It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

 It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

Post-war housing (and work) shortage is addressed in this Christmas-themed romantic comedy where a bum who has been peacefully and secretly in other people’s vacant homes complicates his living situation by inviting a recently evicted veteran who in turn invites some of his war buddies and their families… and on, and on.

The manor's owner’s daughter shows up and the two confuse her for a homeless runaway, (which in a way, she is, but not in the way they think,) but as she is hiding out from her father herself, she finds it amusing and useful not to reveal her true identity.

The comedic situation is something a bit like My Man Godfrey, except with the initial character situations all turned inside-out and upside-down, (it does not start with a formerly rich man passing for a bum, but with a bum passing for a rich man, etc.) but lacks its charisma, star-power, (despite lots of great character actor support, the leads don’t quite have it,) its timeless, universal message, or its classic status.

Eventually we do get the tycoon doing house chores and other work, though in this case he does it under protest.

Still, it’s a pleasant, if somewhat predictable diversion. It got an Academy Award nomination and has developed somewhat of a cult following in recent years.

For a what is attempting to be a Screwball Comedy it's a bit too slow, particularly when Victor Moore gets to talking and espousing his philosophies.

The are shorts bits of comedy such as when, at a restaurant, the couple gets an uneven table; or a bit with a tailor. They are fine but seem like time-filler scenes; you could cut them out, improve the pacing, and not affect plot developments one bit.

An odd scene insinuates an unwed mother situation for laughs, but it doesn't last long.

...Of course everything is on the up and up!

With Ann Harding, Don DeFore, Charles Ruggles, Gale Storm and the Skipper himself, Alan Hale, Jr.