Roughly Speaking (Warner Bros.) (1945)

Rosalind Russell in Roughly Speaking’ Delights Strand Theatres First-Nighters (Prepared Review) A rousing portrait of the American scene tuned to the heartbeat of a courageous woman, Warner Bros.’ ‘Roughly Speaking’’ opened last night at the Strand Theatre with a superlative cast, starring Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson and featuring Robert Hutton, Jean Sullivan, Alan Hale, John Qualen, Donald Woods, Craig Stevens and Andrea King. This reviewer has seen many motion pictures on varied screens dedicated to woman's courage. Assorted females in fliers’ garb, doctors’ whites and brief jungle attire have cavorted before his eyes, doing brave and wonderful things. But somehow, these women always seem _ so completely independent, desiring least of all the partnership of marriage. “Roughly Speaking’ is dedicated to a woman’s courage, but the woman builds no_ bridges, spans no oceans. Not that she is lacking in that particular brand of fortitude. She is just too busy marrying and raising a family. There lies the clue to the warmth, the humanness, the tenderness of “‘Roughly Speaking.”’ For the film is not an epic, not an extravaganza. It is the simple, laughing story of just one of . thirty-six million American families. But look closely . . . for it might be yours. While the battle still rages in domestic circles and the title of family monarch has still to be officially placed on the male or female head, it is mother who inevitably gets in the last word. And in the Louise Randall Pierson that Rosalind Russell brings to the screen, the mothers of America have found a_ stout champion. For Louise is everything that is warm and beautiful and gay. Miss Russell, in her first picture under the Warner banner in recent years, is supreme — truly, a mother so adorable that she is destined to set a-whirling innumerable bachelor minds. Louise’s five children, little sticks of dynamite looking for a place to explode, know two fathers. First there is Rodney (Donald Woods), spoiled, soft, no more than an egotistical college boy at best. His temperament is as far removed from that of his fast growing family as that roe Still RR6—Mat 201—30c Rosalind Russell, brilliant comedy star of Warner Bros.’ "Roughly Speaking," now at the Strand, plays a role certain to warm the heart of even the most vehement critics of American womanhood. As Louise, lovable mother of the wild Pierson clan, she hews her way unswervingly through a fabulous series of breaks and misfortunes. Co-starred with Miss Russell is Jack Carson, who plays the role of her second husband. of Harold Pierson (Jack Carson), Louise’s second husband, is right for them. For in rollicking lovable, generous Harold, the tots find more than a father. They find a companion who stands fast with them through the knocks of fate. Carson’s performance in “Roughly Speaking” is a _ polished, well-understood piece of acting, surpassing even his brilliant portrayal in ‘‘The Hard Way.” Briefly, ““Roughly Speaking” is concerned with the struggle of a brave and courageous woman who loses everything in life except her laughter. The film is the story of the three most turbulent decades in the past hundred years. The roaring twenties, the lean thirties and the fighting forties. It is America, growing out of knee pants, spiced with laughter, pathos and understanding. Also in the film, and giving excellent performances. are Robert Hutton, as one of the Pierson boys in young manhood, Jean Sullivan, as brave, crippled Louise Jr., lovely Andrea King, gruff Alan Hale, Ann Doran, John Qualen, Craig Stevens, John Alvin and a host of other brilliant featured players. “Roughly Speaking”’ was adapted from the _ true-to-life story by the same name authored by Louise Randall Pierson and was directed by Michael Curtiz. An Academy Award winner for “Casablanca,” Mr. Curtiz gives little doubt in this film that he is among the outstanding directors of the age. Photographed by Joseph Walker, the film was produced by Henry Blanke. Confidentially speaking “Roughly Speaking” . . . is America speaking. ‘Roughly Speaking’ At Strand Tonight (Opening Day Reader) “Roughly Speaking,” the rousing film story about a gallant lady who loses everything but her laughter, starring Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson, opens tonight at the Strand Theatre. Set against the moving background of the past three turbulent decades, “Roughly Speaking”’ also features Robert Hutton, Andrea King, Alan, Hale, Craig Stevens, John Qualen, John Alvin and Donald Woods in_ supporting roles. The film Isr C70, n= cerned with the hectic family life of the Piersons, a fabulous but true life family. “Roughly Speaking” was adapted f Onn the screen from the bestselling autobiography of Louise Randall Pierson by Mrs. Pierson herself and directed by Michael Curtiz. The film was produced by Henry Blanke. 12 Mat 101—15c Donald Woods Roughly Speaking” Starlet Has Fresh Film Personality It was quiet restraint that won for Jean Sullivan the much coveted role of Louise Jr., in Warners’ tender comedy drama, “Roughly Speaking,’ which stars Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson and is now playing at the Strand Theatre. Jean Sullivan’s role in “Roughly Speaking” adds a second notch to her belt of successes which all started with her being discovered on the campus of the University of California at Los Angeles. “I never thought of myself as a commercial actress,” Jean says softly. “I'd done quite a few plays at school and they were fun. My real ambition, though, lay in ballet—modern ballet of the Wigman school—and it was this I wanted to pursue. “But Mr. Baiano (Solly Baiano, Warner Bros.’ talent scout) saw me in Sir William Gilbert’s “Engaged,’ a little comedy of manners, and urged me to sign with Warners. “I told him I’d never thought of motion pictures and definitely wasn’t ready for that sort of thing anyway. But he kept coming back. After six months | finally said yes. About a week later | was Errol Flynn's leading lady in ‘Uncertain Glory.’ It seemed awfully fast and bewildering to me, but | guess that’s the way Hollywood operates.” Jean Sullivan is twenty, with soft brown hair, green eyes anda facial structure reminiscent of Merle Oberon. She punctuates her soft, slow speech with a thoughtful smile that is sincere and quite disarming. She is definitely not a glamor girl and is given to reading Proust, Huysmans, Anatole France and Thomas Mann both at home and at work. That, of course, is apt to make her Hollywood is concerned. eesh= ie daughter of Col. Alexander (U.S. We eta) and Mrs. Claire Cardon SulliJean was born in Lfo-iesa=n=, Utah, but was whisked away from one army camp to another as her father received new orders, making her a precociously well-traveled child. “screwy, as far as van, Mat 114—15c Jean Sullivan Actor Resembles Author’s Son In More Than A Physical Way “TI could have jumped right out of my skin.” That was the comment of Louise Randall Pierson, author of “Roughly Speaking,” a best-selling autobiographical piece, after meeting Bob Arthur, the actor. Arthur had been cast to play the role of Mrs. Pierson’s son, Frankie, in Warner Bros.’ picturization of her life story which comes to the Strand Friday, starring Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson. “Why, he looks so much like my own son | almost had to look twice at him to convince myself he wasn’t Frankie,” she added. And, Mrs. Pierson continued, Arthur shares her son’s impressions, too—at least in one respect. “When he first met Frankie’s girl he wanted to date her. See what I mean?” laughed the author. Bob Hutton Self-Baptized First Day At Warner Studio Bob Hutton, currently appearing in Warners’ ‘““Roughly Speaking’ which stars Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson at the Strand, named himself the first day he went to work as an actor under contract to Warner Bros. in Hollywood. His real family name is Winne but Hutton was his mother’s maiden name and it appealed to him as a good screen label. He hopes the public will approve. And it would seem that the public does more than approve if the piles of fan mail addressed to Mr. Robert Hutton are counted, For Bob Hutton is very definitely a name in Hollywood today. This young actor was born in Kingston, N. Y., on June II, 1920 and attended the Blair Academy in New Jersey, where he won some attention with his ability at tennis, track events, wrestling and hockey as well as in amateur theatricals which started him on the road that has led, eventually, to Hollywood. Tall, six feet, two inches in height and weighing one hundred and sixty pounds, Hutton is the son of a hardware merchant and can find no theatrical names among his forebears. He himself played young leads in high school and academy plays from the time he was sixteen. For several seasons he worked as a leading man with the Woodstock Playhouse stock company in New York, sharing attention with such well known names as Sinclair Lewis, Elissa Landi, Claire Luce, Julie Fifty Yards Of Laces For Miladies’ Shoes Shoes worn by thirty girls in Warner Bros.’ ‘Roughly Speaking,’”’ the Rosalind Russell-Jack Carson co-starring film now playing at the Strand required a total of fifty yards of laces. As. authentic tumes, the high-top footgear necessitated the use of 30-inch laces for each shoe. 1910. cos Released By Navy, Signed By Warners Nineteen-year-old Bob Arthur knows what it means to shake hands with Lady Luck. Two weeks after Arthur was honorably discharged from the Navy at Aberdeen, Washington, he boarded a train, came south to Los Angeles and had barely arrived when he was signed by Warner Bros.’ producer, Henry Blanke, for a part in “Roughly Speaking,’ which stars Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson and opens Friday at the Strand. Blanke spotted young Arthur alighting from a street car on Hollywood Blvd., took him to the studio to meet Mrs. Pierson, who approved the striking resemblance to her real son and the lad was signed. Hayden, Kitty Kelly and others. Bob builds miniature furniture as a hobby and does wood carving for relaxation. His present ambition is to become a successful screen actor and then turn to directing. He directed several stage productions for the Woodstock players. The only thing he would be if denied his wish to become an actor in films would be “‘unhappy.” Still BH4—Mat 109—15c Bob Hutton Lovely Andrea King Claims Credit For Novel ‘Kiss-0-Gram’ In today’s troubled world, yesterday’s simple letter has become a sacred thing. To our men fighting overseas, they mean much more than scraps of paper and a few lines of ink. For letters are the world the boys have left behind, coming to wish them goodluck and a safe return. It is their only contact with the existence for which they are willing to give their lives. Andrea King, lovely young Warner Bros. featured player currently to be seen in Warners’ “Roughly Speaking”’ which stars Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson at the Strand, has added something new to make letter writing and receiving just a little different. Andrea claims credit for thinking up an idea which is sure to be a hit with servicemen everywhere who have the good fortune to be stationed in the vicinity of a phonograph. Here is Andrea’s suggestion. Record a very personal message for your own special serviceman and then paste your picture in the center of the record. Finally, place a firm imprint of your lips, smack in the center of the picture. —— ed