The Amazing Mrs. Holliday

The Amazing Mrs. Holliday is a 1943 American comedy drama film produced and directed by Bruce Manning and starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond OBrien, and Barry Fitzgerald. Based on a story by Sonya Levien, the film is about a young idealistic missionary who smuggles a group of Chinese war orphans into the United States posing as the wife of a wealthy commodore who went missing after their ship was torpedoed and sunk. After safely sequestering the orphans in the commodores family mansion, her plans start to unravel when she falls in love with commodores grandson and the commodore himself turns up alive and well. Originally intended as Durbins dramatic debut, Universal insisted on adding songs. The original director of the film was Jean Renoir, and though most of his completed footage was retained, final directorial credit was given to Bruce Manning, the films producer. The Amazing Mrs. Holliday received an Academy Award nomination for Best Score.

With no money of their own, Ruth and Timothy go to the home of Commodore Thomas Spencer Holliday Harry Davenport, the wealthy owner of their sunken cargo ship, who perished during the torpedo attack. When they appeal for financial assistance for the orphans, the commodores family refuses. Desperate to help the children, Timothy tells the commodores family that Ruth and the commodore were married aboard the Tollare before it was attacked. With the childrens future at stake, Ruth reluctantly goes along with the deception.Ruth, Timothy, and the eight orphans move into the Holliday mansion, where they soon meet the commodores grandson, Thomas Spencer Holliday III Edmond OBrien. When a sceptical Tom questions Ruth about how she became his grandmother, Ruth explains that her Christian mission was destroyed in a Japanese bombing raid, and that she was sent south with eight European children, entrusted with their safety. Along the way, they encountered a dying Chinese woman, and Ruth agreed to care for her child as well. Moved by her personal story and her beautiful singing voice, Tom is soon smitten with the young woman. ........

Source: Wikipedia