Non volle dir sì

Rosalind Russell is doing some sub par material in She Wouldn't Say Yes. Once again she's a professional woman, this time a psychiatrist who does yeoman service counseling soldiers suffering from shell shock. That part of the film was serious and quite real. In fact I wish Roz had done a serious film with her in that kind of role. With what she later did in Sister Kenny, Russell could definitely have handled a serious part like that.

Instead she meets up with Lee Bowman, A GI traveling cross country on a train to head for the Pacific Theater. And for reasons I still can't fathom, Charles Winninger who is both Russell's father and also a psychiatrist is trying his level best to hook his daughter up with Bowman.

Adele Jergens gets to strut her sexy stuff as temper tantrum throwing diva from Bolivia and I'm sure the men in the audience were given reason to come to this 'women's picture' because of her. There's a definite lack of chemistry between Russell and Bowman. But I'm not sure Tracy and Hepburn could have pulled this one off.

For dedicated Rosalind Russell fans only.

Lee Bowman plays a cartoonist who is going off to fight in the Pacific and Rosalind Russell a psychiatrist. Russell's problem is a common one in the 1940s in films--a woman competes in a man's world and as a result is rather sexless and sublimates this in her job!! It's very chauvinistic and doesn't play especially well today, but that's the way it is, folks! Eventually, through MANY contrivances the two end up together and eventually are destined to fall in love. Whatever--it's not like this sort of thing comes as any surprise!

Arthur Q. Bryan is a name very, very few people would recognize. He was the voice for Elmer Fudd up through most of the 1950s. Yet, aside from his voice talents, he didn't appear in all that many films. So here is a very rare chance to actually see what he looked like--and it was a LOT like his cartoon alter-ego. However, you really don't have to look for him in his bit role--as he talks EXACTLY like Fudd! It's sort of surreal seeing this pudgy balding man talking with such a strange yet familiar voice--and it's reason enough to see this Rosalind Russell-Lee Bowman comedy!! And, as an added bonus, you get to see a brief appearance of Alfalfa Switzer in one of his few adult roles (towards the very end of the movie).

Sadly, aside from the novelty of seeing these odd supporting characters, there isn't a whole lot more reason to see the film. Although it is a screwball comedy starring Rosalind Russell (who was magnificent in "His Girl Friday"), here she is just blah...because the story is so incredibly blah.

The story suffers from one major problem and lots of little ones--all because the writing is so incredibly bad. The major problem is that the film isn't funny--a pretty bad problem for a comedy! The minor problems include how contrived the plot is at times, the lack of chemistry between the leads (much of it due to writing--Lee Bowman and Rosalind Russell COULD have been good together) and the film just tries way, way too hard to make you laugh. This is because it didn't really trust the characters to develop naturally--it all came off as goofy and forced. All in all, it's not a terrible film but with good support and lead actors, it SHOULD have been a zillion times better.

She Wouldn't Say Yes has a real, glaring problem; the script isn't funny. After a promising start -- a young, un-credited Darren McGavin as a war-weary GI sets up the main thrust of the plot -- the story starts to unravel. Yes, the premise is dated - and the ending is predictable by the second reel - but those aren't the problems with the film.

Rosalind Russell performance is wonderful. I'm not sure Lee Bowman is up to the task as our hero, it's hard to tell since his character's motivation waffles in and out - but I know that the supporting cast does a fine job.

The script seems to lose it's way, piling on needless twists. Scenes seem to go on forever .. the "I want to marry you" scene, obviously built upon a "who's on First" type misunderstanding, goes on forever, without much payoff.

Characters walk in and out of sets as if they each have skeleton keys, just showing up to add their 2 cents.

The wrap-up is abrupt -- Our heroine's change of heart is forced and un-motivated. And, for a "Screw-ball comedy", the pacing is lack-luster.

All in all - this film is disposable, unless you are a Rosalind Russell completist.

I really enjoyed this film. I found it funny and rather quaint. I would recommend this when you just want to relax and not think about anything to deeply! For me this has got to be at least 10 out of 10. I found it charming and watching it in 2021 it is a good history lesson in terms of how films were back then. Light hearted comedy. Not to be taken serioulsy!

as many comedies from same period, it is a nice film. not perfect,not real convincing, using a lot of clichés but nice. and that fact saves it. a film about tension between a woman and a man, few amusing scenes and few good performances, Rosalind Russell in a role who use the experience about same type of character, Lee Bowman in a seductive role who has the fundamental problem to have a great ignored potential , Adele Jergens as the perfect choice for a lovely character. it is easy to criticize it. but it has the virtue to propose not only a story who seems be more a sketch but to use interesting cast. and that fact remains useful. for remember a form of cinema with special flavor.