Easy Come, Easy Go


1h 17m 1947

Brief Synopsis

A film that possibly held the record for the most Irish-descent players in an American-produced movie before "The Quiet Man" was shot on location in Ireland, and that includes "The Informer." Barry Fitzgerald is a rapid fan of following the ponies (but none too good at picking the winners)and owns a shabby boarding house east of NYC's Third Avenue. Mostly, he never works, follows his hunches, philosphizes through most of the 77 minutes and changes the life course for most of those around him. His dependence upon his daughter (Diana Lynn) keeps him interfering with her romance with a returning WW II sailor (Sonny Tufts, just before Paramount finally gave up on him.) And he will stretch the truth beyond accepted boundaries. Fitzgerald's real-life brother Arthur Sheilds plays his brother who he has built up to be a rich man, but who is really a diver working for the police department. Could have been a ten if there had been a leprechaun or two or Pat O'Brien in the cast.

Film Details

Also Known As
Third Avenue, Too Good to Be True
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Mar 7, 1947
Premiere Information
New York opening: 5 Feb 1947
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on sketches compiled in the book 3rd Avenue, New York by John McNulty (Boston, 1946).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 17m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Synopsis

New York Irishman Martin L. Donovan, a charismatic, compulsive gambler affectionately referred to as "Himself," is released after being caught in a raid at a bookie joint, when he finally promises to do legitimate work. Although Martin's daughter Connie tries to take care of the family boardinghouse, Martin's boarders are captivated by his dreams of wealth and place bets with him, and are then unable to pay rent. Fearing that he will lose Connie to marriage, Martin starts a rivalry for her affection between policeman Dale Whipple and returning "seabee" Kevin O'Connor. Kevin, whom Connie has loved since she was a girl, wins Connie's heart, and she shares his dream of opening an automobile repair shop. Hoping to keep Connie with him, Martin lures Kevin into spending all his earnings as a cab driver on bets. Although depressed by his overwhelming losses, Kevin proposes to Connie, but loses the money for an engagement ring, when he follows Martin's gambling advice. Kevin is then arrested with Martin in a police raid, and is accused of participating in a robbery, in which his stolen cab was used. Connie posts bail with the deed to her house, but leaves Kevin for Dale because of his gambling. Without Connie there, everything falls apart at the boardinghouse. The disgusted renters move out and bill collectors pound on Martin's door. Martin's last hope for solvency disappears when his brother Timothy, who has just returned after a twenty-year absence, reveals he is as poor as Martin. Martin then goes to work with Timothy, a diver for the police, and one day while diving into the East River, Martin finds a satchel filled with money. Martin spends the cash profligately, favoring the motto, "easy come, easy go," and the money soon runs out. When Connie learns that Martin has lost his fortune and his friends, she pawns Dale's engagement ring, and, at the urging of former boarder Mrs. Angela Orange, bets the money on a horse named "Easy Come, Easy Go." Before the race is finished, the betting house is raided and both women are arrested. Connie is embarrassed when Dale turns out to be the arresting officer, and he worries that his reputation with the police force will be damaged. After Connie is released, she learns that "Easy Come, Easy Go" won the race, and reunites with Martin and Kevin. Martin is hit by a car shortly after, and although he is not severely injured, he goes into shock. A kindly priest talks Martin out of his coma using racing metaphors, and Martin's faith in life is restored.

Cast

Barry Fitzgerald

Martin L. Donovan

Diana Lynn

Connie Donovan

Sonny Tufts

Kevin O'Connor

Dick Foran

Dale Whipple

Frank Mchugh

Carey

Allen Jenkins

Nick

John Litel

Tom Clancy

Arthur Shields

[Timothy] Mike Donovan

Frank Faylen

Boss

James Burke

Harry Weston

George Cleveland

Gilligan

Ida Moore

Angela Orange

Rhys Williams

Priest

Oscar Rudolph

Bookie

Gene Stone

Bookie

Lou Lubin

Mr. Weiss, tailor

Frank Puglia

Italian grocer

Erno Verebes

Mopsy Marek

Olin Howlin

Gas man

Howard Freeman

Magistrate

Hobart Cavanaugh

Mr. Higgins, repair shop manager

Byron Foulger

Sporting goods shop proprietor

Houseley Stevenson

Doctor

Tom Fadden

Sanitation man/grocery clerk

Tom Dugan

Sanitation man

Joey Ray

Mr. X

Howard Mitchell

Bailiff

Chester Clute

Waiter

Rex Lease

Gambler

Ted Rand

Gambler

Stanley Price

Gambler

Pat Mcveigh

Gambler

Phil Monte

Gambler and bookie

Crane Whitley

Prosecutor

Matt Mchugh

Worker

Charles Sullivan

Cabbie

Perc Launders

Bartender

Jimmie Dundee

Bartender

Eddie Fetherston

Passenger

Antonio Filauri

Grocer

Stanley Andrews

Detective

Jack Shea

Detective

John Sheehan

Detective

Chuck Hamilton

Detective

James Flavin

Plainclothesman

Eddy Chandler

Plainclothesman

G. Pat Collins

Desk sergeant

Tom P. Dillon

Cop

Polly Bailey

Housewife

Robert R. Stephenson

Alex the delicatessen man/sanitation man

Lorin Raker

Restaurant manager

Harry Hayden

Bank teller

Syd Saylor

Milkman

Philip Van Zandt

Mailman

Myron Geiger

Neighbor

Tommy Summers

Neighbor

Dario Piazza

Neighbor

David Wold

Neighbor

Dan Borzage

Neighbor

Charles Campbell

Neighbor

John Jennings

Neighbor

James Davies

Neighbor

James Cornell

Neighbor

Patricia West

Neighbor

Betty Hill

Neighbor

Julia Faye

Neighbor

Diane Ervin

Neighbor

Patricia Harmon

Neighbor

Miriam Snitzer

Neighbor

Jean Marshall

Neighbor

Freddie Chapman

Boy

Vincent Graeff

Boy

Mickey Mcguire

Boy

Henry Blair

Boy

Jack Murphy

Edwin Chandler

Film Details

Also Known As
Third Avenue, Too Good to Be True
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
Mar 7, 1947
Premiere Information
New York opening: 5 Feb 1947
Production Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on sketches compiled in the book 3rd Avenue, New York by John McNulty (Boston, 1946).

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 17m
Sound
Mono
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working titles of this film were Third Avenue and Too Good to Be True. John McNulty's book was originally published in the early 1940s as a series of sketches in The New Yorker magazine. Paramount released a song, "Easy Come, Easy Go," music and lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, in conjunction with the release of this film, but the song was not heard in the viewed print.