The Hard Way (1943)
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- Passed
- 1h 49min
- Drama, Music
- 20 Feb 1943 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 5 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ida Lupino | ... |
Mrs. Helen Chernen
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| Dennis Morgan | ... |
Paul Collins
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| Joan Leslie | ... |
Katherine 'Katie' Blaine
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| Jack Carson | ... |
Albert Runkel
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| Gladys George | ... |
Lily Emery
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| Faye Emerson | ... |
Ice Cream Parlor Waitress
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| Paul Cavanagh | ... |
John 'Jack' Shagrue
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Murray Alper | ... |
Joe Duglatz (uncredited)
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| Jean Ames | ... |
Pudgy Girl (uncredited)
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| Brooks Benedict | ... |
Guest at Embassy Club Bar (uncredited)
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| Julie Bishop | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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| Monte Blue | ... |
Man in Audience (uncredited)
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| Roman Bohnen | ... |
Sam Chernen (uncredited)
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| Virginia Brissac | ... |
The Dress Saleswoman (uncredited)
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| Jimmy Butler | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Eddy Chandler | ... |
Police Officer on Dock (uncredited)
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C. Harry Clark | ... |
Working Man at Theatre (uncredited)
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Tom Coleman | ... |
Man in Audience at Play (uncredited)
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Eddie Craven | ... |
Call Boy in Montage (uncredited)
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| Billy Curtis | ... |
Vaudeville Midget (uncredited)
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Mary Curtis | ... |
Vaudeville Midget (uncredited)
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| Sonia Darrin | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Edgar Dearing | ... |
Policeman at Hospital (uncredited)
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| Peggy Diggins | ... |
Tipsy Girl at Party (uncredited)
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| Ann Doran | ... |
Dorshka (uncredited)
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Beth Drake | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Charles Drake | ... |
Trailer Narrator (uncredited)
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| Roland Drew | ... |
Roland (uncredited)
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| Bill Edwards | ... |
Interne at Hospital (uncredited)
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| William Forrest | ... |
Actor as 'Uncle Edward Elliott' in 'Morning Melody' (uncredited)
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Dick French | ... |
Playboy (uncredited)
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Sam Garrett | ... |
Cowboy (uncredited)
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| Jody Gilbert | ... |
Anderson - Masseuse (uncredited)
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Ben Hall | ... |
Ice Cream Parlor Counterman (uncredited)
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Marian Hall | ... |
Anna (uncredited)
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| Thurston Hall | ... |
Harry - Motion Picture Executive (uncredited)
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| Eddie Hart | ... |
Electrician at Vaudeville Show (uncredited)
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| Lew Harvey | ... |
Working Man at Theatre (uncredited)
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| William Hopper | ... |
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
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Jean Inness | ... |
Flora Ames (uncredited)
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| Charles Judels | ... |
Mr. Flores (uncredited)
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| Eddie Kane | ... |
Oscar Evans (uncredited)
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| Stacy Keach Sr. | ... |
First Theatrical Agent in Montage (uncredited)
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| Bill Kennedy | ... |
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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Jack Kennedy | ... |
Second Theatrical Agent in Montage (uncredited)
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| Jack Kenney | ... |
Theatrical Agent (uncredited)
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Merrillee Lannon | ... |
Western Union Clerk (uncredited)
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| Harry Lewis | ... |
Serious Young Man (uncredited)
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| Vera Lewis | ... |
Actress as 'Aunt Vera Elliott' in 'Morning Melody' (uncredited)
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| Lou Lubin | ... |
Frenchy (uncredited)
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| Wilbur Mack | ... |
Stage Manager (uncredited)
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| Hank Mann | ... |
Backstage Janitor (uncredited)
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| Leona Maricle | ... |
Laura Britton (uncredited)
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Thomas Martin | ... |
Bill - Bartender (uncredited)
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| Frank Mayo | ... |
Railroad Ticket Taker (uncredited)
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| Lon McCallister | ... |
Bud - Call Boy in Montage (uncredited)
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| Edward McWade | ... |
Stage Doorman (uncredited)
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James Metcalfe | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Harold Miller | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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| Ray Montgomery | ... |
