Tender Comrade (1943)

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writer:

Dalton Trumbo (written by)

Release Date:

June 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Ginger Rogers, a young defense plant worker whose husband is in the military during World War II, shares...

Plot Keywords:

Friendship Between Women | Baby | Housemate | Neglected Wife | Newlywed

Cast

Ginger Rogers	...	Jo Jones
Robert Ryan	...	Chris Jones
Ruth Hussey	...	Barbara Thomas
Patricia Collinge	...	Helen Stacey
Mady Christians	...	Manya Lodge
Kim Hunter	...	Doris Dumbrowski
Jane Darwell	...	Mrs. Henderson
Richard Martin	...	Mike Dumbrowski

Runtime:

102 min (copyright length) | 101 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #9586) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

This film was introduced as evidence when director Edward Dmytryk and writer Dalton Trumbo were hauled before the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was investigating them on suspicion of being Communists. Despite the film's many flag-waving speeches, the communal living arrangements of the ladies in the film was cited as evidence of how Dmytryk and Trumbo attempted to brainwash unsuspecting American moviegoers with Communist "propaganda". As even more damning "evidence", there was the use of the word "Comrade" in the title.

Quotes:

Chris Jones: Y'know, I've been thinking...
Jo Jones: There you go exaggerating again!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Century" (1999)

Soundtrack:

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

One of a kind

"Tender Comrade" was the only film made during the second world war showing what it was like to be a war bride. It just about covers every detail of home life during this time period, such as rationing booklets, war plant jobs, friendships, worries, "not to talk about troop movements" in public and everything a war bride had to deal with. I'm sure one cam complain about dialog, scripts, camera angles, etcetera, but life wasn't perfect and this film recreates life during a time when "politically incorrect" was not mandatory. People actually talked like that then. They dressed like that, lived like that. This film is as close to factual representation of a war bride as anyone ever got and I, for one, am thankful it was filmed and still lives on. Everyone seems to remember the soldier, but not so much about what their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters had to endure while being left behind to wait for their return. Thank you, Mr. Dymytryk.