It Happened on 5th Avenue
Introduction. I admit to being nostalgic for a more traditional America that often seems now largely absent. This feeling is particularly strong at Christmas. It is becoming harder to find a Christmas movie that I want to recommend, partly because most of those put out in recent years are so crassly disappointing, and partly because I want to avoid the best-known classics and suggest hidden gems. I recently found what I was looking for in “It Happened on 5th Avenue.”
Storyline synopsis. From Rottentomatoes: “While rich businessman Mike O'Connor (Charles Ruggles) resides in Virginia, his luxury townhouse in New York City appears vacant. However, in reality, drifter Aloysius "Mac" McKeever (Victor Moore) has been staying there. Mac invites Jim (Don DeFore), an unemployed veteran who has just been evicted from a building owned by O'Connor, to stay at the house without revealing he's squatting. When O'Connor's daughter, Trudy (Gale Storm), shows up as well, she falls for Jim and tries to help him.”
Interesting background info. According to Wikipedia, the story was originally optioned by Frank Capra in 1945, who decided to direct “It’s a Wonderful Life” later that year instead. The movie was ultimately released in 1947 and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Story, but lost to another Christmas-themed movie, “Miracle on 34th Street.” None of the actors in the movie are likely to be recognizable to move modern viewers except perhaps one, Alan Hale, who later played the “Skipper” in the long-running TV series “Gilligan’s Island.”
Why I recommend this movie. When Ann and I were watching this movie the other night, she turned to me and said: “What I like about this movie is that even though they have conflicts, these people are all decent and kind to each other.” The characters helped each other, forgave each other, and took risks for each other. Having just pulled through WWII, the ex-GIs and had genuine affection for each other. The families of the ex-GIs who needed housing by the movie’s end had hope that they would achieve it. The divorced mother and father found their way to a reconciliation. The daughter and her GI fell into, then out of, then back into love. Yes, it wraps up with Hollywood happy endings, but I like that. All of the positive role models are encouraging and uplifting. The fact that the story is set around the holidays is icing on the cake.
Trailer This is the best trailer I found. It seems to be from a regional move theater showing old classics.