Skip to content
Joy of Living poster
5.9 / 10(8 votes)IMDbNR19381h 31mUnited States of America

Joy of Living

“Do what you want to do, when you want to do it-that's Irene's motto-and it's SWELL FUN TO PLAY FOOLISH with her!”

Synopsis

Falling in love with the voice of Broadway chanteuse Margaret Garret, cocksure young tycoon Daniel Brewster decides to rescue the star from her hectic lifestyle of frenzied fans and mooching relatives. When Margaret has her ardent suitor arrested, the judge appoints her as Daniel's probation officer, forcing the duo to spend time together. As Daniel teaches Margaret to let her hair down and enjoy life, she begins to fall for her fun-loving admirer.

Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

IRENE DUNNE 'Joy of Living' 1938

Type: Clip • Published 2017-04-05

Release History & Theatrical Window

Theatrical Premiere

May 6, 1938

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Tay Garnett
Screenplay & Story
C. Graham Baker, Gene Towne, Allan Scott
Original Score
Robert Russell Bennett, Jerome Kern
Original Title
Joy of Living
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English, German
Runtime
1h 31m
Production Studios
RKO Radio Pictures

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Tay Garnett

Screenplay & Story

C. Graham Baker, Gene Towne, Allan Scott, Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields

Original Score & Music

Robert Russell Bennett, Jerome Kern

Director of Photography

Joseph Walker

Film Editing

Jack Hively

Producers

Felix Young, Tay Garnett

Department Leadership Roster

C. Graham Baker

Screenplay

Gene Towne

Screenplay

Allan Scott

Screenplay

Tay Garnett

Tay Garnett

Director

Robert Russell Bennett

Original Music Composer

Edward Stevenson

Costume Design

Joseph Walker

Director of Photography

Robert Kalloch

Costume Design

Jack Hively

Editor

Felix Young

Producer

Tay Garnett

Tay Garnett

Producer

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: NR

NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)NR

Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Joy of Living.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Joy of Living.

Musicals

Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.

5892 titles

MovieLens[20K:30K]

9830 titles

watched

ggg

969 titles

Similar Titles to Joy of Living

Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling

  • 6.5
  • 7.5
  • 8.2
  • 8.1
  • 7.5
  • 7.8
  • 7.9
  • 7.3
  • 6.8
  • 7.3
  • 5.6
  • 7.1
  • 7.1
  • 7.3
  • 7.9
  • 7.5

More Like Joy of Living

Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.

6.6
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.5
6.3
6.9
7.3
6.0
6.5
6.4
7.1

Frequently Asked Questions About Joy of Living

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Joy of Living about?

Falling in love with the voice of Broadway chanteuse Margaret Garret, cocksure young tycoon Daniel Brewster decides to rescue the star from her hectic lifestyle of frenzied fans and mooching relatives. When Margaret has her ardent suitor arrested, the judge appoints her as Daniel's probation officer, forcing the duo to spend time together. As Daniel teaches Margaret to let her hair down and enjoy life, she begins to fall for her fun-loving admirer.

Who directed Joy of Living?

Joy of Living was directed by Tay Garnett.

Who stars in Joy of Living?

The principal cast of Joy of Living includes Irene Dunne, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Alice Brady, Guy Kibbee, Jean Dixon.

When was Joy of Living released and how long is it?

Joy of Living was released in 1938 with a total runtime of 1h 31m.

Who composed the musical score for Joy of Living?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Joy of Living was composed by Robert Russell Bennett, Jerome Kern.

What is the age rating and content advisory for Joy of Living?

Joy of Living holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).