Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, and Ray Milland star in "Easy Living," a 1937 comedy written by Preston Sturges and directed by Mitchell Leisen.
It's a funny premise: furious with his wife (Mary Nash) for spending so much money, J.B. Ball, a Wall Street financier, throws his wife's sable coat over their terrace. It lands on Mary Smith (Arthur), who works at a magazine for young boys. As she attempts to return the coat, Arnold rushes outside and insists that she keep it, and then gives her a ride to her office, stopping along the way to get her a hat to match the coat. When her employer disbelieves her story of how she came by the coat, she lies and says she purchased it in a store. He calls the store. She did not buy it there for $152.00. Assuming that her moral code is not up to the magazine's standards, she's fired.
Mary has no money for rent and not much for food, but her luck is about to change. The hat merchant spreads the word that J.B. Ball is supporting her, and she's offered a magnificent suite in a struggling hotel, with the hope that J.B. will bring more people to it. She's offered clothing, jewels -- she has no idea why.
Meanwhile, Ball's son (Milland) is trying to make good on his own and is working at the automat, when he meets Mary and, thinking she's rich, tries to flirt with her. After a long slapstick scene during which the automat is just about destroyed, he loses his job and she brings him back to her place to get some rest. The situation goes from convoluted to more convoluted.
Very funny movie with maybe a little too much slapstick, but the acting is wonderful, especially from Arthur and Arnold, who are great. Ray Milland in his early films was very charming and had a light touch and is very enjoyable.
I don't actually consider this Sturges' best effort, but it is a fun movie and well worth seeing. And I loved seeing the automat.
It's a funny premise: furious with his wife (Mary Nash) for spending so much money, J.B. Ball, a Wall Street financier, throws his wife's sable coat over their terrace. It lands on Mary Smith (Arthur), who works at a magazine for young boys. As she attempts to return the coat, Arnold rushes outside and insists that she keep it, and then gives her a ride to her office, stopping along the way to get her a hat to match the coat. When her employer disbelieves her story of how she came by the coat, she lies and says she purchased it in a store. He calls the store. She did not buy it there for $152.00. Assuming that her moral code is not up to the magazine's standards, she's fired.
Mary has no money for rent and not much for food, but her luck is about to change. The hat merchant spreads the word that J.B. Ball is supporting her, and she's offered a magnificent suite in a struggling hotel, with the hope that J.B. will bring more people to it. She's offered clothing, jewels -- she has no idea why.
Meanwhile, Ball's son (Milland) is trying to make good on his own and is working at the automat, when he meets Mary and, thinking she's rich, tries to flirt with her. After a long slapstick scene during which the automat is just about destroyed, he loses his job and she brings him back to her place to get some rest. The situation goes from convoluted to more convoluted.
Very funny movie with maybe a little too much slapstick, but the acting is wonderful, especially from Arthur and Arnold, who are great. Ray Milland in his early films was very charming and had a light touch and is very enjoyable.
I don't actually consider this Sturges' best effort, but it is a fun movie and well worth seeing. And I loved seeing the automat.