AllMovie

Musical comedy favorite Elsie Janis, who gained renown in WW1 as "The Sweetheart of the AEF", returned to the screen after a long absence in Republic's Women in War. The story is the old chestnut about two volunteer Red Cross nurses, Pamela (Wendy Barrie) and Gail (Mae Clarke), both in love with dashing aviator Larry (Patric Knowles). The producers brought the storyline up-to-date by plunking it in the middle of the London Blitz, German air raids and all. As a result, Women in War was one of the first Hollywood productions to recreate the Nazi bombing of London, which it did with commendable credibility. Top-billed Elsie Janis plays O'Neill, "den mother" of the volunteer nurses; surprisingly, she is afforded no singing opportunities, but manages to light up the screen all the same.