It Should Happen to You

Released Jan 15, 1954

1h 21m

Comedy

List

100%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

After two years of failing to make it big in New York City, small-town model and actress Gladys Glover (Judy Holliday) takes a gamble by investing in billboard advertising to get her name out there. Almost immediately her risk pays off, and she finds herself inundated with media requests and fans, including the affections of the wealthy Evan Adams III (Peter Lawford) of the Adams Soap company. While Glover enjoys the spotlight, her boyfriend (Jack Lemmon) is less pleased about it.

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steve d

cute enough thanks to its cast.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It Should Happen to You! is an absolutely effervescent romantic comedy starring the amazing talent Judy Holiday and, in his big screen debut, Jack Lemmon. They have amazing chemistry and with their comic timing, make their characters falling in love seem effortless and natural. The premise is a bit silly but surprisingly prescient - Holliday's Gladys Glover meets Lemmon's documentarian Pete Sheppard in central park and explains she wants to be "somebody," but without any discernable talent she's starting to think moving to the Big Apple will have been for nought. On her walk home, she envisions her name on a billboard in Columbus Circle and she sinks the majority of her savings into the idea. Her scheme actually ends up working which brings the dashing Peter Lawford into her life (who supposedly had an extramarrital affair with Holliday during the shoot so their chemistry is fun to watch too). Obviously the smitten Lemmon does not support this project and Holliday, blinded by frivolous fame, can't see that the love she has with Lemmon is only real thing in her life. Holliday and Lemmon's scene playing piano and singing "Let's Fall in Love" whilst bantering at the pub is one of my favourite moments on film. You can't help but smile watching it. Of course, this is all made possible by the expert direction of George Cukor and a script by Garson Kanin that will make even modern audiences laugh with its sparkling, witty banter. When thinking about how I felt about this film, I'm reminded by a quote from it: Evan Adams III (Lawford): There's nothing like champagne. Gladys Glover (Holliday): Yes, there is. Adams: What? Glover: More champagne. The only thing better than this film would be more of it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

kevin w

This is a sweet romcom from the 1950s, it's stars exuding charm throughout, all about the delectable lure of seeking personal fame. It's a subject interestingly that has only grown in the social spectrum in the time since this movie was first released, particularly in the internet age. Whatever, this is just a nice film experience.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Tom M

Holliday is adorable as Gladys Glover. Lemmon, in his first credited role, shows that there are great things to come.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Judy Holiday, as usual, is a delight.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Happened to catch this on TCM and it was great! A perfect example of a finely written comedy that is timeless, witty and sexy with a genuine message. Holliday completely masters the art of comic timing. Farcical on the surface yet somehow believable and positively insightful this is film making as it should be.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/28/23

Full Review

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George Cukor

Director

Judy Holliday

Gladys Glover

Jack Lemmon

Pete Sheppard

Peter Lawford

Evan Adams III

Michael O'Shea

Brod Clinton

Vaughn Taylor

Entrikin

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Melissa Anderson

4Columns

An instant fan of Judy Holliday's, I shall continue to honor her memory by repurposing Gladys Glover's unimpeachable exit line whenever I need to beat a hasty retreat: "I think I'd better be going because I'm not having a good time."

Jan 28, 2022

Full Review

Richard Brody

New Yorker

[A] frothy and acerbic comedy about the lure of fame and public life-as experienced on the streets of Manhattan.

Apr 14, 2020

Full Review

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

It Should Happen to You is a weak title for one of the funniest movies of the season.

Jun 21, 2019

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...an exceedingly minor premise that's employed to watchable yet mostly forgettable effect...

Rated: 2.5/4

May 13, 2021

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The makers of Born Yesterday have come up with another fresh and funny show.

Oct 14, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A "My Friend Irma" type of dumb blonde comedy, that is expertly performed by Judy Holliday.

Rated: B

Feb 3, 2009

Full Review

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Synopsis

After two years of failing to make it big in New York City, small-town model and actress Gladys Glover (Judy Holliday) takes a gamble by investing in billboard advertising to get her name out there. Almost immediately her risk pays off, and she finds herself inundated with media requests and fans, including the affections of the wealthy Evan Adams III (Peter Lawford) of the Adams Soap company. While Glover enjoys the spotlight, her boyfriend (Jack Lemmon) is less pleased about it.

Director: George Cukor
Screenwriter: Garson Kanin
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1954, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 21m

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