MovieChat Forums > The Hard Way (1943) Discussion > James Agee, Ex Lax, and Joan Leslie

James Agee, Ex Lax, and Joan Leslie

posted 17 years ago by jrhpax
18 replies | jump to latest

Ida Lupino is one of my favorite actresses, including in "The Hard Way," but I've always smiled at James Agee's remark that in "The Hard Way" Lupino has an “expression of strained intensity [which] would be less quickly relieved by a merciful death than by Ex Lax.” Somehow, in spite of Agee, she won the New York Film Critics Award.

"The Hard Way" has its ludicrous side in Joan Leslie's musical numbers. Yes, she has a winning smile and she works hard, but her singing is pretty pathetic. She's supposed to play a musical sensation of the caliber of Judy Garland, but she sounds like the third-place winner of a karaoke contest -- even as the crowds go wild for her. Her acting is quite decent, though.

"The Hard Way" is a good, often overlooked movie.

[–] xylonian-1 17 years ago

I don't know....Ex Lax seems a little 'too much'....prunes maybe????

I thought Joan Leslie sang rather well by the end of the movie....but she always dazzles me, so it is hard to be objective. Except for the ending being a little 'rushed' I thought this was a great movie....

Read My Lips!!!!

[–] f111151 16 years ago

The IMDb says that Sally Sweetland dubbed Joan Leslie's vocals in this picture, (and seemingly in every other one she made) but that seems impossible considering that the vocals aren't that strong in the musical numbers.

[–] csu16387 16 years ago

I love Joan Leslie. She's a pretty good singer and dancer (see The Sky's the Limit). However, I find her to be the weak link in this movie. The singing and dancing aren't strong enough for me to believe her character was a great talent. That's likely the fault of Leslie's choreographer and singing coach. Those musical numbers were quite weak to me.

As much as I like Joan, the role of the younger sister needed a more stronger presence. Maybe a Lana Turner or Anne Baxter could have been better suited to match with the great Ida Lupino.

"Sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand."

[–] kduffy-8 16 years ago

I watched this on TCM last night for (I'm embarassed to say) the first time. Ida Lupino knocked me off my chair.
I have to nod in agreement about the musical numbers being weak, but I was riveted none the less.

[–] lostwriter2001 16 years ago

I also just saw it on TCM and found Ida's performance awesome.

[–] npaxton-3 15 years ago

I agree that Ida Lupino gave a bravura performance in this film. What makes it more interesting to me is that it was a veiled (somewhat) depiction of Ginger Rogers rise to stardom spurred on by her mother Lela Rogers. And the best is that Ginger Rogers was offered the part that Joan Leslie finally played. Now that would have been intrguing if she had accepted!

[–] none-85 14 years ago

It is hard to believe that Ginger Rogers, at age 31, could have done as well as Joan Leslie, at age 17, in the film. Joan was always a "sweet young thing." Ginger would ahve overshadowed Lupino, and that's not the way the script read.

[–] manage-932-700755 12 years ago

I agree. Rogers looked considerably older than Lupino, and was older; therefore how would she have been plausible as the younger sister?

[–] stareyes24 12 years ago

I actually think that Ginger Rogers was considered for the role that was ultimately played by Ida Lupino. By the time this movie was made, she was either 31 or 32. I think she would have done well in the role, but Ida Lupino is amazing and she was only 25 years old.

Joan Leslie did well in this role, but a long time ago, I read that the roles were originally intended for Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, and Clark Gable. While I enjoy Crawford and Gable, Lupino and Morgan bring something quite fresh to these roles. If Lana Turner or even Linda Darnell had played the Joan Leslie role, they would have completely owned it, especially Lana Turner who not only was beautiful, but also a great dancer as well.

[–] none-85 14 years ago

Joan's voice was dubbed by Sally Sweetland, and I think the result is pretty good. I don't think the intent was ever that she would be as good as Garland. The film is basically a drama, not a musical. Agee's comments are way off base. Of course, I like all four of the stars, especially Morgan and Leslie, so I'm somewhat biased. The film remains one of my all time favorites.

[–] mackjay2 13 years ago

As others have said, Joan Leslie does NOT do her own singing, she was dubbed. The ridiculous song, and the cartwheels almost turn this fine movie into a comedy. Leslie is quite alright otherwise, considering how young she was at the time.

[–] manage-932-700755 12 years ago

I agree with the poster's comments. Leslie's character was never intended to be as good as Judy Garland. The song was not the high point of the film, but as the poster points put, the film was a drama, not a musical. I think Joan Leslie did quite well in the film- as did the other three stars also.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 11 years ago

As a singer she should have auditioned for Spike Jones; she could have imitated a singing toilet.

Significance is the popsicle of a melting mind.

[–] manage-932-700755 11 years ago

In that case- as a toilet, she would have been imitating your mouth or mouff.

[–] cnicknz 11 years ago

Funny how few people mention Jack Carson's wonderful work in this movie. Like Lupino, he should have become a much bigger star because like her, he could do a brilliant job with any kind of role they handed him, drama or comedy or musical.

[–] texastreasure517 8 years ago

I have to agree with your analysis of Jack Carson's performance. I think his career, in general, has been vastly underrated.

[–] 8 years ago

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