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Invitation to Happiness

  • 1939
  • Approved
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
193
YOUR RATING
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.

  • Director
    • Wesley Ruggles
  • Writers
    • Claude Binyon
    • Mark Jerome
  • Stars
    • Irene Dunne
    • Fred MacMurray
    • Charles Ruggles
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    193
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Claude Binyon
      • Mark Jerome
    • Stars
      • Irene Dunne
      • Fred MacMurray
      • Charles Ruggles
    • 9User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins total

    Photos10

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    Top cast43

    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
    Wheaton Chambers
    • Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    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
      • Mark Jerome
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There are incorrect accounts stating 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.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The First Days (1939)

    User reviews9

    Featured review
    4/10

    A long time for his title shot

    Invitation To Happiness is the story of a pair of unlikely marriage between society girl Irene Dunne and prizefighter Fred MacMurray. It happens when Irene's father William Collier buys an interest in MacMurray's contract and Dunne takes an interest in her sportsman father's new acquisition.

    They have a son who is played by Billy Lee, but they grow apart and divorce. But eventually MacMurray gets his long dreamed of title shot.

    Billy Lee was 14 when he made this film and looks it. Which means that Fred would have been boxing for 14 years when he got his title fight. That is an awfully long time in the fight game to wait for a championship bout. MacMurray would have been fighting for eating money by that time as a trial horse if he was still in the fight game.

    Irene is her usual soap opera heroine in this film. She and Fred don't quite gel in this film. One wonders what kind of future they would have after his fighting days are over.

    Can't quite accept the movie's favorite milquetoast Charlie Ruggles as a boxing manager.

    Invitation To Happiness is not in the top 10 for Dunne or MacMurray.
    • bkoganbing
    • Jan 29, 2021
    • Permalink

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    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(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

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