Mozart ’Alleluia’ - Deanna Durbin & Leopold Stokowski

In “100 Men and a Girl,“ Deanna Durbin tries to persuade Leopold Stokowski to conduct an orchestra of unemployed musicians that includes her trombonist father. One of her tactics is to infiltrate a Stokowski rehearsal and in the first of the two clips seen here she listens to the Act 3 Prelude from Wagner’s “Lohengrin“ before being asked to leave the hall. Pursued by the stage doorman, she hides away in Stokowski’s office where she encounters his manager but then returns just as the Maestro is rehearsing Mozart’s ’Alleluia.’ Curiously for a vocal piece, no singer is present! However, Deanna herself immediately pipes up and Stokowski is suitably impressed by her rendition. Nevertheless, she’s unable to persuade him to conduct her orchestra until later in the movie and when he does so all ends happily.