Divorced soprano Jeanette MacDonald (as Louise Rayton Morgan) is unable to see eldest daughter Jane Powell (as Tess) graduate, in Technicolor, from "Miss Drake's School for Girls" due to feeling old and over-worked. Recovering from an apparent faint, Ms. MacDonald arrives in time to hear Ms. Powell shatter a few glasses with her own high-pitched voice. MacDonald appears pained. Powell, along with sisters Elinor Donahue (as Alix) and Ann B. Todd (as Ilka), hears the doctor order mother MacDonald take a restful vacation. The "Three Daring Daughters" decide to bring their "no good" father back into the family, but MacDonald wants to wed pianist Jose Iturbi (as Jose Iturbi), instead...**** Three Daring Daughters (2/12/48) Fred M. Wilcox ~ Jeanette MacDonald, Jose Iturbi, Jane Powell, Elinor Donahue

It amazes me that so many people cannot see that the past is different from our debased and decadent present. This is a lovely reminder of what was and will never be again. We will keep on remaking poor Carrie but will not and cannot remake this movie in a way that is true to its truth, that love is a wonderful thing and that music, real music is an uplifting and special experience that expands the world of the audience. I have seen the movie several times and by modern standards it is corny but it is also true that we would be much better off in a world of this music and these people with their love for each other and for music and for having a good and joyous life is a whole lot better than one in which Saw XXX has an audience. This is real magic both at the movies and in our aspirations, without the need for Harry Potter and this is what we have lost.

"Three Daring Daughters" is a sickly sweet, rose-colored look at divorce, remarriage, and single-parent living. Obviously, social issues and economic difficulty have no place in the picture perfect life of a single parent mother who feels exhausted, takes a cruise, and then dates and marries a band conductor. Even when the "its just a movie" phrase excuses the script from addressing real-life problems, 'Daughters' suffers from too many incoherent high-note songs, children whose personalities are not based on real children and band leader Hose Iturbi playing himself. Isn't it bizarre that any real person would star in a film in which their supposed real self gets married? Admittedly, this movie was released in the nineteen forties. Only a love for old style Hollywood romance and comedy could make 'Daughters' a tolerable film.

Silly but enjoyable musical comedy with Jeanette McDonald playing a character very much like herself, and Jose iturbi playing her love interest, a character even more like himself -- himself! Jane Powell and her two sisters are both multi-talented and precocious, and Edward Arnold heads a fine veteran supporting cast. Certainly not a great movie, but a pleasing one.