This is a breezy musical about the housing shortage in wartime America, circa 1944. As usual Jane Frazee is a delight to watch and listen to and here she is paired with the female Jerry Colonna, Vera Vague as the work/roommate. Rosie and her pal squabble with two guys over the only remaining boardinghouse room in town and Rosie, after "working overtime on a B-19" down at the plane factory, eventually warms up to Frank Albertson (not your typical young juvenile lead, this was wartime after all) and everything works out for the big finale sung at the work site. Three or four nice tunes and some light comedy (a couple of very funny moments - all the teenagers seem to be a lot more mature about their romantic relationships than the adults and they stay up all night doing the conga!)make this an easy hour to pass.
8 Reviews
The nuts have landed....in a crazy house of horrors!
mark.waltz17 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This above average farce is Republic studio's comment on the housing shortage of the war years, a battle of the sexes comedy where each gender gives as good as they get. No namby pamby ladies the two female leads here: tough beauty Jane Frazee and tall, lanky Vera Vague, another member of the Mary Wickes school of wisecrack, with a tongue so sharp she could slice a roast beef with it. The two men trying to beat them to getting a room in vinegary Maude Eburne's already crowded home are Frank Albertsin and Frank Jenks who aren't beyond a bit of roughhousing to get the one available room before they claim it.
Set in a war factory community where the women work the day shift and the men on the swing, this mixes music, comedy and a patriotic atmosphere all together where you might find yourself stewed from laughing. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer is pretty grown up here, no more squeaky voice and actually quite good looking minus his freckles and standing strand of hair. Louise Erickson is a typical teenage girl, battling brother Switzer every chance she gets. Ellen Lowe plays their aunt, a discontented much married woman who is on the outs with her latest husband, making her room a target for Frazee and Vague, and a recurring gag throughout the film. Lloyd Corrigan is her sap of a husband who keeps letting her slip through his fingers.
This is one of those wacky, improbable comedies that works strictly on the performances, pacing and pizazz, a snap, crackle and pop formula that is crowd pleasing and never dull. The story of Rosie the Riviter could have gone too serious and ridiculous by being obvious with spies and saboteurs but this is surprisingly effective even in its absurdity. The women score performance wise and comically, showing just like the famous World War II poster, "We can do it!"
Set in a war factory community where the women work the day shift and the men on the swing, this mixes music, comedy and a patriotic atmosphere all together where you might find yourself stewed from laughing. Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer is pretty grown up here, no more squeaky voice and actually quite good looking minus his freckles and standing strand of hair. Louise Erickson is a typical teenage girl, battling brother Switzer every chance she gets. Ellen Lowe plays their aunt, a discontented much married woman who is on the outs with her latest husband, making her room a target for Frazee and Vague, and a recurring gag throughout the film. Lloyd Corrigan is her sap of a husband who keeps letting her slip through his fingers.
This is one of those wacky, improbable comedies that works strictly on the performances, pacing and pizazz, a snap, crackle and pop formula that is crowd pleasing and never dull. The story of Rosie the Riviter could have gone too serious and ridiculous by being obvious with spies and saboteurs but this is surprisingly effective even in its absurdity. The women score performance wise and comically, showing just like the famous World War II poster, "We can do it!"
Cox And Box Fall In Love
boblipton12 July 2019
The image of Rosie the Riveter is one of the indelible Norman Rockwell covers. The issue of the Saturday Evening Post dated May 29,1943 had her, in overalls and bandana, sleeve rolled up, flexing her arm: "We can Do it!" talking about women in the workplace, talking about women in defense plants, taking the place of men who were now in the armed forces and making a dent in the wartime labor shortage. In 1943, women made up 65% of the aircraft industry work force, compared to less than 1% before the war.
Rockwell didn't invent Rosie. She was the invention of a Pittsburgh artist named J. Howard Miller. Complete with slogan, he used her on a recruiting poster for Westinghouse.
All of which has little to do with this movie. Oh, Jane Frazee and Vera Vague work in an aircraft plant, but that makes up two shots and a total of about two minutes. The movie is about wartime housing shortages, like the better remembered THE MORE THE MERRIER. Rosie and Vera show up at Maude Eburne's house, where they have each paid for a room. So do Frank Albertson and Frank Jenks. This Solomonic baby is cut in twain by the girls having the room in the evening, while the men, who are on the swing shift, have it during the day.
