Some big, fun hollywood names in this one, once we get there. This opens with the funeral of "Dad", and we see a bit of him in flashbacks. Rosalind Russell is "Louise", who grows up with Mother and sis. The awesome Alan Hale is in here for about a minute, as "Lew", the big boss. (Hale died at 57, a couple years after this, but wow, what a career.) Louise is a firecracker, and her (first) husband doesn't like it, although they DID manage to raise a litter of kids before he bailed. THEN... Louise met Harold (Jack Carson), and it was Love at first sight. A biography that moves right along. Apparently the son Frank was a writer/director, and had won an oscar for best screenplay. Perfect casting with Russell, as she was also the fast talking reporter in "His Girl Friday". It's pretty good. A little dated, but its fun to watch Russell and Carson do their stuff. Directed by the "pro", Michael Curtiz, about the same time as Mildred Pierce, Life with Father, and Night and Day. Oddly enough, this was written by Louise Pierson, so clearly this is the story of her own life!

As is often the case, I disagree that this can be described as a comedy. You know...all those funny situations -- divorce, children getting polio, and so forth. Rather, it's about some individuals who struggle through life by being able to see the joy and humor in it.How true this story is, I don't know, but it is at least based on some real people. That's the recipe for nostalgia, and it comes across nicely.It's only been in the past several years, as a result of broadcasts on TCM, that I realized how many interesting films Rosaland Russell made; I always thought of her more as a stage actress. Russell often brought life to roles that were just a little bit different than the typical lead in films. She does that here.Jack Carson, in films and on television, could come across as very likable or as a blow-hard. Here he is former as the man who comes to the rescue of a mother with several children who has fallen upon hard times, even though she did it with a stiff upper lip. BTW, Carson doesn't come into the film until almost halfway through it. Carson was always best when he underplayed a role.A couple of actors have small but nice roles here -- Donald Woods (as husband #1), Alan Hale, Sr., and Ray Collins.Life wasn't always good to these folks (is it ever?), but you could admire their..."pluck".Pleasant, nostalgic look at the last century up to WWII.

When Robert Osborne said, "This is a real gem," I decided to watch... he doesn't lie. Being a big Rosalind Russell fan since "Auntie Mame," I'm both surprised and delighted that I did! In these early days, there was no such thing as "women's lib" or women's rights, or anything of the kind. That's why I believe this film is a truly ground breaking work of classic film. Unlike the "Pollyannish" movies of this era that tried to make light of those Depression era times with things like big MGM musicals that tried to sugar coat the difficulties of those days, this film takes on a myriad of historical troubles in a way that is both heartbreaking and incredibly optimistic (kudos, incidentally, to a superb star turn by Jack Carson in another wonderful characterization). It never preaches or feels sorry for itself—much like the female protagonist—but continually moves forward without getting bogged down in self-pity, which the characters certainly had the right to. It doesn't pull any punches. I suppose the best way to describe it is: "A tale of towering highs and gut wrenching lows, with the indomitable spirit of man aways conquering adversity." But a far better way of learning the many important lesson this entertaining film has to offer is simply by watching it.

A wonderful Rosalind Russell vehicle with Jack Carson in fine form as her 2nd husband.It tells us of a woman's determination to survive this world-despite deaths in the family, a heel of a husband, (Donald Woods),illness, and the Great Depression.Russell throws her usual zest for this type of commanding woman in the film and succeeds. Though out of his league as the usual grade B actor, Woods succeeds here in the part of the first husband, who walks out on Russell after 10 years of marriage, 4 children and a life of hard times.The film is definitely a slice of Americana and the idea of hard work and accomplishment. It also very well deals with adversity just as things are going so well. Isn't that so true of life itself? That's why the film succeeds and is quite memorable.