It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Herbert Clyde Lewis (story) &
Frederick Stephani (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 April 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's Happer Than Heaven ... the Hit of '47!

Plot:

A hobo and friends take up residence in a mansion whilst the family is away on Christmas holiday. |

Plot Keywords:

Mansion | Christmas | Beautiful Woman | New York City | Screwball

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Don DeFore	...	Jim Bullock
Ann Harding	...	Mary O'Connor
Charles Ruggles	...	Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
Victor Moore	...	Aloysius T. McKeever
Gale Storm	...	Trudy O'Connor
Grant Mitchell	...	Farrow
Edward Brophy	...	Gates Patrolman Cecil Felton
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Whitey Temple
Dorothea Kent	...	Margie Temple
Edward Ryan	...	Hank (as Edward Ryan, Jr.)
Cathy Carter	...	Alice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Andren	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Johnny Arthur	...	Apartment Manager (uncredited)
Florence Auer	...	Miss Parker, Head Mistress (uncredited)
Leon Belasco	...	Musician (uncredited)
George Blagoi	...	Executive (uncredited)
James Cardwell	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Chester Clute	...	Phillips (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Joe, the Chauffeur (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer	...	Executive (uncredited)
Al Fenney	...	Executive (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	First Policeman (uncredited)
Edward Gargan	...	Policeman in Park (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Executive (uncredited)
Pat Goldin	...	Waiter (uncredited)
John Hamilton	...	Harper (uncredited)
Arthur Hohl	...	Brady - Gates Patrolman (uncredited)
Bert Howard	...	Executive (uncredited)
Major Kieffer	...	Executive (uncredited)
William Kline	...	Executive (uncredited)
Charles Lane	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Carl M. Leviness	...	Executive (uncredited)
Vera Lewis	...	Woman in Chauffeured Car (uncredited)
George Lloyd	...	Foreman of Movers (uncredited)
Eddie Marr	...	Tour Bus Spieler (uncredited)
David Martell	...	Executive (uncredited)
Rowland McCracken	...	Executive (uncredited)
George Meader	...	Music Store Manager (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell	...	Executive (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Executive (uncredited)
Garry Owen	...	Detective (uncredited)
Abe Reynolds	...	Finkelhoff - the Tailor (uncredited)
Linda Lee Solomon	...	Young Girl (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Farrow's Associate (uncredited)
Jack Stoney	...	Man wearing Second Hand Clothing Advertising Sign (uncredited)
Anthony Sydes	...	Jackie Temple (uncredited)
Victor Travers	...	Executive (uncredited)
Max Willenz	...	Musician (uncredited)
Al Winters	...	Executive (uncredited)

Directed by
Roy Del Ruth

Writing credits
Herbert Clyde Lewis		(story) &
Frederick Stephani		(story)
Everett Freeman		writer
Vick Knight		additional dialogue

Produced by
Roy Del Ruth	....	producer
Joe Kaufmann	....	associate producer (as Joe Kaufman)

Original Music by
Edward Ward

Cinematography by
Henry Sharp

Film Editing by
Richard V. Heermance		(as Richard Heermance)

Art Direction by
Lewis H. Creber		(as Lewis Creber)

Set Decoration by
Raymond Boltz Jr.		(as Ray Boltz Jr.)

Costume Design by
Lorraine MacLean

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Fox	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Corson Jowett	....	sound

Other crew
Clarence Bricker	....	assistant to producer

Production Companies

• Roy Del Ruth Productions

Distributors

• Allied Artists Pictures (1947) (USA) (theatrical)
• Allied Artists Home Video (1979) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• King's Men  group cast members

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #12016, General Audience)

Company:

Roy Del Ruth Productions

Trivia:

The story was originally optioned by Frank Capra's Liberty Films in 1945, and announced as the company's first production. Later that year, producer-director Roy Del Ruth acquired the story.

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Lux Video Theatre: It Happened on Fifth Avenue (#7.15)" (1957)

Soundtrack:

Speak - My Heart

My favorite movie of all time

In the early 1970's channel 44 in Tampa would play this movie on Christmas day every year. It became a tradition with me to watch it. I soon fell in love with the movie. When I moved to Ft. Myers I went through withdrawal, not being able to get 44. One year WTBS played it and, since I had by then purchased a VCR, I taped it. Unfortunately my VCR was not working properly and my copy is very poor and getting poorer each year. Each year I scan the TV listings, hoping against hope, that some station will run it. Each year I am disappointed. I am planning to burn a DVD from my tape, but what I wouldn't give for a good copy. Now that I have cried on everyone's shoulder, let me talk about why this is my favorite all time movie. The movie was made in 1947 and captures a slice of American history that is unknown to most of us alive today. It shows a view of the hardships faced by ex-GI's in obtaining housing and employment after WW II, this surprises most of us. The movie has everything, comedy, drama, romance, philosophy, sub-plots,a feel good ending, you name it. The message of the movie is that people are more important than possessions, it puts Christ's words of "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul" more effectively than any sermon I have ever heard. This and the humorous, yet poignant interplay between the characters makes it an even better Christmas movie than It's a Wonderful Life. I have indoctrinated my wife and kids to the merits of this movie, and they enjoy seeing it almost as much as I do. I understand that the movie is in public domain, if anyone has a good copy I would be thrilled to purchase a copy of it from you.