Roughly Speaking

Director: Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz

Overview

This odd combination of roughneck comedy and serious domestic drama was adapted by Louise Randall Pierson from her own autobiographical novel. Rosalind Russell is cast as young Louise Randall, the headstrong daughter of a New England merchant. Inheriting her father's business, Louise intends to persevere in a "man's world," and to that ends takes business courses at Yale. Here she meets and marries banker's son Rodney Crane (Donald Woods), with whom she has four children. When wishy-washy Rodney runs off with another woman, Louise marries a second time to irresponsible but likable gambler Harold Pierson (Jack Carson) -- and gets pregnant again. Though Louise and Harold are as different as night and day, theirs is a lasting union, which remains solid despite whatever misfortunes come their way. The story ends at the outbreak of WW II, with Louise and Rodney bidding a tearful but hopeful goodbye to their three grown sons as the boys prepare to enter military service.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/20/2009
UPC:	0883316161746
Original Release:	1945
Rating:	NR
Source:	Warner Archives
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:57:00
Sales rank:	37,160

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Rosalind Russell	Louise Randall Pierson
Jack Carson	Harold C. Pierson
Robert Hutton	John Crane (ages 20-28)
Ray Collins	Mr. Randall,Elinor Randall
Kathleen Lockhart	Mrs. Randall
Ann Todd	Louise Randall,Louise Randall as a child
Andy Clyde	Matt
Arthur Shields	Minister
Helene Thimig	Olga the Maid
Greta Granstedt	Anna the Maid
Ann Doran	Alice Abbott
Hobart Cavanaugh	The Teacher
Eily Malyon	The Dean
Donald Woods	Rodney Crane
Craig Stevens	Jack Leslie
John Alvin	Lawton Meckall
Mary Servoss	Rose
Francis Pierlot	Dr. Lewis
Manart Kippen	Dr. Bowditch
George Carleton	The Judge
Frank Puglia	Tony
John Qualen	Ole Olsen
Chester Clute	The Proprietor
Irving Bacon	Customer in Music Shop
Barbara Brown	Relief Worker
Sig Arno	George
Ann Lawrence	Barbara (ages 9-11)
Mona Freeman	Barbara (ages 15-20)
Andrea King	Barbara (ages 21-29)
Mickey Kuhn	John (ages 7-10)
John Treul	John (ages 14-19)
Johnny Calkins	Rodney (ages 6-9)
Richard Winer	Rodney (ages 13-18)
John Sheridan	Rodney (ages 19-27)
Jo Ann Marlowe	Louise Jr. (ages 5-6)
Patsy Lee Parsons	Louise Jr. (ages 12-17)
Jean Sullivan	Louise Jr. (ages 18-26)
Gregory Muradian	Frankie (ages 3-4)
John Sheffield	Frankie (age 9),Frankie Age 9
Robert Arthur	Frankie (age 17)
Joyce Compton	Prissy Girl
Marie Blake	Nurse
Claire Meade	Nurse
Harry Harvey Jr.	Billy Winters
Emmett Vogan	Auctioneer
Pierre Watkin	Financier
Charles Anthony Hughes	Financier
Jody Gilbert	Woman in Store,Woman in Store
Bill Moss	Sergeant
George Meader	The Professor
Alan Hale Jr.	Mr. Morton
Charles Coleman	Actor
Max Steiner	Composer

Technical Credits

Louise Randall Pierson

Michael Curtiz	Director
Louise Randall Pierson	Screenwriter
Henry Blanke	Producer
Roy Davidson	Special Effects
H.F. Koenekamp	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Roughly Speaking is an uneven little film that gets by more on the personalities of its stars than on anything else. One assumes that the autobiography upon which it is based has more depth than the story that is presented on the screen, as the script is a routine Hollywood story about striving against the odds, persevering in the face of obstacles and remaining resolutely optimistic at all costs. It's a worthy message, but it needs to be presented in a grounding of reality in order to come across as anything more than sermonizing, however well-intentioned. The screenplay also keeps trying to tell us that the main character, Louise Randall Pierson, is an eccentric, free-spirited force of nature, but her actions don't really reveal that so much as someone who is simply bull-headed. Still, with the immensely entertaining Rosalind Russell playing the part, we're willing to forgive them. While the part is not the warm-up for Auntie Mame that it seems to be trying to be, Russell gives it her considerable all, and that's worth a lot. She even endures a bizarre Bride of Frankenstein hairdo toward the end and makes that work. Jack Carson also turns in one of his best performances, coming across as much more likeable than was often the case and exhibiting a fine chemistry with Russell. The rest of the cast is fine, and Michael Curtiz's direction is good, but they hardly matter. It's Russell and Carson that make Roughly work.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler