Easy Living

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Easy Living

1937

1h 26m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

100%

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11 Reviews

82%

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250+ Ratings

During the Great Depression, a discarded fur coat lands on the head of stenographer Mary Smith (Jean Arthur), triggering a life-altering chain of events. Obscenely wealthy banker J. B. Ball (Edward Arnold), who threw away the coat, lets Mary keep it, leading everyone to assume she's his mistress. After being fired from her job, Mary is suddenly the toast of the town as merchants vie for her endorsement of their products, believing she has access to Ball's millions.

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Tom Milne

Time Out

Jan 26, 2006

A delight.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Jan 1, 2000

Preston Sturges wrote this Depression-era (1937) twist on the Cinderella story, and it acquires an airy grace from the direction of Mitchell Leisen.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Jun 12, 2023

A screwball classic...

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Jul 26, 2020

8/10

This rambunctious screwball comedy features one of the most colossally destructive, slapstick-infused food fights in the history of cinema.

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 9, 2019

If you have a foolish streak in your makeup, you'll enjoy this picture. If you haven't, it will probably be good for you.

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Sep 6, 2009

Chic enchantment

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David K

@RT61474040 3 days ago

I love Jean Arthur. One of the true bright spots in American film history. And, I love the work of Preston Sturges. This movie brings together all the elements of a Sturges' screwball comedy but, despite the elements, it never quite comes across the finish line for me. My primary issue is that far too many of the lines fall flat and the situations seem hyperbolic, if that makes sense. Beyond the script needing more work, the usually reliable Edward Arnold strikes me as substituting screaming and flailing rather than his best work's more controlled approach. But, it's still worth a watch.

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Local G.

@RT38718514 Apr 4, 2026

Why cant they make movies like this today.

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Jason R

@J-Rush1411 Oct 6, 2025

Jean Arthur always seems to both shine in her roles and look absolutely beautiful, it's 100% worth watching, a Fur coat completely changed her life.

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Scott R

@ScottR Oct 5, 2025

NYT 1000 movies list. A hidden gem I had not come across that brings in the poor to show the rich how to be happy. Smacked of "It Happened One Night", but had its own originality to still make it worthwhile. I enjoyed it. SLC DVD.

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Ed .

@RT01276001 Aug 29, 2025

There's no free lunch. Did the boys' magazine publisher do the right thing by throwing out that hussy? Would the 3rd richest financier in America be so tone deaf as to give those furs (coat and then hat) to that hussy? Would his direct report take long barber salon breaks during prime trading hours? That's like a hooker staying home to watch Saturday night TV shows. I could go on, but this is a light comedy, and what it does, it does well. It's not Sturges' best. Edward Arnold yells way too much. Nevertheless, it's alright with me. Jean Arthur, as always, is superb, and I was surprised to see such a young and dapper Ray Miland.

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william d

@acsdoug Feb 9, 2021

Jean Arthur is her usual wonderful self in this delightful comedy.

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Mitch Leisen

Director

Jean Arthur

Mary Smith

Edward Arnold

J.B. Ball

Ray Milland

John Ball Jr.

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Synopsis

During the Great Depression, a discarded fur coat lands on the head of stenographer Mary Smith (Jean Arthur), triggering a life-altering chain of events. Obscenely wealthy banker J. B. Ball (Edward Arnold), who threw away the coat, lets Mary keep it, leading everyone to assume she's his mistress. After being fired from her job, Mary is suddenly the toast of the town as merchants vie for her endorsement of their products, believing she has access to Ball's millions.

Director: Mitch Leisen
Producer: Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 7, 1937, Original
Release Date (DVD): Apr 22, 2008
Runtime: 1h 26m

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