Director William Russell whips up DEAR RUTH into a breezy and zany comedy, helped by a clever script and excellent performances from handsome Holden, beautiful Caulfield, show stealer Edward Arnold as the pater familias tripling up as judge and marrying officer, and Ruth's idealistic adolescent sister Mona Freeman, who has her daddy wrapped around her pinky and shows national fervor aplenty as she encourages servicemen to do their duty... by writing to them on her sister's behalf.
Billy de Wolfe, who often played a clown out of the movies, has a great part as the jilted lover.
It is a super premise and the film's first half is utterly delightful. Then, it gets caught up in the pulleys of the story. Holden's sister and sergeant suddenly pop up for no particularly good reason (other than extend the film's length for commercial purposes, perhaps?)... and ultimately that does not help DEAR RUTH, which would have been better served with 15' less.
At any rate, DEAR RUTH is eminently watchable, real good fun.
Billy de Wolfe, who often played a clown out of the movies, has a great part as the jilted lover.
It is a super premise and the film's first half is utterly delightful. Then, it gets caught up in the pulleys of the story. Holden's sister and sergeant suddenly pop up for no particularly good reason (other than extend the film's length for commercial purposes, perhaps?)... and ultimately that does not help DEAR RUTH, which would have been better served with 15' less.
At any rate, DEAR RUTH is eminently watchable, real good fun.