Easy Living (1937)

Truly Dreadful Film

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

I have absolutely never seen anything like this movie before. You have to see this movie.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

The lives of a rich banker and his son become unwittingly entangled with that of a poor working girl in this enjoyable if unspectacular comedy. Given that comic genius Preston Sturges wrote the screenplay, the talented Mitchell Leisen directed it, and adorable Jean Arthur stars in it, the film falls somewhat short of expectations. Sturges would of course go on to write and direct some of the best comedies of the era, but here the script is not as inspired as his later efforts. It has its moments though, including a slapstick scene in a cafeteria. As the perky young woman, Arthur is fine as usual, as are Arnold as the banker and Milland as his son.

This is an amusing, entertaining Hollywood antique featuring a number of actors who became Hollywood icons such as Jean Arthur, Ray Milland, and Edward Arnold. Before Ed Asner there was Edward Arnold. Mr. Arnold was one of the greatest actors in Hollywood history. His performances were consistently great and through him a weak script became good and good script great. He was one of those actors who dominated the screen and could play a wide range of roles opposite some of the most famous Hollywood players. As for Jean Arthur, she specialized in a style of acting that established a precedent for Lucille Ball, except that Ms. Arthur did not have to act goofy. Movies from the 1930s were made in a certain style that was unique to that period. Black-and-white, simple, engaging, upbeat stories, lots of action, and optimistic about life - all this during the Great Depression. This is another Preston Sturges gem and definitely is worth watching.

JEAN ARTHUR as a down on her luck secretary (who pays $7 a week for an apartment) is suddenly blessed with a luxurious hotel suite and a sable coat thanks to the whims of fate in this delightful '30s-era comedy co-starring EDWARD ARNOLD (a bit too bombastic for my taste) and RAY MILLAND (charming and debonair as the romantic lead).Arthur has never been more personable and inhabits her role with a good deal of personal charm and warmth, perhaps attributable to director Mitchel Leisen who always seems to coax good performances from his female stars. (Claudette Colbert in "Midnight", Carole Lombard in "Hands Across the Table", Olivia de Havilland in "Hold Back the Dawn" and "To Each His Own", Barbara Stanwyck in "No Man of Her Own".) Arnold is a hot tempered man who throws a fur coat over the rooftop during an argument with his frivolous wife (MARY NASH), a coat that lands on top of Jean Arthur, riding in a double-decker bus in New York City. The plot thickens when a hotel owner (LUIS ALBERNI) facing bankrupt with his fancy but vacant building, decides that Arthur will be the perfect publicity gimmick since he believes she was given the coat because of an affair with Arnold. He allows her to reside in a luxurious suite (Leisen goes a bit overboard on set decoration here), and therein the fun begins. Seems he has a rich playboy son who is just as down on his luck as Arthur is and is working in an automat, the kind of fast food restaurant that existed in NYC during the '30s and '40s.In fact, the automat scene, where Milland finds a way to give Arthur a free meal, is expertly staged with every pratfall so perfectly executed that it remains the highlight of the film. But even after this highlight, the film never lets up in pace and is irresistible entertainment for fans of screwball comedy. Among the standouts in the supporting cast are FRANKLIN PANGBORN and WILLIAM DEMAREST, actors director Leisen would use to great effect in other comedies.Edward Arnold tends to overact the part of the wealthy hot-tempered tycoon, but everyone else has a fine time with the witty lines and situations. Highly recommended, brisk and very amusing, with Arthur in one of her most appealing roles.

All of the above statements are right on the money; this 1/2 slapstick, 1/2 sophisticated comedy is one of the all-time best of the 1930's. Jean Arthur is simply wonderful, Edward Arnold is great too....as is the young and up-and-coming Ray Milland. In fact, there isn't one single bad performance in this perfect Preston Sturges comedy. Even Michell Leisen often flat direction is pretty darn good here.Here's a bit of trivia: all of the jewels and furs used for this film were REAL and worth tens-of-thousands of dollars. I've read that there were security guards posted during the filming....so be sure that none of the jewels were stolen.It's really quite amazing that Leisen and Sturges got Paramount to rent all of these expensive furs and jewels.....If only Universal (the current owners of this classic) would get around to releasing this film on DVD.......