Easy Living

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Easy Living

1937

1h 26m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

During the Great Depression, a discarded fur coat lands on the head of stenographer Mary Smith (Jean Arthur), triggering a life-altering chain of events. Obscenely wealthy banker J. B. Ball (Edward Arnold), who threw away the coat, lets Mary keep it, leading everyone to assume she's his mistress. After being fired from her job, Mary is suddenly the toast of the town as merchants vie for her endorsement of their products, believing she has access to Ball's millions.

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Tom Milne

Time Out

01/26/2006

A delight.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

01/01/2000

Preston Sturges wrote this Depression-era (1937) twist on the Cinderella story, and it acquires an airy grace from the direction of Mitchell Leisen.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

06/12/2023

A screwball classic...

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

07/26/2020

8/10

This rambunctious screwball comedy features one of the most colossally destructive, slapstick-infused food fights in the history of cinema.

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

10/09/2019

If you have a foolish streak in your makeup, you'll enjoy this picture. If you haven't, it will probably be good for you.

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

09/06/2009

Chic enchantment

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Jason R

Oct 6

Jean Arthur always seems to both shine in her roles and look absolutely beautiful, it's 100% worth watching, a Fur coat completely changed her life.

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Scott R

@ScottR Oct 5

NYT 1000 movies list. A hidden gem I had not come across that brings in the poor to show the rich how to be happy. Smacked of "It Happened One Night", but had its own originality to still make it worthwhile. I enjoyed it. SLC DVD.

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Ed .

Aug 29

There's no free lunch. Did the boys' magazine publisher do the right thing by throwing out that hussy? Would the 3rd richest financier in America be so tone deaf as to give those furs (coat and then hat) to that hussy? Would his direct report take long barber salon breaks during prime trading hours? That's like a hooker staying home to watch Saturday night TV shows. I could go on, but this is a light comedy, and what it does, it does well. It's not Sturges' best. Edward Arnold yells way too much. Nevertheless, it's alright with me. Jean Arthur, as always, is superb, and I was surprised to see such a young and dapper Ray Miland.

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Toby B

12/26/2022

I really do love this film. Jean Arthur is amazing. Sturges' script is tight. What's not to adore?

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william d

@acsdoug 02/09/2021

Jean Arthur is her usual wonderful self in this delightful comedy.

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02/25/2020

Quite wonderful screwball comedy with Jean Arthur as the bemused working girl whose life is complicated by the unexpected acquisition of a mink coat. Edward Arnold hilarious as the donor of the coat, and Ray Milland delightful as his son who of course becomes involved with Arthur. Everyone gloriously at cross purposes.

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Mitch Leisen

Director

Jean Arthur

Mary Smith

Edward Arnold

J.B. Ball

Ray Milland

John Ball Jr.

Luis Alberni

Mr. Louis Louis

Mary Nash

Mrs. Jenny Ball

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Synopsis

During the Great Depression, a discarded fur coat lands on the head of stenographer Mary Smith (Jean Arthur), triggering a life-altering chain of events. Obscenely wealthy banker J. B. Ball (Edward Arnold), who threw away the coat, lets Mary keep it, leading everyone to assume she's his mistress. After being fired from her job, Mary is suddenly the toast of the town as merchants vie for her endorsement of their products, believing she has access to Ball's millions.

Director: Mitch Leisen
Producer: Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1937, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 22, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m

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