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| My Sister Eileen - 1942 |
Coming up next is 1942's "My Sister Eileen", the story of two sisters who move to New York City in the hopes of launching their respective careers. Before they can make the big time, they've got to sort out a place to live. The cast of characters that comes through their new abode is unbelievable!
The film's cast includes Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne, Janet Blair, George Tobias, Allyn Joslyn, Grant Mitchell, Elizabeth Patterson, June Havoc, Donald MacBride, and Jeff Donnell.
Ruth Sherwood, a writer from Columbus, Ohio, is looking to broaden her horizons. For her, this means a move to New York City, where things are really happening. She's won her grandmother over to her side, much to the consternation of her father.
Ruth's younger sister, aspiring actress Eileen, invites herself along. Ruth knows that Eileen needs just as much of a chance as she does, so she lets her.
They arrive in New York City and are instantly beset with the problem of where to live. They spend the entire day scouring the city for a residence and come up short at each location.
They are talked into renting a below-street apartment by a fast-talking landlord. It has much to be desired, but the two sisters know they've got to have a roof over their heads.
It's completely unfortunate for them that their window is right at street level, allowing everything from animals to drunk and disorderly men a front row seat to their lives. Even a street cleaner sprays water in the open window, thoroughly soaking the girls.
And Eileen starts meeting people who want to drop in all the time. They include a married couple who don't want the woman's mother to know their married. The mother is visiting and so the man (a wrestler and football player) wants to stay in the girls' cozy kitchenette. A bonus for them is that he does laundry.
A boy who works at the local drugstore and a theater reporter both have the hots for Eileen. The two guys come over and vie for her attentions, not one paying much attention to Ruth.
A former tenant of the apartment, who happens to be a psychic at a Russian nightclub, is brought to the girls, who've got to let her stay until she wakes up. Will the intrusions ever end?
There is someone for Ruth, however. An editor named Bob Baker takes an interest in Ruth AND her work. Ruth is thrilled, though she can't seem to get a word in edgewise during their conversations.
While waiting for steady jobs to come through, Ruth and Eileen have to be creative with their meals. They eat spaghetti and meatballs for as long as it will last them. And Eileen gets a bunch of free samples of a product called "Nature's Broom". Ruth isn't too sure about it.
While on assignment one day, a group of Portuguese Merchant Marines follow Ruth home. When they arrive, the guys quickly toss her aside in favor of Eileen.
They cause quite a stir. No matter what the girls do, they can't get the guys to leave. The guys start a conga line and eventually a sort of riot breaks out in the neighborhood.
And Eileen has to spend a night in jail because of it. Eileen is actually quite comfortable there. She's got the policemen eating out of the palm of her hand.
Matters come to a head when Grandma and Dad make a surprise visit and find out exactly what's been going on. Grandma seems to be cool with it, but Dad isn't so happy.
The icing on the cake is when Eileen is escorted home from jail by the Portuguese Merchant Marines and their captain, who is very sorry. He pins a medal on Eileen (second class) for all the trouble she's gone through. "I wonder what you have to go through to get first class?" wonders Ruth.
Dad blows his top and orders the girls back to Columbus. He takes Grandma with him to buy the tickets and leaves the girls to pack.
While they're gone, things start to look up. Bob Baker comes in and announces that he's published a story of Ruth's entitled "My Sister Eileen". The story talks about all the things that have happened since arriving in New York. It also comes with a big check. Bob also professes his love for Ruth, who reciprocates.
Everything seems to be settled. The girls are going to stay in New York, and everyone is going out for a celebratory dinner. As they leave, a commotion stops everyone in their tracks. Diggers for the new subway have taken a wrong turn and have landed right in the middle of the girls' apartment.
Cast rundown:
Rosalind Russell.....................................Ruth Sherwood
Brian Aherne.........................................Robert Baker
Janet Blair.............................................Eileen Sherwood
George Tobias........................................Appopolous
Allyn Joslyn...........................................Chic Clark
Grant Mitchell........................................Walter Sherwood
Elizabeth Patterson.................................Grandma Sherwood
June Havoc............................................Effie Shelton
Donald MacBride.....................................Officer Lonigan
Jeff Donnell............................................Helen Loomis
And that's it for My Sister Eileen. Rosalind Russell was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Ruth Sherwood. It was the first of four nominations for the legendary star. To get the starring role, Russell had to sign a five-year contract with Columbia Pictures, which guaranteed that she would make two films a year for them.
The Three Stooges make a surprise cameo at the end of the film as the bumbling subway workers who make a wrong turn and end up drilling into the Sherwood girls' apartment.
