Private detective James Stewart (as Guy Johnson) tries to prove a boozy New York millionaire client is not guilty of murder, but finds himself implicated. While serving time for harboring a fugitive, Mr. Stewart happens upon a clue to the real killer's identity. Stewart escapes and kidnaps lady poet Claudette Colbert (as Edwina Corday). She begins to wonder if Stewart could be telling the truth about his attempt to solve the crime. They form an unlikely partnership and Ms. Colbert begins to consider Stewart a romantic prospect. Stewart the sleuth does well posing as a chauffeur, spectacled Boy Scout and actor who wavers from English to "African". Colbert is charming, as usual; possibly, she takes advantage of director W.S. Van Dyke's "one take" reputation by skipping the make-up session which would have given her the bruised face mentioned in the script (by Ben Hecht). Nat Pendleton is very funny as a likable sergeant who can't seem to keep Stewart under arrest, and the dependable Guy Kibbee is fine as Stewart's detective friend.****** It's a Wonderful World (5/19/39) W.S. Van Dyke ~ James Stewart, Claudette Colbert, Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton

I know I ought not to go crazy over this simple comedy, but pairing Claudette Colbert as a poetess who "swears by her eyes" with James Stewart - who goes all out to prove that the man, who's sentenced to die for a crime he didn't commit, is innocent - is totally an outrageous hoot. Claudette is kidnapped by James, when their paths cross, after his escape from a prison truck transferring him. She of course is missed and an APB is put out for her. But she fights with and of course falls for him. In all the excursions together, they tackle and tie up a Boy Scout when he's on to them, she says he's her fiancé when he's decked out in clothes too big for him and with glasses that make him look cross-eyed, and they wind up in a little theater group, when a clue for the real killer leads them there. Guy Kibbee is great in a supporting role, as a friend on the police force, who tries to help him out, but is only successful in being knocked or conked out three times in the movie. And, Guy's convinced if you throw a fit, you can plead insanity. "Oh no, that's them. I'm serious. Now throw a fit." Loopholes? Imperfections? Probably. Laugh-out-loud belly laughs? Silly antics? Incredible situations? A good time for all? Definitely. This is a prime example of a screwball comedy. It may not be in the same class as "Bringing Up Baby," but if you haven't seen "It's a Wonderful World." then you have missed one of the craziest and most delightful screwball comedies ever.

One of the best screwball comedies of the era, written by two of Hollywood's greatest screen writers, Ben Hecht and Herman Mankiewicz. Stewart is a private detective who comes to grief trying to help his client who gets convicted of murder. He ends up on the lam with poetess Colbert in tow trying to prove his client innocent at the same time he is avoiding two very dim cops played hilariously by Edgar Kennedy and Nat Pendleton. Thin Man director W S Van Dyke gets a very lively performance out of Stewart who finally goes into disguise as an actor in a repertory company to catch the killer. Colbert will remind you of her Oscar-winning role in It Happened One Night but she is very good at this sort of thing and excellent here. I'm not sure why other reviewers were disappointed. The master touch of those involved is indelibly on the final product. Perhaps over the years, great comedies like this have been extensively mined by later imitators. There are many great moments, Colbert setting fire to her car, Colbert tackling a scoutmaster, Stewart with coke-bottle glasses stumbling into the brush, Stewart thinking he has ditched Colbert at the ferry only to --- ....Great stuff!

Who was the reviewer on Charter Cable TV who gave this truly wonderful, fun & funny screwball comedy only two stars out of a possible four? When you click on your remote control for information about the film it also provides a rating - two puny stars."It's A Wonderful World" is one of the classic screwball comedies of the Golden Age of Screwball Comedies, the '30s & '40s. This film rates a solid ***1/2 stars.Jimmy Stewart and Claudette Colbert play off each other terrifically, first as adversaries before ending up as what you'd happily expect. And Guy Kibbee, Edgar Kennedy and Nat Pendleton are also first rate, as always.I'm hard pressed to think of a finer way to spend 90 "wonderful" minutes.