This wartime Cox & Box routine is eked out by the usual sputtering romantic comedy between Rosie, who has a wet blanket of a fiance, and Albertson, a couple of musical numbers, and the sort of comedy that goes on in a household, including a teen-ager who feels if she doesn't have three dates every evening, her life will be ruined, a married daughter who moves back in every three weeks, complete with piano, and a nicely rendered variation of the Stateroom scene from A NIGHT AT THE OPERA.
With high urban housing costs, this may have some connection to a young modern audience, but while it is a nicely performed comedy under the direction of the under-rated Joseph Santley, it is a thing of its time. Fans of old movies will enjoy it, but the lack of any remembered star will limit its nostalgic value to those who appreciate great character comedians of the period, like Lloyd Corrigan, 'Alfalfa' Switzer, and Tom Kennedy as a piano mover who has been in and out of that house with that piano so often, he's learned to play the instrument.
Rockwell didn't invent Rosie. She was the invention of a Pittsburgh artist named J. Howard Miller. Complete with slogan, he used her on a recruiting poster for Westinghouse.
All of which has little to do with this movie. Oh, Jane Frazee and Vera Vague work in an aircraft plant, but that makes up two shots and a total of about two minutes. The movie is about wartime housing shortages, like the better remembered THE MORE THE MERRIER. Rosie and Vera show up at Maude Eburne's house, where they have each paid for a room. So do Frank Albertson and Frank Jenks. This Solomonic baby is cut in twain by the girls having the room in the evening, while the men, who are on the swing shift, have it during the day.
This wartime Cox & Box routine is eked out by the usual sputtering romantic comedy between Rosie, who has a wet blanket of a fiance, and Albertson, a couple of musical numbers, and the sort of comedy that goes on in a household, including a teen-ager who feels if she doesn't have three dates every evening, her life will be ruined, a married daughter who moves back in every three weeks, complete with piano, and a nicely rendered variation of the Stateroom scene from A NIGHT AT THE OPERA.
With high urban housing costs, this may have some connection to a young modern audience, but while it is a nicely performed comedy under the direction of the under-rated Joseph Santley, it is a thing of its time. Fans of old movies will enjoy it, but the lack of any remembered star will limit its nostalgic value to those who appreciate great character comedians of the period, like Lloyd Corrigan, 'Alfalfa' Switzer, and Tom Kennedy as a piano mover who has been in and out of that house with that piano so often, he's learned to play the instrument.
Nice wartime fun
planktonrules12 May 2016
"Rosie the Riveter" is a cute B-movie that is set during WWII. It stars
Jane Frazee as the title character, a young lady who goes to work at a
defense plant but has a serious problem finding a place to sleep. This
actually was a serious problem during the war, as many small towns
boomed--filling with thousands of workers and not enough housing for
them all. It's the subject of several comedies of the day, such as "The
More the Merrier" as well as this film. Well, Rosie and her friend come
up with an interesting solution--share the room with a couple guys. The
guys will get it one shift, they will get it the next. However, Rosie's
very prim and proper boyfriend would not approve so she spends much of
the film hiding it from the guy. Additionally, there is a LOT of
tension between the various roommates. How it's all resolved is cute
and enjoyable. Just understand...this is not nor was it intended to be
anything more than a low-budget comedy with modest pretensions. It does
the trick but is not exactly what I'd call a must-see film. Cute and
enjoyable.
Nice wartime fun
planktonrules14 May 2016
"Rosie the Riveter" is a cute B-movie that is set during WWII. It stars Jane Frazee as the title character, a young lady who goes to work at a defense plant but has a serious problem finding a place to sleep. This actually was a serious problem during the war, as many small towns boomed--filling with thousands of workers and not enough housing for them all. It's the subject of several comedies of the day, such as "The More the Merrier" as well as this film. Well, Rosie and her friend come up with an interesting solution--share the room with a couple guys. The guys will get it one shift, they will get it the next. However, Rosie's very prim and proper boyfriend would not approve so she spends much of the film hiding it from the guy. Additionally, there is a LOT of tension between the various roommates. How it's all resolved is cute and enjoyable. Just understand...this is not nor was it intended to be anything more than a low-budget comedy with modest pretensions. It does the trick but is not exactly what I'd call a must-see film. Cute and enjoyable.
