DVD Corner

The Hard Way Blu-ray Review

Ida Lupino wows in “The Hard Way.”

Penned by Daniel Fuchs and Peter Viertel, “The Hard Way” is 1943 drama that has musical elements. The story begins with Helen attempting to commit suicide before she reveals to the audience how she got to this point. She grew up poor in the coal town Green Hill, she married a bum named Sam, and wanted the best for her younger sister Katie who wants more out of life. When Katie encounters a vaudeville act (Albert and Paul), her life is forever changed. She winds up joining the traveling act and Helen goes on the road with her to look out for. It turns out, however, that Helen has a more cutthroat plan in mind. She will literally do anything to advance Katie’s career no matter how big the cost is.

Stylishly directed by Vincent Sherman (there’s some real inventive shots here), “The Hard Way” is an amalgam of genres. It’s a drama, it can be seen as a melodrama, it’s a musical, it’s a film noir and it’s a psychological character study. It’s a story about the price of fame and the dark side of show biz. There’s been plenty of stories about that, but what makes this one of particular interest is the character of Helen. She’s a manipulative and calculating person who wants the best for Katie, but basically controls her life. Katie doesn’t get to live her own life. Whenever Katie finds some semblance of happiness, Helen gets in her way and does some truly heinous things. Seeing the lengths Helen will go is what really drives the picture. You also root for Katie to come out of this ordeal in a positive light. 

You can’t talk about “The Hard Way” without talking about Ida Lupino (Helen). How she didn’t get nominated for an Oscar for this performance is beyond me. Not only does she carry the picture, but she brings this character to life in ways that go beyond the page. The rest of the cast is equally on point here. Joan Leslie is perfectly cast as the young dreamer Katie whose life goes down the drain. Jack Carson (Albert) and Dennis Morgan (Paul) are essential to the story being told here. They’re the catalyst for Helen and Katie’s journey, but they also become entangled in their lives in other ways (no spoilers here).

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.37:1 1080p. How does it look? This is another stunning B&W film restoration courtesy of Warner Archive.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? Expect a nice clean 2.0 track.

Extras:
* Theatrical trailer
* 2 cartoons titled “The Aristo Cat” and “Scrap Happy Daffy.”
* Lux Radio Theater radio drama adaptation.
* 2 short films titled “Over The Wall” and “Gun To Gun.”

September 24, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Classic Movie, Ida Lupino, The Hard Way Blu-ray Review, Warner Archive