It Happened on 5th Avenue

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It Happened on 5th Avenue

1947

1h 55m

Holiday

Comedy

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5 Reviews

81%

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250+ Ratings

While rich businessman Mike O'Connor (Charles Ruggles) resides in Virginia, his luxury town house 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.

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James Agee

TIME Magazine

Mar 2, 2018

In the long run the sour millionaire is sweetened up, all disguises are cast off, and everybody is happy, including the audience.

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Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Dec 24, 2024

A nice but not especially memorable classic film

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Dec 24, 2021

B-

Lightweight box office hit.

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Jack Moffitt

Esquire Magazine

Oct 7, 2020

There's nothing very original about either the theme or the plot. The idea of a poor man being rich in all-that-matters is as old as is the notion that rich men can be spiritually poor. Yet Del Ruth blends these clichés into a minor masterpiece.

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David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

Dec 11, 2008

3/5

Ruggles and Moore steal the show with their buoyant performances.

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Lynn B

@LynnBee Dec 23, 2025

Enjoyable movie. Funny and well paced.

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Thomas L

@RT64592018 Dec 18, 2025

This is becoming one of my favorite Christmas movies. Sappy, but heartwarming with solid performances.

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Freeman W

@Fman30 Nov 19, 2025

Not a bad little movie. Somewhat predictable, but very sweet movie. Enjoyed watching it.

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Rita E

@RT30678761 Jan 8, 2025

Charming, heartwarming film. Acting is superb. Victor Moore and Charlie Ruggles are wonderful. A Feel Good movie.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 Jan 20, 2024

I didn't find it the least bit amusing.

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Joel H

@786Joel Dec 26, 2023

I saw It Happened on 5th Avenue on a list of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, so I figured it was worth a watch. It definitely has its charms. Victor Moore, in particular, captures your attention no matter what scene he's in. But no matter how charming the vagrants in this movie are, I couldn't get past the fact that they were squatting in someone else's house and we were supposed to be completely on their side. It Happened on 5th Avenue is fine, but if you're going to choose a Christmas film from 1947 that has a road name in its title, I'd recommend watching Miracle on 34th Street instead.

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Roy Del Ruth

Director

Don DeFore

Jim Bullock

Ann Harding

Mary O'Connor

Victor Moore

Aloysius T. McKeever

Charlie Ruggles

Mike O'Connor

Gale Storm

Trudy O'Connor

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Synopsis

While rich businessman Mike O'Connor (Charles Ruggles) resides in Virginia, his luxury town house 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.

Director: Roy Del Ruth
Producer: Roy Del Ruth
Screenwriter: Herbert Clyde Lewis, Frederick Stephani, Everett Freeman
Distributor: Allied Artists Pictures
Production Co: Roy Del Ruth Productions
Genre: Holiday, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 19, 1947, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2010
Runtime: 1h 55m

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