It Could Happen to You
“Drama So Shockingly Real...Romance So Beautifully Tender That IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU!”
Synopsis
A politically charged story about a man who dabbles in crime, with disastrous results, to gain the capital he needs to purchase a school where immigrants are prepared for American citizenship. The school's European teacher dreams of a fascist America. Based on a story by Nathanael West and Samuel Ornitz, who was one of the Hollywood Ten blacklisted during the McCarthy Era.
Top Cast
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Alan Baxter
Bob Ames
Andrea Leeds
Laura Compton
Owen Davis Jr.
Fred Barrett
Astrid Allwyn
Angela
Walter Kingsford
Prof. Schwab
Al Shean
Max 'Pa' Barrett
Christian Rub
Clavish
Elsa Janssen
Mrs. Clavish
Edward Colebrook
Pogano
Stanley King
Detective
Nina Campana
Italian Woman
Frank Yaconelli
Greek
John Hamilton
Judge
Paul Stanton
District Attorney
Bob Murphy
Moriarity
Cy Kendall
Detective
Robert Andersen
Swede (as Robert Anderson)
Bert Sprotte
German
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 28, 1937
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Phil Rosen
- Screenplay & Story
- Samuel Ornitz, Nathanael West
- Original Title
- It Could Happen to You
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 11m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Phil Rosen
Samuel Ornitz, Nathanael West
Department Leadership Roster
Phil Rosen
Director
Samuel Ornitz
Screenplay
Nathanael West
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for It Could Happen to You.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About It Could Happen to You
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is It Could Happen to You about?
A politically charged story about a man who dabbles in crime, with disastrous results, to gain the capital he needs to purchase a school where immigrants are prepared for American citizenship. The school's European teacher dreams of a fascist America. Based on a story by Nathanael West and Samuel Ornitz, who was one of the Hollywood Ten blacklisted during the McCarthy Era.
Who directed It Could Happen to You?
It Could Happen to You was directed by Phil Rosen.
Who stars in It Could Happen to You?
The principal cast of It Could Happen to You includes Alan Baxter, Andrea Leeds, Owen Davis Jr., Astrid Allwyn, Walter Kingsford.
When was It Could Happen to You released and how long is it?
It Could Happen to You was released in 1937 with a total runtime of 1h 11m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for It Could Happen to You?
It Could Happen to You holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).