Aloysius T. McKeever spends his winters living uninvited as a guest for the Fortune 500's houses. For the past three winters, McKeever has been living at the house of Michael O'Connor, wealthy industrialist. McKeever has also invited Jim Bullock, war veteran, who has been recently evicted by O'Connor to make way for his new building. O'Connor's daughter, Trudy, comes back to the mansion after running away from finishing school, and is about to throw out the two guys, but lets them stay and tells them she is just like them. After finding out the location of his daughter, O'Connor comes back from his vacation early, but is convinced by Trudy to let the people living in the house stay (Jim also invited two war buddies Hank and Whitey, plus their families to stay) and have him pretend to be the new butler. Jim and friends decide to solve the housing shortage the three war buddies, plus several hundred others have, by renovating a series of army barracks, but O'Connor sees the profit in there as well, and tries to buy the barracks for his interests. Will the philosophical lessons of McKeever, the new relationship with his ex-wife Mary, and the love of Jim and Trudy, help O'Connor change his ways? Okay film, but I was expecting more. The film could have been trimmed of a few scenes since many of them are recycling the sentimental hash that we saw a few minutes earlier. Del Ruth's direction doesn't surprise you, but is able to tug at the heart strings of those who watch it. The cast is very good, especially Ruggles and Harding as the O'Connors. The film does have a nice moral message of self worth, beautifully told through its characters (especially Moore's McKeever) and makes for holiday watching. Rating, 7.
Review of It Happened on Fifth Avenue
