Easy Living

Released Jul 7, 1937

1 hr. 26 min.

Comedy

List

100%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Full Review

Tom M

Arthur's adorable as usual and Arnold was never better or more likable.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/21

Full Review

william d

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

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

david l

Easy Living features a strong romance at the center of it with Ray Milland being memorable and Jean Arthur being reliably very endearing. The film is well written, but weakly directed. It has some amusing sequences, but it also has some dull ones. Preston Sturges wrote the film so well, but Mitchell Leisen directed it poorly leading to one pretty solid, but highly disappointing screwball comedy.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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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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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

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A screwball classic...

Jun 12, 2023

Full Review

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

Full Review

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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
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1937, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 22, 2008