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The Hard Way

Play trailer Poster for The Hard Way 1943 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Helen (Ida Lupino) wants out of her small town and sees her sister Katie (Joan Leslie) as her means when she discovers that Katie can sing. Manipulating Katie into a marriage with another singer, Katie finds happiness on the road performing, but Helen wants more. She forces Katie to dump her singing husband and go solo. As Katie's success grows, the tension between the two sisters increases and is taken to the breaking point when they both fall in love with the same man.

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Sep 20
2.5/4
The story maintains interest as it shows how Helen’s Machiavellian maneuvering affects all those around her. Go to Full Review
James Agee The Nation 02/10/2021
There is a good deal in it to excite and to please. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/30/2014
B
The part Ida got because Bette Davis rejected it, is well-served by her. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 03/05/2013
B+
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Audience Reviews

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Bruce W Jun 29 Ida Lupino stranded alone on the third point of a love triangle. Every movie I've seen with her in the early 1940s follows this same format, though this one is not in any way a film noir. Straight melodrama but well enough presented to be worth a watch. See more Steve D 05/29/2023 Melodramatic but strongly made. See more acsdoug D @acsdoug 05/22/2023 Joan Leslie is not very convincing as a song and dance superstar. Ida Lupino, on the other hand, is terrific. Her hard boiled driven character is perfect for her acting style. Dennis Morgan is very good here too. Good movie. See more David K 05/11/2023 Good cast leads a good film that's better than it should be. Hardly unique in its depiction of the drama and unbridled ambition of the lead - Ida Lupino - one of the greats for both her acting chops and pioneering role as a female director (not for this film, that would come later). Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, and Jack Carson all turn in stellar performances. I've heard Joan Leslie sing in other films, but her slightly off singing here is perfect for the role. See more s r @ScottR 10/31/2017 A dramatic tale of show business and love. See more 03/04/2013 ida lupino shines as a hard boiled sister with an iron will. See more Read all reviews
The Hard Way

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Movie Info

Synopsis Helen (Ida Lupino) wants out of her small town and sees her sister Katie (Joan Leslie) as her means when she discovers that Katie can sing. Manipulating Katie into a marriage with another singer, Katie finds happiness on the road performing, but Helen wants more. She forces Katie to dump her singing husband and go solo. As Katie's success grows, the tension between the two sisters increases and is taken to the breaking point when they both fall in love with the same man.
Director
Vincent Sherman
Producer
Jerry Wald
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 1943, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 7, 2016
Runtime
1h 49m