Three Daring Daughters (UK title: The Birds and the Bees) is a 1948 American Technicolor musical film directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starring Jeanette MacDonald, Jane Powell and Edward Arnold. It was produced and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay was written by Albert Mannheimer, Frederick Kohner, Sonya Levien and John Meehan.
Contents
Plot
It's Tess's graduation day from Miss Drake's School for Girls. During the choir's performance at the ceremony, Tess notices that her beautiful divorcée mother, Louise Rayton Morgan, isn't there. Louise, an editor for Modern Design magazine, is in Dr. Cannon's office after fainting due to being overworked and stressed.
At home after the graduation ceremony, Dr. Cannon has a talk with Louise's three daughters, Tess, Ilka and Alix. He tells them that their mother needs a vacation badly, but the only way she can relax is if she goes without the girls. Louise is reluctant, but the girls convince her to go. They see their mother off on a one-month Cuban cruise. The girls then discuss whether they could bring their father back home and make their mom happy and healthy again.
In reality, Louise has kept the truth about their father from them. He was actually a very uncaring man, who left Louise to raise the girls on her own. They go to see their father's boss, Robert Nelson, to locate their father. Meanwhile, on Louise's cruise, she meets famed pianist and conductor José Iturbi. José is immediately taken by Louise, but she plays hard to get, while having the time of her life. When Louise finally returns home, she has a secret to tell the girls.
Cast
Jeanette MacDonald as Louise Rayton Morgan
José Iturbi as Himself
Jane Powell as Tess Morgan
Edward Arnold as Robert Nelson
Harry Davenport as Dr. Cannon
Moyna Macgill as Mrs. Smith
Elinor Donahue as Alix Morgan
Ann E. Todd as Ilka Morgan
Tom Helmore as Michael Pemberton
Kathryn Card as Jonesy
Dick Simmons as Mr. Hollow, Nelson's Secretary
Larry Adler as himself (Harmonica Player)
Amparo Iturbi as herself
Reception
The film earned $4,010,000 at the box office.