

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
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Irene Dunne
Margaret 'Maggie' Garret
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Daniel 'Dan' Brewster
Alice Brady
Minerva Garrett
Guy Kibbee
Dennis
Jean Dixon
Harrison
Eric Blore
Potter
Lucille Ball
Salina Garret Pine
Warren Hymer
Mike
Billy Gilbert
Cafe Owner
Frank Milan
Bert Pine
Dorothy Steiner
Dotsy Pine
Estelle Steiner
Betsy Pine
Phyllis Kennedy
Marie
Franklin Pangborn
Orchestra Leader
James Burke
Mac
John Qualen
Oswego
Spencer Charters
Magistrate
Richard Alexander
Angry Man in Revolving Door (Uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
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
Tay Garnett
C. Graham Baker, Gene Towne, Allan Scott, Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields
Robert Russell Bennett, Jerome Kern
Joseph Walker
Jack Hively
Felix Young, Tay Garnett
Department Leadership Roster
C. Graham Baker
Screenplay
Gene Towne
Screenplay
Allan Scott
Screenplay
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
Producer
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 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.
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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.).



















