The delightful What a Woman! (1943) starring Rosalind Russell and Brian Aherne was one of many light romantic comedies that flooded the U.S. box office during World War II as a means to help lift spirits and boost morale. Russell plays Carol Ainsley, a crisp career woman with no time for silly diversions like romance. As a top literary agent, she has just been named the outstanding career woman of the year, and Henry Pepper (Aherne), a writer for a popular magazine, is assigned to write a profile on her. Carol has just scooped up the movie rights to a best-selling novel and is on a frantic hunt to find the right actor to play the dashing male lead. In a flash of inspiration, she decides to give the book's author, Michael Cobb (Willard Parker), a shot at playing his own literary hero on the big screen. There's just one problem: Michael, a bland college professor, is nothing like the debonair protagonist of his book. As Carol attempts to mold Michael into a matinee idol, Henry watches with amusement. However, when Michael starts to fall for Carol, Henry finds himself under her spell, too. Facing building pressure from the movie deal and a series of unexpected complications, Carol must decide where her heart stands.

One of Rosalind Russell's specialties early in her career was portraying self-sufficient career women with no time for romance, which made the role of Carol perfectly suited to the four-time Academy Award-nominated actress. Co-star Brian Aherne called Russell "brilliant" in his 1969 autobiography A Proper Job and adored working with her. In fact, What a Woman! was the third romantic comedy that Russell and Aherne made together. Their first two films, Hired Wife (1940) and My Sister Eileen (1942), had been solid box office hits, and the pair exuded a winning chemistry on screen.

What a Woman! also features an impressive roster of veteran character actors in small roles including Mary Forbes (Houseboat [1958]), Ann Shoemaker (Sunrise at Campobello [1960]), and Norma Varden (The Sound of Music [1965]). Future starlet and two-time Academy Award winner Shelley Winters also appears in a blink-and-you-miss-it uncredited role as a secretary in the background.

Viewers will enjoy this vibrant wartime comedy with the great Rosalind Russell delivering an energetic performance with her usual wit and sophistication. Russell and Aherne would go on to make their fourth and final film together in 1967, the romantic comedy Rosie!

By Andrea Passafiume