IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
Embittered, ambitious Helen Chernen sees an opportunity to escape her drab small-town life by becoming a 'stage mother' to her musically-talented younger sister.Embittered, ambitious Helen Chernen sees an opportunity to escape her drab small-town life by becoming a 'stage mother' to her musically-talented younger sister.Embittered, ambitious Helen Chernen sees an opportunity to escape her drab small-town life by becoming a 'stage mother' to her musically-talented younger sister.
- Awards
- 2 wins
Murray Alper
- Joe Duglatz
- (uncredited)
Jean Ames
- Pudgy Girl
- (uncredited)
Brooks Benedict
- Guest at Embassy Club Bar
- (uncredited)
Julie Bishop
- Chorine
- (uncredited)
Monte Blue
- Man in Audience
- (uncredited)
Roman Bohnen
- Sam Chernen
- (uncredited)
Virginia Brissac
- The Dress Saleswoman
- (uncredited)
Jimmy Butler
- Boy
- (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler
- Police Officer on Dock
- (uncredited)
C. Harry Clark
- Working Man at Theatre
- (uncredited)
Tom Coleman
- Man in Audience at Play
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Daniel Fuchs
- Peter Viertel
- Jerry Wald(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPer director Vincent Sherman, the film was based on dancer-actress Ginger Rogers' relationship with her quintessential stage-mother, Lela E. Rogers.
- GoofsNear the end of the film Dennis Morgan takes a seat to see Joan Leslie's play. He is seated next to a young woman. The next time the camera cuts to him he is in the same seat, but sitting next to an older woman wearing completely different clothing.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood Canteen (1944)
- SoundtracksYouth Must Have Its Fling
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by M.K. Jerome (credited)
Lyrics by Jack Scholl (credited)
Played during the opening credits and at the end
Sung by Gladys George at rehearsal with piano accompaniment
Reprised at a show and sung and danced by Joan Leslie (dubbed by Sally Sweetland) and chorus
Sung on a record by Leslie
Played as background music often
Featured review
Joan Leslie cartwheels her way to fame!
This is a very enjoyable film, with a terrific central performance from Ida Lupino. But there are times when she seems to be working harder than she needs to, so that we see her acting. This is not surprising given the very light-weight performance given by Joan Leslie. Ida has to work very hard to get anything out of her. It's a shame, because I think a great actress in the Leslie role might have turned this film into an unforgettable exploration of sisterhood. Just imagine someone like Anne Baxter or Susan Hayward in the role. The really laughable sequence is the musical number that launches Leslie to stardom. It's a horrible piece of choreography and a very ordinary song, and the routine climaxes in Leslie doing some truly ridiculous cartwheels, that would have made her the laughing stock of Broadway. Instead she is the toast of the town, and a top playwright immediately offers to write a play for her! The climax of the film is also very silly, as anyone who has worked in the theatre would know. The actions of Morgan and Leslie here are completely unbelievable.
There are shades of ALL ABOUT EVE in THE HARD WAY - although the dialogue lacks the wit of Mankiewicz. It's good to see Carson and Morgan playing more meaty roles than usual - they were both top notch performers. But the best performance in the film is given by the wonderful Gladys George, who plays an ageing stage star manipulated out of her lead role by Lupino, to be replaced by Leslie. She is funny, touching and utterly convincing in a powerhouse cameo - can't imagine her doing those cartwheels though!
There are shades of ALL ABOUT EVE in THE HARD WAY - although the dialogue lacks the wit of Mankiewicz. It's good to see Carson and Morgan playing more meaty roles than usual - they were both top notch performers. But the best performance in the film is given by the wonderful Gladys George, who plays an ageing stage star manipulated out of her lead role by Lupino, to be replaced by Leslie. She is funny, touching and utterly convincing in a powerhouse cameo - can't imagine her doing those cartwheels though!
helpful•278
- David-240
- Sep 6, 2001
- How long is The Hard Way?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 49 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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