Cinema, Also Showing Jan. 11, 1943

Pittsburgh (Universal) is a pretentious attempt to picture the coarseness, the turbulent vigor and the ambition of the big steel town. The film never gets beyond the coarseness. As a coal miner who marries the boss's daughter and by hook & crook becomes a boss himself, John Wayne is a thoroughly stereotyped Hollywood heel. Marlene Dietrich, cast as a rough diamond, looks like a phony one. For denouement, Pearl Harbor arrives to engulf all the characters in a spurious blaze of patriotism. Pittsburgh looks more like slag than good wartime metal.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!