It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Starring Victor Moore, Don DeFore, Gale Storm, Charlie Ruggles, Ann Harding, Grant Mitchell, Edward Brophy, Alan Hale Jr., Dorothea Kent, Edward Ryan, Cathy Carter, Arthur Hohl.

Capra-esque fable of a sweet-natured vagabond warming the cold heart of a millionaire is reassuring and harmless and suffused with the gentle spirit of mild-mannered Moore’s creaky charm, but also too long, and crowded with stale touches and gooey moments—it oughta be genial catnip for juveniles and optimists, moldy hogwash for realists and cranks. Each holiday season, while rich Ruggles winters in Virginia, an elderly hobo (Moore) takes up squatting residence at the man’s NYC estate, and this year, he welcomes a younger homeless man (DeFore) to join him. They’re soon joined by other friends and families needing a place to stay, along with Ruggles’ runaway daughter (Storm) under a false identity, and in a ruse of their own, Ruggles and his ex-wife (Harding) as well. There are no surprises here, so take all the bathroom breaks you want, unless the prospect of missing any wholesome moment fills you with dread. I never found it intolerable, but I did find myself, from time to time, wishing Roy Del Ruth and company would get on with it already. Dashing unsavory expectations built on the prevalence of underage starlets being groomed for fame during the studio era, Storm is playing an 18-year-old who looks about 15, but the actress was actually 24 (phew!).

60/100