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It's a Wonderful World

Detective Guy Johnson's client, Willie Heywood, is framed for murder. To trap the real killer, Guy conceals Willie, but the pair are captured by the police, tried, convicted, and sentenced: Guy to a year in prison while Willie faces execution. While being transported to detention, Guy discovers a crucial clue and makes a daring escape from custody.

Director(s)

W.S. Van Dyke

Charles Dorian

Hugh Boswell

Cast & Crew

Frank Faylen

Frank Faylen

Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)

George Meeker

George Meeker

Ned Brown (uncredited)

George Chandler

George Chandler

Photographer at Ferry Landing (uncredited)

Edgar Dearing

Edgar Dearing

Actor as 'Captain Flagg' (uncredited)

Harold Miller

Harold Miller

Guest (uncredited)

Maurice Costello

Maurice Costello

Guest (uncredited)

Mike Lally

Mike Lally

Reporter with Vivian (uncredited)

Louis Natheaux

Louis Natheaux

Waiter (uncredited)

John Dilson

John Dilson

Doctor (uncredited)

Philip Morris

Philip Morris

Policeman on Train (uncredited)

Jack Raymond

Jack Raymond

Lipinsky (uncredited)

Hans Conried

Hans Conried

Mr. Delmonico, Stage Manager

Nat Pendleton

Nat Pendleton

Sergeant Fred Koretz

Cliff Clark

Cliff Clark

Captain Haggerty

Alberto Morin

Alberto Morin

Waiter (uncredited)

Fay McKenzie

Fay McKenzie

Guest (uncredited)

James Stewart

James Stewart

Guy Johnson

Murray Alper

Murray Alper

Newspaper Man at Ferry Landing (uncredited)

Jack Mulhall

Jack Mulhall

Reporter with Vivian (uncredited)

Edgar Kennedy

Edgar Kennedy

Lieutenant Miller

Rex Evans

Rex Evans

Scout Master (uncredited)

Guy Kibbee

Guy Kibbee

Fred 'Cap' Streeter

Richard Carle

Richard Carle

Major I. E. Willoughby

Monya Andre

Monya Andre

Guest (uncredited)

Frank Coghlan Jr.

Frank Coghlan Jr.

Elevator Boy (uncredited)

Tom Hanlon

Tom Hanlon

Radio Announcer (voice)

Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert

Edwina Corday

W.S. Van Dyke

W.S. Van Dyke

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Jack Gardner

Jack Gardner

Reporter with Vivian (uncredited)

Sidney Blackmer

Sidney Blackmer

Al Mallon

William Tannen

William Tannen

Actor as 'Soldier' (uncredited)

Phillip Terry

Phillip Terry

Chauffeur (uncredited)

Leonard Kibrick

Leonard Kibrick

Herman Plotka

Cecil Cunningham

Cecil Cunningham

Madame J. L. Chambers

Peter Du Rey

Peter Du Rey

Guest (uncredited)

Ray Walker

Ray Walker

Newspaper Man at Ferry Landing (uncredited)

Hal Cooke

Hal Cooke

Gus - the Waiter (uncredited)

Ernest Truex

Ernest Truex

Willie Heyward

Grady Sutton

Grady Sutton

Lupton Peabody

Andy Clyde

Andy Clyde

'Gimpy' Wilson

Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart

Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart

Georgie - Actor as 'Wounded Soldier' (uncredited)

W.E. Lawrence

W.E. Lawrence

Guest (uncredited)

Frances Drake

Frances Drake

Vivian Tarbel

Cecilia Callejo

Cecilia Callejo

Dolores Gonzales

Lowden Adams

Lowden Adams

Vivian's Butler (uncredited)

Lulu Mae Bohrman

Lulu Mae Bohrman

Guest (uncredited)

Harry Burns

Harry Burns

Mike - the Nightclub Doorman (uncredited)

Rae Daggett

Rae Daggett

Hotel Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Daisy

Daisy

A Dog (uncredited)

Harold Hoff

Harold Hoff

Spike (uncredited)

Wally Maher

Wally Maher

Nate - Photographer at Ferry Landing (uncredited)

Mary Louise Smith

Mary Louise Smith

Guest (uncredited)

Monte Vandergrift

Monte Vandergrift

Police Officer Drivng Patrol Car (uncredited)

Charles Dorian

Charles Dorian

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Hugh Boswell

Hugh Boswell

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Details

GenresComedy, Romance, Crime, Mystery
Runtime1h 26 mins
Released on19 May 1939
Languageen
Produced InUnited States of America

Reviews

CinemaSerf

7/10

This is a cracking, quickly paced little comedy thriller with Claudette Colbert really on form as the rather dreamy poet who finds herself caught up in James Stewart's murder shenanigans. He is a PI whose wealthy pal is held for murder. When Stewart ("Johnson") is offered $100k to get to the bottom of it all, he tries to investigate, gets arrested, escapes from the cops into a river and alights on poor old "Edwina Corday" (Colbert) whose car he hijacks. After a bumpy start to their relationship, the pair of them are soon on the case to solve the mystery. It moves along well, the two stars - along with Guy Kibbee as "Cap Streeter" - gel well with some pithy lines from Colbert and daft scenarios well executed by them both as they close in on their prey. In the end, it doesn't really matter who killed whom - it's just an enjoyable vehicle for the two stars who are having some fun - and it is contagious.

All Trailers

It's a Wonderful World (1939) | Official Trailer