Invitation to Happiness
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Wesley Ruggles
Irene Dunne
Fred Macmurray
Charles Ruggles
Billy Cook
William Collier Sr.
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
When socialite Eleanor Wayne meets Albert "King" Cole, a cocky, uncouth boxer whose contract her father has just purchased, the two fall in love and are married. Soon after their wedding, Albert, who is consumed with winning the world championship, leaves his wife behind as he travels the country entering matches. The self-sacrificing Eleanor permits her husband's career to take precedence over her needs as a wife, and consequently faces the birth of their first born, Albert Jr., alone. The boy grows up resenting his absent father, and when Albert returns home years later, the boy shuns him. Albert, his pride hurt and believing that Eleanor no longer loves him, leaves her. Eleanor then sues for divorce and wins, but Albert is awarded custody of their son for the first six months. Albert does everything in his power to win Albert Jr.'s love, but it is not until the night of the championship match, when Albert meets defeat, that he gains the respect of his son and regains the love of his wife, who is waiting for him at ringside.
Director
Wesley Ruggles
Cast
Irene Dunne
Fred Macmurray
Charles Ruggles
Billy Cook
William Collier Sr.
Marion Martin
Oscar O'shea
Burr Caruth
Eddie Hogan
Charles Randolph
Russ Clark
Allen Wood
Don Latorre
Bob Evans
Mack Gray
Billy Newell
Heinie Conklin
Jack Roper
Franklin Parker
Jack Gargan
Joe Franz
Wheaton Chambers
Bob Stevenson
Jerry Fletcher
Harry Hayden
Jack Knoche
Doodles Weaver
Lee Moore
Virginia Brissac
William Orr
Emerson Treacy
Bill Knudsen
John Conte
Joe Cunningham
Hank Hankinson
Guy Usher
Gordon Jones
Joe Caits
Crew
Claude Binyon
Hans Dreier
Farciot Edouart
Mel Epstein
Ernst Fegte
A. E. Freudeman
Earl Hayman
Edith Head
Frederick Hollander
Mark Jerome
William Lebaron
Alma Macrorie
Richard Olson
Wesley Ruggles
Wesley Ruggles
Leo Tover
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
An early Hollywood Reporter production chart places Donald O'Connor in the cast, but his participation in the final film has not been confirmed. According to news items in Hollywood Reporter, Paramount used 1,357 extras in the prizefight scene. Actor John Conte was an NBC sports announcer.