The Hard Way

Unconvincing but well-mounted drama.

The Hard Way (1943) is a ambitious rise to stardom picture, trying to make it tragic, almost completely miscasting many of the important roles to make much of it effective. So the films ends up resting heavily on Ida Lupino. Luckily she delivers! In simple: Ida is great!

It's an old ambitious-gal-stepping-on-everyone-in-her-way plot, but Miss Lupino gives it some dignity. The first half is well done but producer's luck runs out in the final reels.