Customer Reviews

Roughly Speaking

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Much like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, this movie has a lot of heart and is a movie that needs to be discovered. Like IAWL, its a movie that has holiday appeal and stresses the importance of family and having a sense of humor during even the most difficult and trying of times.
Based on an autobiographical book by Louise Randall Pierson, it begins in the early 20th century and chronicles her life through the early years of WWII. The surprising part of this movie (and an element which may not be the focus of the book it was adapted from) is that it morphs from pure autobiography and becomes more a story of family and the ties that bind.
Predictably, Rosalind Russell drives the story as Louise and delivers a great performance, but the real revelation is popular supporting actor/second banana Jack Carson who works the script with his usual gusto as Louise's second husband, stepdad, and dad. As a well-intentioned guy with a lot of ideas but little good luck, he shines with optimism. The rest of the cast works well, but Carson and Russell make this story work.
By odd coincidence, the real life son of the Piersons later became a successful movie executive. Needless to say, this made me wonder if this movie had some connection with his future career.
As for this dvd copy, there not any special features and no chapters. The Warner Archive collection is pricey, but I am willing to pay a premium for movies that I really love that have not been available on dvd or vhs before. If you want to wait, this pops up on TCM periodically.

This is an excellent film for 2009. The tale begins a bit before 1900 and continues through 1942. Ros Russell is always good, but I always thought that this was Jack Carson's best film performance. It is a family story and you can imagine from the time frame the experiences. I hunted many years before finding a VHS tape and I believe it has been edited. The title is taken from a line used several times in the story when someone asks about how much? or when?..."Roughly speaking..." But that line is missing from the VHS tape. I think everyone would enjoy this story.