Between 1940 and 1950, Rosalind Russell made a dozen pictures that explored the challenges for career women. Too many critics view the careerist plots in woman's pictures as terribly dated. In our current era of precarious work and short term contracts, the allure of watching a smart woman tackle problems on the job with finesse and style should not be underestimated. As a literary agent who dabbles in Hollywood casting, Roz learns not to judge a book by its cover.
I close the episode with a brief passage from her memoir, Life is a Banquet.