Career Opportunities

In the 1947 American comedy-drama Career Opportunities, directed by Ray Enright, we meet Josie (Barbara Stanwyck), a beautiful and charming young woman who is seemingly stuck in the small town of her childhood. As the daughter of wealthy businessman, Henry Joslin, Josie is expected to follow in her father's footsteps when it comes to managing the family business. However, Josie harbors a sense of wanderlust and feels suffocated by the pressures of her family's expectations. Josie's frustrations with her life at home are palpable, and she begins to feel trapped in the stifling atmosphere of her family's mansion. Her desires to escape the confines of her life are mirrored by her romantic longings for something more. It is this sense of disorientation that propels Josie to take drastic action, culminating in a decision that will change her life forever. One fateful evening, Josie finds herself in a Target store, trying on outfits in the dressing room. Overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions, Josie falls asleep in the changing room, exhausted from her internal struggles. She awakens to find herself locked in, alone and disoriented, in the deserted store. It is here, amidst the rows of empty racks and the silent hum of the fluorescent lights, that Josie will encounter Jim (John Howard), the store's eccentric janitor. Jim is a mysterious figure, relegated to the fringes of society due to his reputation as the town's "no hoper" and liar. His rough demeanor and mannerisms have led to his isolation, and he is viewed with suspicion by the townspeople. However, as Josie navigates the store, searching for a way out, she begins to cross paths with Jim, who has an uncanny ability to evade detection in the shadows. As the night wears on, Josie and Jim are forced to work together in an attempt to escape the store. With the building's strict security measures and limited access to the outside world, they must use their combined wit and resourcefulness to outsmart the store's defenses. The unlikely duo's partnership is born out of necessity, with Jim initially viewing Josie as a burden and Josie seeing Jim as a means to an end. However, as they navigate the deserted aisles, a begrudging respect and camaraderie begins to develop between the two. Jim's troubled past and his reputation as a liar are gradually revealed, showcasing a complexity to his character that belies his rough exterior. Despite his initial animosity, Jim proves himself to be a resourceful and endearing figure, whose vulnerabilities make him an oddly relatable presence in the film. As the night drags on, their relationship evolves from one of adversaries to unlikely friends, with Jim serving as a catalyst for Josie's growth and self-discovery. Through her experiences in the store, Josie begins to confront her feelings of disorientation and disillusionment with her life. Her time with Jim forces her to confront the societal expectations that have held her back and to re-evaluate her place in the world. As she navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the store, Josie's journey becomes an external manifestation of her own emotional awakening. Ultimately, Josie's adventures in the store will lead her to realize that escaping her life is merely an external solution to a deeper problem. She comes to understand that she has been given a rare gift in Jim, a chance to break free from her predetermined path and forge a new identity. In a stunning twist, Josie's experiences in the store culminate in a newfound sense of purpose and belonging with Jim, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.