Riveters, romance , rotating roomies, ration books and revisionism.
horn-524 November 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Defense plant workers Rosalind "Rosie" Warren (Jane Frazee) and her friend Vera Watson (Barbara Jo Allen as Vera Vague) must share, on a rotating schedule, the town's last available rental-room with Charlie Doran (Frank Albertson) and Kelly Kennedy (Frank Jenks), who work the other shift at the plant. The landlady, Grandma Quill (Maude Eburne), also has her grandchildren, Buzz Prouty (Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer) and Mabel Prouty (Louise Erickson), and her daughter Stella Prouty (Ellen Lowe)---who is on the outs with her husband Clem (Lloyd Corrigan)---living with her. Rosie doesn't tell her fiancé, Wayne Calhoun (Frank Fenton),about the living arrangements, and is also plotting with Vera to re-unite the Proutys. Rosie pawns the engagement ring Wayne gave her for money for Clem and Stella. Rosie and Charlie fall in love and get their picture in the paper. Wayne huffingly breaks the engagement and wants his ring returned. Jane Frazee sings three songs and Charlie joins the Marines...and it is a lot better than it reads here.
Disposable World War II Romantic Comedy
zardoz-1310 June 2012
Warning: Spoilers
During World War II, the U.S. Government wanted Hollywood to produce movies that would help win the war. It is doubtful that "The Coconuts" director Joseph Santley's "Rosie the Riveter" could have made much of a contribution to morale. This lightweight, 75-minute, black & white, musical comedy about the widespread housing shortage in California deals with two guys and two girls who encounter complications sharing a bedroom with two beds on a rotating basis. When Rosalind "Rosie" Warren (Jane Frazee of "Buck Privates") and Vera Watson (Barbara Jo Allen as Vera Vague of "Melody Ranch")compete for the last room in town with Charlie Doran (Frank Albertson) and Kelly Kennedy (Frank Jenks), landlady Granma Quill(Maude Eburne of "The Vampire Bat" lets them rent the same room on the condition that they occupy it when the others are at work in an aircraft construction factory. The housing shortage constituted a genuine problem during hostilities as other World War II films such as "The More The Merrier" and "Pillow to Post" depicted. Actually, Granma's grand children, Buzz Prouty (Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer of "The War Against Mrs. Hadley") and Mabel Prouty (Louise Erickson of "Meet Miss Bobby Socks")rented the room to both the guys and the gals without informing either their grandmother or their Aunt Stella (Ellen Lowe of "Pilot # 5")about their arrangements. Granma decides that the four can rent the room because they work on different shifts. The guys work the graveyard shift while the gals work the daylight shift. Eventually, Charlie and Rosier become romantically involved through a series of misadventures. Rosier runs into trouble when her boyfriend, Wayne Calhoun (Frank Fenton of "Minesweeper"), inquires into her living arrangements. He brings over a framed painting to hang in her bedroom and the girls scramble to clear Charlie and Kelly out of the room before the jealous Wayne learns about their secret.
Interestingly, since the government prohibited Hollywood from showing anything that would furnish the enemy with information, "Rosie the Riveter" doesn't show anything that would be considered confidential. There are some brief scenes of Rosie and Vera wielding a rivet gun on the tail section of a bomber. Virtually everything in "Rosie the Riveter" is forgettable despite its attractive and sympathetic cast. Most of the action transpires either in the bedroom or at a police station. The high point of the hilarity occurs when the two girls come home in the rain from a dance and realize that they cannot get out in the downpour with their fur coats on without ruining them. Instead, they strip down to the slips and try to get in, only to discover that they have been not only locked up but also have locked their house keys in the car. Predictably, one of the guys slips into a uniform for the concluding scene. As a celebration of the patriot spirit of women in the workforce during World War II, "Rosie the Riveter" qualifies as trivial.
