Government Girl (1943)

Against the bustling backdrop of wartime Washington DC, where accommodations are scarce and eligible men even scarcer, Elizabeth Allard, affectionately known as Smokey, navigates the political maze with an ease that has earned her the reputation of being the most effective secretary in the War Construction Board. Her life is a whirlwind of would-be suitors and bureaucratic intricacies, until a series of confrontations with an unfamiliar face disrupts her routine. The man, who hijacks the hotel suite Smokey had reserved for her friends' wedding, turns out to be Ed Browne, her new boss, fresh from Detroit with a mission to oversee bomber production for the US military. Ed, a former automobile production executive, is thrown into the chaotic machinery of government and armament production, a world far removed from his previous life in Detroit. His unconventional methods clash with the intricate dance of bureaucracy, causing ripples in the well-oiled machine of DC politics. Smokey, with her intimate knowledge of political ropes, becomes an unexpected ally in this maelstrom. Their professional relationship evolves into a delicate balance of power, as Smokey guides Ed through the diplomatic channels of government, while he challenges her with the notion that rules can be bent to achieve results. As they navigate their intertwined professional lives, the personal stakes rise when the political ambitions of Dana McGuire, a lawyer with White House aspirations and the man Smokey secretly loves, start to impact their lives in unexpected ways. In the heart of a city at war, Smokey and Ed must reconcile their divergent methods and navigate a sea of political intrigue, all while juggling personal relationships and navigating the complex dynamics of love, friendship, ambition, and duty.

Government Girl is a comedy movie featuring Olivia de Havilland and directed by Dudley Nichols.

Government Girl is currently streaming on DIRECTV and TCM.