Rationing (1944) Starring: Wallace Beery, Marjorie
Main, Donald Meek. Directed by Willis Goldbeck. Screenplay by William R.
Lipman, Grant Garrett, Harry Ruskin. Produced by Orville O. Dull. Run Time: 94
minutes. USA. Black and White. Comedy.
Marjorie Main is probably best known for her appearances as
Ma Kettle in eight films opposite Percy Kilbride and one opposite Parker Fennelly
between 1947 and 1957. Prior to that, she had a fairly successful career at
MGM, including such films as Stella Dallas (1937), Dead End
(1937), The Women (1939), and Another Thin Man (1939). Additionally, she
starred in 6 films opposite Wallace Beery, including Wyoming (1940), Barnacle
Bill (1941), Jackass Mail (1942), Bad Bascomb (1946), and Rationing (1944).
To give a little background, during World War II, Americans on
the home front were called upon to make sacrifices so that there were materials
and food available to the troops. People could buy goods but they had to, in some
cases, have coupons. On August 28, 1941, before the U.S. entered the war,
President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8875 created the Office of Price
Administration (OPA). The OPA’s main responsibility was to place a ceiling on
prices of most goods, and to limit consumption by rationing. Americans received
their first ration cards in May 1942. The first card, War Ration Card Number
One, became known as the “Sugar Book,” for one of the commodities Americans
could purchase with their ration card.
The OPA rationed automobiles, tires, gasoline, fuel oil,
coal, firewood, nylon, silk, and shoes. Americans used their ration cards and
stamps to take their meager share of household staples including meat, dairy,
coffee, dried fruits, jams, jellies, lard, shortening, and oils.
At the same time, black markets sprung up around the
country, offering limited goods at a premium, and some people took to hoarding
ration stamps and precious supplies.
With that, some of what goes on during the movie might make
more sense.
