MartinHafer Uggghhh! This film simply irritated me, as the wonderful and Oscar-winning Olivia de Havilland was forced to appear in this movie that was simply beneath her talents. And, considering that she battled the big-wigs at Warner Brothers for better roles, this loan-out to RKO is ample evidence that she was right to sue to be released from her contract! Quite simply, this is a poorly written film where Miss de Havilland was paired with a lumbering 'actor' who had all the charisma and charm of a log!The film is set in DC during the Second World War. De Havilland is secretary to a guy who comes off as an idiot. Perhaps it was the writing or perhaps this was the best Sonny Tufts could do, but he seemed to be ill-at-ease in his role as a manufacturing expert brought to the Capital to increase production. However, the plot really involves Tufts and de Havilland eventually falling in love--interspersed with some 'kooky' adventures--and kooky really seemed to poorly suit the sophisticated de Havilland. Of particular note was the ultra-kooky motorcycle scene--which came off as something you might expect from an Abbott & Costello or Three Stooges film! Poorly rear-projected and zany, I cringed during this entire unnecessary sequence. And, as far as cringing goes, this early scene was just one of many that just irritated me (another awful one was the crying scene where I just wanted de Havilland to shut up!). The film was just poorly written and dumb. This is clearly among the actress' worst films and, sadly, probably among the best performances by Tufts! Simply awful and clearly a B-movie in every way--despite an A-level star in the title role. I think I'm gonna throw up! To think the star from "The Heiress", "To Each His Own" and "The Snake Pit" was put into this drivel!!

tigger-100 I only saw this movie once on AMC (before they started showing recent "classics". I loved it. Sure, it is a war propaganda film, loaded with patriotism. Sure it is written to the largely female audiences of the time. Sure, it is a pale imitation of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "His Girl Friday". It is still a fun, witty, movie.It is also possibly the best use of Washington, DC as a location. They get the geography right. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" (one of my favorites) has people going in every direction. "Government Girl" keeps everything in its place. Also, it provides an historic look at wartime DC.Tell me where I can find this movie, as I would love to see it again.

jotix100 Dudley Nichols, the director of "Government Girl", working with Budd Schulberg on the script, gave us this look of America during the years of WWII. This is a move of how every department in Washington was taken over by thousands of women who descended on the capital to help with the war effort.The housing problem of the times is clearly shown as we watch the opening sequence when Ed Browne arrives in Washington without a reservation for a hotel. Because his name is in the newspaper, he is given the honeymoon suite that young Sgt. Blake and May, were going to use for that purpose.Smokey Allard comes to the rescue as she tries to give the couple a place where they can be together, but makes the mistake of taking them into the "only women" rooming house where she and May share a tiny apartment.This comedy shows us a slice of life in Washington in those years. Even though there was a war going on, there is always optimism, as that conflict was a just one, in the minds of all Americans of that era. We are shown how Ed Browne is instrumental in setting up the factories that will produce the bombers that were key in winning the war in Europe and in the Pacific.Olivia de Havilland makes a sunny "Smokey" Allard. Even when playing roles that didn't demand much of her acting abilities, this actress makes us like her because of the charisma she projected. Sunny Tufts is good as this unsophisticated Ed Browne who is mired in the bureaucracy he encounters in Washington. Ann Shirley, James Dunn, Paul Stewart, and Agnes Moorehead complete the excellent cast.While the movie doesn't break new ground, it's pleasant enough for a few laughs and a nostalgic look at that period.

Neil Doyle De Havilland found herself obligated to do GOVERNMENT GIRL when David O. Selznick borrowed her from Warner Bros. (he lent them Ingrid Bergman) and then sold her services to RKO for one picture. She didn't like the script and it looks as though she got her revenge by overacting the title role, which would have been okay if the material itself was funny. But this lame wartime comedy about overcrowded Washington never quite gets off the ground.Sonny Tufts does what he can with a thankless role as a bungling, naive politician who has to learn the ropes from his pretty secretary. Agnes Moorehead gets in a couple of good quips as a snobbish Washington matron and Jess Barker is likable enough in a secondary romantic lead.James Dunne and Ann Shirley tend to overplay their roles as a couple of lovestruck newlyweds eager to find lodgings. Despite its obvious flaws, the film was a moderate success for RKO at the box-office and wartime audiences seemed to go for it. De Havilland fans aren't likely to rate this among her best comedies.