The Silver Screen Oasis

I recorded this one last night. I've only seen it once before, a few years ago. I do remember loving Ruth Hussey's understated performance. Looking forward to watching it again!

Sandy K

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who really loves Ruth Hussey in this film. I think she's marvelous.

I don't know much about the controversy that surrounded this film. My guess is, the word COMRADE was enough to light a few fires! Once I stayed with a friend for a while. He and his girlfriend lived upstairs. I was in the basement. A couple of other people came and went. We shared food, toilet paper, light bulbs, you name it. One night I said, "So, are we communists?"

I think the overall message of the film is to take what good we can from a communist model and apply it to our own lives here, especially in wartime, so we can get through it together, with more for everyone - getting the job done quicker and better as well. It's a great idea, but later it was made to look like the writers were indoctrinating people subtly against their will. Which they actually were, but so what? When differing ideas are blamed for our problems, and banned, it's time to get out of the country.

You know, I get the "communist" angle, but what I took away from the film is that the women all living together and supporting each other was more about SISTERHOOD. At least that's how I choose to see it!

Sandy K

That's a great way to see it, Sandy! You go, sistah!

Well, I watched Tender Comrade last night, and I have to say, I didn't care for Ginger Rogers' performance. She just seemed to be trying a little too hard to show that her character was a bit of a hothead. Less would've been more here. She had many truthful moments--like the scene in the factory where she brings up the idea of house sharing to her co-workers, for example, but so many of her scenes with Robert Ryan seemed forced.

As the movie went on, it seemed to me that Robert Ryan's character treated Ginger's character, Jo, like a small child. The patient and slightly patronizing tone of voice, the way he seemed to indulge her little idiosyncrasies--OMG, she actually wants her husband to spend time talking to her rather then withdrawing and reading at the end of the day! Yes, I understand that he was working overtime to save up money for her, but in an marriage of equality, he would have told her that before she had a tantrum (again, she's a child). I get that it was a different time, blah blah blah, but I still found it incredible that Jo was so capable outside of her marriage, yet infantilized in these scenes.

I love Robert Ryan, but I started to cringe whenever their scenes began. I enjoyed all of the scenes with the women in the house.

I'm glad I watched it again, if only to enjoy seeing the underrated Ruth Hussey and Patricia Collinge.

Sandy K

I remember feeling that same way, Sandy. Yuck! It made me squeamish. Wonder what women back then thought....

JF:

I can tell you what they thought. "My ONLY job is to keep my husband happy. " Woman didn't get backbones until after their years working in the factory. After running the house, caring for the kids, paying all the bills, etc. (not necessarily these women, but in general), suddenly the men came back and expected the 'girls' to return to the insipid little drones they had been before they left. Personally, I think that was the true reason for the women's movement - ERA etc. It took a while to get organized, but finally at the end of the 50's things started happening for women. Before the war, it wasn't unusual for a woman to have to ask her husband for money to buy a dress or shoes - not because of low finances, but because he held the purse strings, paid the bills, and only allotted enough for groceries. Believe me in many homes women not only needed equality at work but in their own homes as well. Ask your mom or grandmom, while much of those traditions continued on through the early 60's.
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I did enjoy the figuring done on how much they would have to rent a house and hire a maid - $93.00 a month - can you imagine. I know the cost of living is nearly 10 times higher now, but it's still fun to hear such outlandish numbers, isn't it?
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I love hearing about how much things cost back then. I always dream of going back in a time machine and buying vintage clothing and housewares for no money.

I can tell you what they thought. "My ONLY job is to keep my husband happy. "

You obviously did not grow up with the women I grew up with. Too bad.

And if they heard you call them "insipid little drones" they'd thrash you within an inch of your life.

I wasn't denying that some women (maybe most, though I'm not even confident of that) thought, "My ONLY job is to keep my husband happy." My objection is the portrayal of ALL woman at the time as having thought that. And then characterizing all women at the time as returning "to the insipid little drones they had been before"...a bit inaccurate and a lot insulting (if it's not out of place be feel insulted on behalf of my mother, grandmothers, aunts and other women I was around as a child who weren't aware that they were "insipid little drones").