Interestingly, since the government prohibited Hollywood from showing anything that would furnish the enemy with information, "Rosie the Riveter" doesn't show anything that would be considered confidential. There are some brief scenes of Rosie and Vera wielding a rivet gun on the tail section of a bomber. Virtually everything in "Rosie the Riveter" is forgettable despite its attractive and sympathetic cast. Most of the action transpires either in the bedroom or at a police station. The high point of the hilarity occurs when the two girls come home in the rain from a dance and realize that they cannot get out in the downpour with their fur coats on without ruining them. Instead, they strip down to the slips and try to get in, only to discover that they have been not only locked up but also have locked their house keys in the car. Predictably, one of the guys slips into a uniform for the concluding scene. As a celebration of the patriot spirit of women in the workforce during World War II, "Rosie the Riveter" qualifies as trivial.
Enjoyable morale booster
jarrodmcdonald-131 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
You could call it a feminist musical comedy, though the word feminist wasn't applied back then. It was a morale booster, geared for female audiences who worked in factories like Jane Frazee's character does in the movie. They were all doing their part for the war effort while the men were away fighting.
Jane Frazee appeared in quite a few musical comedies. By 1944 her Universal contract ended and she was offered deals at MGM and Republic. She chose to sign with Republic, where boss Herbert Yates gave her nice roles, good songs and above the title billing. She had pleasant leading men to work with at the studio, so I'm sure she went home after shooting scenes with a smile on her face.
Republic cast the actress in westerns and of course, musical comedies like ROSIE THE RIVETER. The set-up for this picture is rather basic and reminds me of RAFTER ROMANCE, a precode about young people with opposite schedules sharing a room. The war years were known for housing shortages and women working in factories. What good would Hollywood be if it did not depict that on screen?
In our story Jane and her girlfriend Vera (Barbara Jo Allen) share a room in a boarding house with two single men who have opposite work schedules. Since this film was made while the production code was in full force, the two single women and two single men are technically sharing the same beds, just at different hours. The boarding house is run by a strict landlady (Maude Eburne) who of course will not allow any hanky panky.
Jane, Vera and the guys usually interact when one group is coming home from the nearby factory and the other group is getting ready to go to the factory to start their shift. There are squabbles about the upkeep of the room. While battling each other, the two couples end up falling in love. During the film the characters use interesting slang that was probably commonplace during that era. Things like schmoodle and 'making woo' which means 'making love.'
Miss Frazee's performance is sincere and likable; while Miss Allen's performance relies on wisecracks and deadpan deliveries. There's a lot of witty dialogue. One highlight is a memorable scene where the gals have no clothes on and are locked out of the boarding house in the rain. They get picked up by the police.
But the best part is a rousing finale that was filmed on location at an aviation factory. There's no other word for it, except riveting.
Jane Frazee appeared in quite a few musical comedies. By 1944 her Universal contract ended and she was offered deals at MGM and Republic. She chose to sign with Republic, where boss Herbert Yates gave her nice roles, good songs and above the title billing. She had pleasant leading men to work with at the studio, so I'm sure she went home after shooting scenes with a smile on her face.
Republic cast the actress in westerns and of course, musical comedies like ROSIE THE RIVETER. The set-up for this picture is rather basic and reminds me of RAFTER ROMANCE, a precode about young people with opposite schedules sharing a room. The war years were known for housing shortages and women working in factories. What good would Hollywood be if it did not depict that on screen?
In our story Jane and her girlfriend Vera (Barbara Jo Allen) share a room in a boarding house with two single men who have opposite work schedules. Since this film was made while the production code was in full force, the two single women and two single men are technically sharing the same beds, just at different hours. The boarding house is run by a strict landlady (Maude Eburne) who of course will not allow any hanky panky.
Jane, Vera and the guys usually interact when one group is coming home from the nearby factory and the other group is getting ready to go to the factory to start their shift. There are squabbles about the upkeep of the room. While battling each other, the two couples end up falling in love. During the film the characters use interesting slang that was probably commonplace during that era. Things like schmoodle and 'making woo' which means 'making love.'
Miss Frazee's performance is sincere and likable; while Miss Allen's performance relies on wisecracks and deadpan deliveries. There's a lot of witty dialogue. One highlight is a memorable scene where the gals have no clothes on and are locked out of the boarding house in the rain. They get picked up by the police.
But the best part is a rousing finale that was filmed on location at an aviation factory. There's no other word for it, except riveting.
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