When introducing this film on TCM, the host mentioned that Frank Capra had originally signed on to direct this property, and that's not surprising at all. In its story of a wealthy tycoon who gains sympathy for the downtrodden by becoming involved with a group of squatters living in his New York mansion over the winter, it's got Capra's fingerprints all over it. And maybe not being directed by Capra is ultimately what prevents this film from being more of a classic. It's cute and entertaining, and more of both than I expected it to be, but it's also a tad lacking in something -- magic, whimsy, pacing -- that would have made it more memorable.Charlie Ruggles plays the tycoon and Victor Moore plays the principal squatter who sets the whole premise in motion.Grade: B

This film is a Christmastime story about a bum that occupies the New York mansion of the second wealthiest man in the world while he's away. Directed by Roy Del Ruth, it was written by Herbert Clyde Lewis and Frederick Stephani, who earned their only Oscar nominations for this comedy's original story.Victor Moore plays Aloysius T. McKeever, the interloper who's spent his last three winters in the boarded up home of Michael J. O'Connor (Charles Ruggles), the developer-financier that spends November through mid-March at his estate in Virginia. This winter, McKeever takes in one guest after another, starting with Jim Bullock (Don DeFore), a veteran who, ironically, has just been evicted from his $40/month apartment by O'Connor's construction company, which plans to build an 80 story office tower).O'Connor's unhappy daughter Trudy (Gale Storm), who's run away from college, happens upon McKeever and Bullock in her father's home, but pretends to be someone else in order to escape her situation for a while. Shortly thereafter, she and Bullock fall in love. Some former service mates of Bullock (including Alan Hale Jr.), their wives (including Dorothea Kent) and kids join the 'party' at the once vacant mansion.Eventually, O'Connor himself and his ex-wife – they divorced four years prior – Mary (Ann Harding) come to live under their own roof incognito in order to meet their daughter's prospective fiancé. The love in the air rekindles their long lost romance.Grant Mitchell plays one of O'Connor's employees. Edward Brophy plays a patrolman. Edward Gargan and Charles Lane are among those who appear uncredited, as does Abe Reynolds who has the funniest bit (a monologue as a tailor) midway through the movie.

A shame that hardly anyone except Turner shows (or preserves) black and white movies anymore. I tripped across this one during the Christmas Holidays. It's right up there with "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Bishop's Wife". It was nominated for an Oscar in 1947 (for best Screenplay). "Miracle on 34th St." won that year. A great cast including Charles Ruggles, Ann Harding, Gale Storm, Don Defore and Alan Hale Jr. Aloysius T. McKeever (Victor Moore) "squats" in the mansion of Michael O'Connor (Charles Ruggles) during the wintertime and holidays. He's a vagrant with principles and charm and acts like he owns the place. In all, eleven people and a dog end up "squatting", mostly down-on-their-luck unemployed WWII vets, their wives and children. Don Defoe and Gale Storm (Jim and Trudy) fall in love at first sight. She is beautiful at age 25 and plays an 18-year old spoiled brat AWOL from finishing school. She and her mom and dad act like squatters too, but actually own the house. A mild Scrooge-like plot, as O'Connor is a lonely old real estate magnate and the 2nd richest man in the world who, at first, seems to only love money and success. He has been divorced for four years. The predictable and satisfying ending has everyone falling in love and the ex-GI's get to build their dream project of converting an old Army barracks into apartments, as O'Connor buys and transfers the property over to them. Wonderful to watch, with many funny scenes involving babies, mistaken identities, a "fruiting", and an ethnic used clothes merchant, that hates wool clothes because they attract "all the moths and their friends". Lots of cute little continuity errors: "Jim" calls "Trudy" "Margie" and a "silent" vacuum cleaner! Still available on WB-DVD as part of a collection or a single title. Almost filmed by Frank Capra, but he made "It's a Wonderful Life" instead. Worth your time and very charming. Just like "It's a Wonderful Life", no man is poor who has friends. How true!

This is one movie I often watch throughout the year. A movie when the weather is hot, you miss family, friends, you encounter strangers by chance, remembering fellow Veterans. Odd combination? Not so."It Happened on Fifth Avenue" has simple creativity and thought. It pulls together the Christmas spirit of family, friends, strangers, and Veterans along their journey. The bonus for the time it was filmed, in old-school black and white. This classic starts off with a simple poke and brings you home.The actors are real and genuine.It's a good old-fashion Christmas movie to watch year round.