Johnny Gilpin (uncredited)
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Sue Moore | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Bert Moorhouse | ... |
Guest at Party (uncredited)
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| Dolores Moran | ... |
Young Blonde (uncredited)
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| Frances Morris | ... |
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
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Georgie Nokes | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Nestor Paiva | ... |
Max Wade (uncredited)
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| Paul Panzer | ... |
Miner (uncredited)
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| Emory Parnell | ... |
Mac - Policeman at Hospital (uncredited)
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| Alexander Pollard | ... |
Butler in Play (uncredited)
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| Georges Renavent | ... |
Embassy Club Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Cyril Ring | ... |
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Sayre | ... |
Chorus Boy (uncredited)
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Wallace Scott | ... |
Bum on Dock (uncredited)
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| Harry Semels | ... |
Passerby (uncredited)
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| Juanita Stark | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Bert Stevens | ... |
Theatrical Agent / Sidewalk Extra / Nightclub Extra (uncredited)
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Tom Stevenson | ... |
Long-Haired Man at Party (uncredited)
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| Libby Taylor | ... |
Essie, Helen's Maid (uncredited)
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| Philip Van Zandt | ... |
Eddie, Stage Manager (uncredited)
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| Leo White | ... |
Graduation Photographer (uncredited)
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| Dave Willock | ... |
Tommy - Bellhop (uncredited)
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Jack Wise | ... |
Actor Leaving Theatre (uncredited)
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| Joan Woodbury | ... |
Maria (uncredited)
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Victor Zimmerman | ... |
Electrician at Vaudeville Show (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Vincent Sherman | ||
Written by
| Daniel Fuchs | ... | (screen play) and |
| Peter Viertel | ... | (screen play) |
| Jerry Wald | ... | (story) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Jerry Wald | ... | producer |
| Jack L. Warner | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Heinz Roemheld | ... | (as H. Roemheld) |
Cinematography by
| James Wong Howe | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Thomas Pratt | ... | film editor |
Editorial Department
| Don Siegel | ... | montage |
Art Direction by
| Max Parker | ||
Set Decoration by
| Walter F. Tilford | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Orry-Kelly | ... | (gowns) |
Makeup Department
| Perc Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Elmer Decker | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stanley Jones | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Willard Van Enger | ... | special effects |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Leo F. Forbstein | ... | musical director |
| Ray Heindorf | ... | orchestral arrangements |
| Hugo Friedhofer | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| LeRoy Prinz | ... | director: dance numbers (as Leroy Prinz) / stager: dance numbers (as Leroy Prinz) |
| Jack L. Warner | ... | presenter |
| Harold Winston | ... | dialogue director |
Production Companies
- Warner Bros. (presents)
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1943) (United States) (theatrical)
- Vitagraph Limited (1943) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers Pictures (1944) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as Warner Brothers Pictures, Ltd.)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1947) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Brothers First National Films (1947) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Associated Artists Productions (AAP) (1956) (United States) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
- RCA (sound system)
- Turner Entertainment (DVD package design)
- Warner Home Video (DVD package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Ambitious Helen Chernin (Ida Lupino) pushes her talented younger sister Katherine (Joan Leslie) into marriage with broken down song-and-dance man Albert Runkel (Jack Carson) so that the two women can leave the dirty steel town where they live. Runkel's partner Paul Collins (Dennis Morgan), however, sees through Helen's plan. Helen continues driving her sister's career and eventually Katherine becomes a star on Broadway, while Runkel and Collins' act flounders. Success soon goes to Katherine's head and she becomes a fast-living party girl. Time passes and Helen and Katherine run into Paul, now a successful band leader. He and Katherine soon fall in love. The two sisters eventually have a showdown on opening night of Katherine's latest show when Katherine discovers that Helen is also in love with Paul.
Written by Daniel Bubbeo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | You'd never believe they're sisters! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Per director Vincent Sherman, the film was based on dancer-actress Ginger Rogers' relationship with her quintessential stage-mother, Lela E. Rogers. See more » |
| Goofs | Near 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. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Hollywood Canteen (1944). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Youth Must Have Its Fling See more » |
| Quotes |
The Morgan Twins:
[in unison]
Mr. Wade? We're playing in Jersey City. Can you catch our act? We're the Morgan Twins. Max Wade: When you're triplets, come back and see me. See more » |