I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

When introducing this film on TCM, the host mentioned that Frank Capra had originally signed on to direct this property, and that's not surprising at all. In its story of a wealthy tycoon who gains sympathy for the downtrodden by becoming involved with a group of squatters living in his New York mansion over the winter, it's got Capra's fingerprints all over it. And maybe not being directed by Capra is ultimately what prevents this film from being more of a classic. It's cute and entertaining, and more of both than I expected it to be, but it's also a tad lacking in something -- magic, whimsy, pacing -- that would have made it more memorable.Charlie Ruggles plays the tycoon and Victor Moore plays the principal squatter who sets the whole premise in motion.Grade: B

Charming, sweet and funny movie.A homeless man moves into the house of a very wealthy man, while the owner is away for the summer, as he does every year. This year, however, he manages to accumulate a mixed band of fellow house sitters, some of whom aren't what they seem...A quite farcical, yet sweet and funny, movie. The dialogue is sharp and there's a wonderful innocence and warmth about it that keeps it going.Decent performances all round, with the vivacious and gorgeous Gale Storm to the fore.Ideally watched around Christmas (though any time is good)...

This is one movie I often watch throughout the year. A movie when the weather is hot, you miss family, friends, you encounter strangers by chance, remembering fellow Veterans. Odd combination? Not so."It Happened on Fifth Avenue" has simple creativity and thought. It pulls together the Christmas spirit of family, friends, strangers, and Veterans along their journey. The bonus for the time it was filmed, in old-school black and white. This classic starts off with a simple poke and brings you home.The actors are real and genuine.It's a good old-fashion Christmas movie to watch year round.

Sad to say but sweet and whimsical films like It Happened On Fifth Avenue just aren't being made today. Of course you have to have players like Victor Moore and Charles Winninger who can carry off whimsy. And whimsy isn't in with today's audiences.In fact the notion of a millionaire who leaves his Fifth Avenue townhouse for the winter from Election Day to St. Patrick's Day and has it occupied by a gentleman hobo during most of that time is a bit much to swallow. But Victor Moore as the occupier brings it off. No one could ever believe harm would befall anyone in Moore's path.But Moore's life gets a bit complicated when Don DeFore a recently discharged serviceman decides to move in on what he thinks is a boarded up mansion. Then Gale Storm who actually is the daughter of Charles Winninger and is rebellious and estranged shows up and pretends to go along with the gag. She kind of likes what she sees in DeFore. Before you know it a small community springs up in the drafty old house.Eventually that community includes Storm's parents Charles Winninger and Ann Harding who are similarly estranged. But its the Yuletide season coming on and people are just a bit nicer to each other at that time of the year.Of course it all comes to an end and hardly the end you would think in real life. Still It Happened On Fifth Avenue is possessing a certain magic to it. You can't help but like these people.Part of the reason is that for those years between World War II and Korea, returning servicemen of the Greatest Generation are treated like the family jewels. It's not questioned by the theater audience of the time that you extend yourself to them. It Happened On Fifth Avenue could never be remade today for that reason as well.It Happened On Fifth Avenue is a bit sugary, but a warmly sentimental film a favorite of the Yuletide season.