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IMDbPro

Invitation to Happiness

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
159
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
201,098
54,245
Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
DramaRomance
An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.An egotistical boxer romances a rich backer's daughter.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
159
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
201,098
54,245
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Claude Binyon(screenplay)
      • Mark Jerome(story)
    • Stars
      • Irene Dunne
      • Fred MacMurray
      • Charles Ruggles
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Claude Binyon(screenplay)
      • Mark Jerome(story)
    • Stars
      • Irene Dunne
      • Fred MacMurray
      • Charles Ruggles
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos11

    "Invitation to Happiness" Irene Dunne 1939 Paramount
    "Invitation to Happiness" Irene Dunne 1939 Paramount
    Irene Dunne, Billy Cook, and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Wesley Ruggles in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
    Invitation to Happiness (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Irene Dunne
    Irene Dunne
    • Eleanor Wayne
    Fred MacMurray
    Fred MacMurray
    • Albert 'King' Cole
    Charles Ruggles
    Charles Ruggles
    • Henry 'Pop' Hardy
    Billy Cook
    Billy Cook
    • Albert Cole Jr.
    William Collier Sr.
    William Collier Sr.
    • Mr. Wayne
    Marion Martin
    Marion Martin
    • Lola Snow
    Oscar O'Shea
    Oscar O'Shea
    • Divorce Judge
    Burr Caruth
    • Butler
    Eddie Hogan
    • The Champ
    Virginia Brissac
    Virginia Brissac
    • Eleanor's Nurse
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Caits
    Joe Caits
    • Man in Office
    • (uncredited)
    Wheaton Chambers
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Russ Clark
    Russ Clark
    • Referee
    • (uncredited)
    Heinie Conklin
    Heinie Conklin
    • Joe, the Cook
    • (uncredited)
    Joe Cunningham
    • Announcer
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Evans
    • Galliette
    • (uncredited)
    Jerry Fletcher
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Franz
    Joseph Franz
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Claude Binyon(screenplay)
      • Mark Jerome(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There are incorrect accounts that state that Irene Dunne replaced Marlene Dietrich on this picture. Dietrich was assigned to a different film also called "Invitation to Happiness," but it had no connection with the Dunne project. Since the title had been already registered, Paramount recycled it for the Dunne movie although there was no other connection.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The First Days (1939)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    A screenwriter's review
    Invitation to Happiness, my first evening flick. I was eight and already a sports fan and, during an earlier matinée preview, Invitation to Happiness flashed on - a prizefight movie.

    Fifteen or twenty seconds of solid slam-bang action were shown. I had to see it. It was only playing for two nights in the middle of the week and I understood the importance of school the next day. But I knew I had to go. Problem: I couldn't go alone. I launched a campaign of such ferocity that my parents gave in. Grudgingly, we trooped off to Invitation to Happiness- -and it wasn't a prizefight movie, it was a kissing movie. All they did was kiss, the hero and the lady. Those precious fifteen seconds of slam-bang action were there, all right, but that was the sum total of prizefighting. I never dreamed a preview would snooker you that way.

    The kisses went on and on. I began to groan. Then I started counting. Eleven kisses. Now a quick buss on the nose, but that counted. Twelve. On and on they went, and by now I was counting out loud.

    There were twenty-three kisses in Invitation to Happiness and I hated every one.

    -- from William Goldman's Adventures in Screen Trade
    helpful•4
    17
    • ekogan37
    • Jan 24, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 17, 1939 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mannen som slog igenom
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray in Invitation to Happiness (1939)
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    By what name was Invitation to Happiness (1939) officially released in Canada in English?
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