The Hard Way

1943

The Hard Way

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76%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 136

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The Hard Way Photos

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Movie Info

In this dark drama an iron-willed older sister forcibly thrusts her only modestly talented younger sister into a Broadway career. She does this to desperately try to keep her little sis from falling into the same small-town trap of marriage to a dull working-stiff and endless hours of taking care of babies and household drudgery. The bigger sister gets her chance when two handsome vaudevillians come to town. Seeing that one of the fellows eyes her younger sibling, the elder connives to get the two together. The scheme works and the smitten performer dumps his long-time partner in exchange for a career with his new love. That might have been hunky dory, but the ambitious big sister wants more for her sister and convinces her to become a solo act. So upset is the jilted partner that he commits suicide. Still the big sister refuses to stop pushing until finally the younger girl gets fed up and rebels in a bitter confrontation that only results in more tragedy.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama
Directed By:

Vincent Sherman
Written By:

Peter Viertel, Daniel Fuchs
In Theaters:

Feb 20, 1943 wide
Runtime:

109 minutes
Studio:

Warner Bros.

Cast

Ida Lupino
as Mrs. Helen Chernen

Dennis Morgan
as Paul Collins

Joan Leslie
as 'Katie' Chernen

Jack Carson
as Albert Runkel

Gladys George
as Lily Emery

Faye Emerson
as Blonde Waitress

Paul Cavanagh
as John Shagrue

Leona Maricle
as Laura Bithorn

Roman Bohnen
as Sam Chernen

Ray Montgomery
as Johnny Gilpin

Julie Bishop
as Chorine

Nestor Paiva
as Max Wade

Joan Woodbury
as Maria

Ann Doran
as Dorschka

Thurston Hall
as Film Executive

Lou Lubin
as Frenchy

Jody Gilbert
as Anderson

Jo Gilbert
as Anderson

Charles Judels
as Flores

Murray Alper
as Duglatz

Edgar Dearing
as Policeman

Frank Faylen
as Policeman

Emory Parnell
as Policeman

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Critic Reviews for The Hard Way

All Critics (2) | Fresh (2)

The part Ida got because Bette Davis rejected it, is well-served by her.

Aug 30, 2014 | Rating: B | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for The Hard Way

Jan 08, 2008

Not quite as good as "The Man I Love" but Ida offers her usual superior performance, if a stronger actress with more musical talent than Joan Leslie, Judy Garland would have been ideal, had played the other sister this would have been a better film. Gladys George steals her too few scenes.

jay n Super Reviewer