Easy Living

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Easy Living

Released Jul 7, 1937

1h 26m

Comedy

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100%

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11 Reviews

83%

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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.

Tom Milne

Time Out

A delight.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

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

Jan 1, 2000

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A screwball classic...

Jun 12, 2023

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

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

Rated: 8/10

Jul 26, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

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.

Oct 9, 2019

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Chic enchantment

Sep 6, 2009

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Toby B

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/26/22

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william d

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

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Effortless screwball comedy scripted by Preston Sturges and directed by Mitchell Leisen that dashes madly from start (when rich banker Edward Arnold drops a fur coat off the balcony and it lands on poor Jean Arthur's head) to finish (when, you know, steel is up again, Arthur has fallen for Ray Milland, everyone finally knows what's what and another fur coat falls on another head). In other words, this is ridiculousness laced with slapstick and the sublime, studded with oddball character actors from the '30s. Arnold is at his gruff, confused but lovable best and Arthur is the original well-meaning airhead (Milland is impossibly young here). You can see why Sturges soon got his own directing gigs since his script is perfect but Leisen probably made it all more lavish. Pure escapism (although you might end up thinking about the 1% and then this Cinderella story might turn a bit sour, so don't).

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fantastic screwball comedy at the BFI tonight

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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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