wes-connors 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

blanche-2 There's no skimping on the music or the production values in "Three Daring Daughters," a 1948 MGM film starring Jeanette MacDonald, Jane Powell, Edward Arnold, Jose Iturbi, Elinor Donohue and Ann E. Todd. MacDonald, in one of her last films, is the divorced editor of a magazine who is raising three girls. Overtired and given to fainting spells, her doctor orders her to rest. She takes a cruise, where she meets and marries the famous musician, Jose Iturbi. She has never told her daughters that their father didn't want to be a part of their lives, so in her absence, the girls hatch a scheme to get his editor (Arnold) to bring him home.The star of this film is the glorious music. Powell and MacDonald sing beautifully, and Jose Iturbi plays piano like a dream. Powell, so young and pretty, does a nice job especially on "Je Veux Vivre" from Romeo & Juliet. MacDonald's mature voice sounds great, her middle register having really opened up with age. The movie is filmed in color, and she looks gorgeous.Sadly MacDonald only made one more film, followed by a few television appearances, as she had a weak heart. She is lovely in this. See the film for the music, for MacDonald, Iturbi, and Powell.

gkeith_1 I am a soprano, so I like seeing movies with Jeanette MacDonald and Jane Powell. I enjoyed seeing the young Elinor Donahue; what a nice surprise. Movie shows working mother putting in lots of hours for her daughters, and even becoming ill and not attending the graduation. The mother deserves to be happy, but the girls tend to be selfish and never realize mama needs a life of her own. Their noses are certainly out of joint when mother gets remarried. They pull the usual "rude to the new step-parent" routine, but all gets resolved later. I enjoyed seeing Jose Iturbi being a major character, and not just a famous bandleader in the background like in some of his other movies.10/10

Gregoire It makes you wonder why Jane Powell did not pursue a career in opera. As as Jeannette MacDonald was, Jane Powell outshines her in this movie. Jose Iturbi is a superb pianist and conductor and shows good acting talent. Edward Arnold is a classic, excellent actor. Any movie that he is in is good. It was interesting to see the "Father Knows Best" girl, Eleanor Donohue in such an early role for her.