Dear Ruth (1947)

Set against the backdrop of World War II in a New York City suburb, the Wilkins family finds themselves in the eye of an unexpected storm. An otherwise ordinary day takes a surprising twist when Lt. William Seacroft, a U.S. Army Air Corps bombardier, arrives from Italy on a two-day leave. His mission? To meet and marry Ruth, his pen pal sweetheart. However, Ruth, a reserved beauty who has just accepted a proposal from her childhood sweetheart, Albert, is completely unaware of William's existence. The plot thickens when it is revealed that Ruth's precocious and politically active younger sister, Miriam, has been impersonating Ruth for the sake of bolstering Bill’s morale during wartime. Now, Ruth must play along with this charade, entertaining the soldier in her home, even as her stuffy suitor Albert looks on with bewilderment. Over the course of two whirlwind days, the Wilkins household, led by their crusty judge father, is thrown into a delightful bedlam. A comedy of errors ensues as Miriam's well-intentioned deception threatens to crumble. Amidst the chaos, the Wilkins family, one of the most endearingly eccentric clans of the silver screen, find themselves wrestling with unexpected romance, hilarious misunderstandings and a ticking clock. Will Miriam's castle in the clouds stand strong or come crashing down by the end of Bill's leave? The answer lies in the heart of 'Dear Ruth', an enchanting tale of love, mischief and family.

Dear Ruth is a comedy movie featuring Edward Arnold.

Dear Ruth is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.