This title rates an "OK" as far as entertainment goes. The script changes a number of plot lines from the beloved Molly McIntire books which may annoy Molly purists as well as students and scholars of the American Home Front in WWII such as myself. (No spoilers here. Please read the books and see the film for those comparisons.) These books are an absolute boon to teaching young readers about the importance of patriotism and American pride as well as sacrifice on the Home Front, tightening one's belt, going without certain things we take for granted and supporting our soldiers. The film made Molly look like a self entitled clueless brat while the Molly in the books was a tireless patriot on the Home Front. Book Molly participated enthusiastically in scrap drives, rubber drives, and paper drives. She did not like the turnips Mrs. Guildford made until her Mother dressed them up for her but she did enjoy experimenting with recipes that helped stretch ration points. Another point is that Molly was very well versed in rationing and ration points and meatless meals. She would not have been surprised at the lack of ice cream in the soda shop and her friends would not have been upset over it.It's just the way things were. In fact, one of the books features a recipe for sugarless applesauce cupcakes because sugar was so strictly rationed. Molly made her own Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations because money and materials were scarce on the Home Front and her friends still had plenty of fun using their creativity to make something out of nothing.
This film had several excellent opportunities to examine and expound upon those ideals and simply dropped the ball. The filmmakers also, while pandering to a modern day liberal left, glossed over the fact that in 1943, every child was required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in public school and did so willingly during this time.
Costumes were a nice try but even then, they missed a few key elements and the actors all suffered from half-hearted directing and amateurish editing. For a movie that does not require one to think much, this is OK but it won't teach you or your children much about the American Home Front in WWII.
This film had several excellent opportunities to examine and expound upon those ideals and simply dropped the ball. The filmmakers also, while pandering to a modern day liberal left, glossed over the fact that in 1943, every child was required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in public school and did so willingly during this time.
Costumes were a nice try but even then, they missed a few key elements and the actors all suffered from half-hearted directing and amateurish editing. For a movie that does not require one to think much, this is OK but it won't teach you or your children much about the American Home Front in WWII.
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