The Pursuit of Happiness
Synopsis
William Popper is the son of a stockbroker and is thoroughly disenchanted with "the system." So much so that even though he can prove that he ran over a woman in his car entirely by accident, he accepts a sentence for manslaughter.
Top Cast
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Michael Sarrazin
William Popper
Barbara Hershey
Jane Kauffman
Arthur Hill
John Popper
Ruth White
Mrs. Popper
E.G. Marshall
Daniel Lawrence
Robert Klein
Melvin Lasher
Sada Thompson
Ruth Lawrence
David Doyle
James Moran
Barnard Hughes
Judge Vogel
Peter White
Terence Lawrence
Tom Rosqui
District Attorney Keller
William Devane
Pilot
Gilbert Lewis
Convict George Wilson
Albert Henderson
Convict McCardle
Ralph Waite
Detective Cromie
Maya Kenin
Mrs. Conroy
Ed Kovens
1st Guard
Charles Durning
2nd Guard
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 23, 1971
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Robert Mulligan
- Screenplay & Story
- Jon Boothe, George L. Sherman
- Original Score
- Dave Grusin
- Original Title
- The Pursuit of Happiness
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Talent Associates, Columbia Pictures, Norton Simon Inc.
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Robert Mulligan
Jon Boothe, George L. Sherman, Thomas Rogers
Dave Grusin
Richard C. Kratina
Folmar Blangsted
David Susskind
Department Leadership Roster
Robert Mulligan
Director
Jon Boothe
Screenplay
Dave Grusin
Original Music Composer
Folmar Blangsted
Editor
Richard C. Kratina
Director of Photography
David Susskind
Producer
Ann Roth
Costume Design
George L. Sherman
Screenplay
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Pursuit of Happiness.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pursuit of Happiness
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Pursuit of Happiness about?
William Popper is the son of a stockbroker and is thoroughly disenchanted with "the system." So much so that even though he can prove that he ran over a woman in his car entirely by accident, he accepts a sentence for manslaughter.
Who directed The Pursuit of Happiness?
The Pursuit of Happiness was directed by Robert Mulligan.
Who stars in The Pursuit of Happiness?
The principal cast of The Pursuit of Happiness includes Michael Sarrazin, Barbara Hershey, Arthur Hill, Ruth White, E.G. Marshall.
When was The Pursuit of Happiness released and how long is it?
The Pursuit of Happiness was released in 1971 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for The Pursuit of Happiness?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Pursuit of Happiness was composed by Dave Grusin.
Is The Pursuit of Happiness based on a book or true story?
The Pursuit of Happiness is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Thomas Rogers".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Pursuit of Happiness?
The Pursuit of Happiness holds official age classifications: DE: 16 (FSK 16 — Restricted to viewers aged 16 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).