Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Ginger Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

SimonJack Based on an autobiography by Louise Randall Pierson, "Roughly Speaking" is a wonderful story about life and love, success and failure, adventure and risk, faith and family, sacrifice and perseverance. It's also the story of a determined woman who will work hard, take chances, fight for her own and love – all with great intensity.Pierson wrote the book of her story in 1943, and this movie was made in 1945. The story is mostly in the first four decades of the 20th century. Rosalind Russell plays Pierson perfectly. Donald Woods plays her first husband, Rodney Crane. They have four children in quick succession – Barbara, born Jan. 16, 1913; John, born Dec. 30, 1913; Rodney Jr., born May 21, 1915; and Louise Jr., born Nov. 22, 1916. Rodney falls for a younger woman through his work and he and Louse divorce.A year later she meets Harold Pierson, played by Jack Carson. He is a perfect match for this headstrong but committed woman. They marry and have one more child together – Frank, born May 12, 1925. This is an excellent performance by Carson. Through many ups and downs, they find deep love for one another, and raise a close-knit family. The various supporting roles are very well done. The film ends with Harold and Louise seeing their three sons off to war in 1942.I don't know how the life story of Louise and Harold Pierson ended. I can imagine that it had a happy and upbeat ending. One of their children, Frank, became a journalist for Time and Life magazines and then a scriptwriter for movies and TV. He then directed movies and produced TV programs. He wrote for several notable TV programs and movies, including "Cat Ballou" and "Cool Hand Luke." He won an Oscar for "Dog Day Afternoon." He served as president of the Writers Guild of America and was president (2001 to 2005) of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). He died in 2012 at age 87.

jotix100 Louise Randall Pierson lived a wonderful life. Mrs. Pierson was a woman ahead of her times. Her biggest accomplishment was a total dedication to her family. The film, based on her own autobiography, clearly shows why this woman was so unique. Michael Curtiz directed with his usual flair.Louise Randall Pierson went from a childhood of privilege to almost poverty after her father died when she was still a girl. Louise pursues a career as a typist and joins a firm where no women had been employed. Her friendship with Alice Abbott brings her to New Haven where she meets and marries a man that never amounts to anything, but who leaves her for another woman without any qualms, leaving Louise to do whatever she can with four small children.At this point in her life, she meets Harold Pierson, a lovable man who had big visions, but who never was able to have the recognition he deserved. Louise and Harold were made for one another. Their love will get them through some rough patches, but they manage to keep their spirits and give all the children careers of their own.Rosalind Russell makes this film come alive. Ms. Russell was such a lovable actress that no matter what she appeared in, she always managed to please us. Jack Carson, an underrated actor, was perfect as her second husband Harold Pierson. Mr. Carson and Ms. Russell seem to be having a great time while making the movie. Ann Doran is the loyal friend Alice and Ann Todd plays the young Louise."Roughly Speaking" is one of the most positive films that came out of Hollywood in the forties because it shows us a determined woman with a great heart who raises above of what life gave her.

rhallman Rosalind Russell plays Louise Randall Pierson (someone I've never heard of, but this is based on her autobiography). Directed by Michael Curtiz, it showcases Russell and the often underrated Jack Carson as they face financial feast and famine and an ever-expanding family. Russell is tough, and unapologetic, and Carson is her equal. The film, coming from 1945, has a strange cliff hanging effect, as it ends with the beginning of World War II, and you wonder what will happen next. At the time it must have hit home for a lot of families with men (and women) fighting overseas. But I would strongly recommend it as a movie to watch before the films "Since You Went Away", with Claudette Colbert which chronicles life at home during the war, and "Best Years of Their Lives", which is probably the best coming-home-from-war film ever made. The three would make a great sequential view of life from the turn of the century to post WWII America. 8.5 out of 10.

Wayne119 Until I happened to catch it on the Turner Classic Movies channel, I'd never heard of Roughly Speaking. It turns out to be a charming and genuinely funny romantic comedy, set during the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the 1939-40 New York World's Fair. Roz Russell and Jack Carson, as a married couple raising a family, keep us wondering what crazy scheme they will cook up next in order to survive hard times. Their optimism is contagious. This family laughs a lot, especially when everything is going wrong, and it's real laughter--the kind that makes me laugh along with them. The ending seemed kind of abrupt, but apart from that, I found this movie great fun and often quite touching.