It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)

Heartwarming, sentimental, pleasant Christmas movie about a homeless man (Victor Moore) who moves into a New York mansion while the owners are away for the winter. He makes himself at home and even starts inviting others to stay with him. There's a whole lot more to the plot but that's as much as you need to know before you start. While it's technically a comedy, it's not memorable for the laughs. Although it is very funny in spots. Its strength lies in its heart. It's a sweet, smart, thought-provoking movie that focuses on the goodness in people. If this movie doesn't make you smile, you must have a lump of coal for a heart. Give it a shot and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Slightly tipsy hobo Victor Moore (as Aloysius T. McKeever) arrives with his dog "Sam" at a swanky New York City brownstone. This is where he spends the winter, while owner and "second richest man in the world" Charles Ruggles (as Michael "Mike" O'Connor) is in Virginia at his "Bubbling Springs" mansion. Meanwhile, World War II veteran Don DeFore (as Jim Bullock) is down on his luck and in his underwear. Thrown out of a tenement, Mr. DeFore is sleeping on a city bench when Mr. Moore happens by, his ragged clothes replaced by Mr. Ruggles' classy duds. Moore invites DeFore over to his adopted mansion...Houseguest DeFore's homeless buddies move in because their prospective apartment won't allow children. Young father Edward Ryan Jr. (as Hank) begs him to reconsider, but landlord Charles Lane asserts, "We don't take children!" Dripping with sarcasm, Alan Hale Jr. (as Whitey) offers to drown the kids while DeFore asks, "If he lets your kids in, everybody'd start having children - then what would happen to the human race?" Meanwhile, nubile young heiress Gale Storm (as Trudy O'Connor) runs away from school, intending to hide out in New York while her father's away. Hoping to stay incognito, Ms. Storm decides to pose as a vagrant in her own mansion. Naturally, father Ruggles hires a detective, and divorced mother Ann Harding (as Mary O'Connor) is also concerned...The whimsical fun continues with Moore and Ruggles reversing their rich man, poor man roles. The older gentlemen are in fine form. Minor bits with tailor Abe Reynolds and waiter Pat Goldin's wobbly table add to the fun, smoothly guided by producer/director Roy Del Ruth. The thoroughly charming script, by Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, won a much-deserved "Academy Award" nomination. Other than that, "It Happened on Fifth Avenue" seems to have fallen through the cracks. If you're looking for "lost gems" among old movies, you'll find one here.********* It Happened on Fifth Avenue (4/19/47) Roy Del Ruth ~ Victor Moore, Charles Ruggles, Don DeFore, Ann Harding

General breezy fanfare with a group of people coming together to spend the winter in the home of a very rich businessman, played by Charles Ruggles. He has such a business temperament that his wife (Ann Harding) divorced him after many years of marriage and fled to Florida.This is a real holiday seasonal film as people come to understand and appreciate that there are more things out of life than just getting richer and richer.One of those staying at the mansion, Gale Storm, is the daughter of the couple. When Ruggles unexpectedly shows up, she asks him to play along as her impoverished father. Harding soon joins the crew as the cook.Don DeFore, who years later made it big in television as the head of the house in "Hazel" finds love with the daughter. We soon see the guys of the house vie for property with the mogul Ruggles.Victor Moore portrays a lovable eccentric who started the whole ball rolling. Why Ruggles' true identity is never revealed to him at the end is somewhat silly. Of course, others will say that he merely has to go on in his eccentricity.

Genial homeless man in New York illegally moves into a millionaire's mansion while the rich businessman is away for the winter, eventually inviting other unfortunates to join him; naturally, the owner returns home unexpectedly--and is forced to play along under the guise of a destitute codger after his teenage daughter falls in love with one of the unemployed "idea men" now residing in the estate. Fanciful story from Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, given a tightly-adjusted script from Everett Freeman (who manages not to be too treacly within this unlikely scenario). There are lots of funny visual jokes, and a nice turn from Charles Ruggles as the second wealthiest man in the world, yet the idea of strangers breaking into someone's house and making themselves to home is probably less 'adorable' now than it was in 1947. Still, director Roy Del Ruth keeps it light-hearted and whimsical, and the supporting cast is cheerful. **1/2 from ****