretton
Amen
peter rice
Another great song performed by the mighty Deanna Durbin. She was truly Canada's sweetheart during the 1930s and 40s. Rest in heavenly peace, Deanna, Rest in heavenly peace.
JR
que maravillosa voz... me encanta oirla de verdad.... es realmente un angel
Armando Colli
Deanna Durbin . . . quanta falta está fazendo no cinema moderno. Suas angelicais musicas . . A indústria cinematográfica precisa de umas 10 Deanna Durbin .
Lloyd deForest
Gorgeous song, gorgeous lady! Merry Christmas!
betty stephenson
wow awesome version love it
Joao Costa Costa Garcia Costa Garcia
Minha estrela favorita : Deanna Durbin !