Easy Living (1937): Cast & Plot
Easy Living is a 1937 romantic comedy directed by Mitchell Leisen, starring Ray Milland as John Ball Jr., Edward Arnold and William Wagner. It runs 1 hour 28 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 28m (88 min)
- Director
- Mitchell Leisen
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Easy Living About?
The premise of Easy Living without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
J.B. Ball, a wealthy financier, becomes exasperated by his waste‑spending family. In a fit of frustration he hurls his wife’s newly‑purchased, costly sable coat out the window. The coat lands on Mary Smith, a diligent but impoverished girl. As the unlikely exchange unfolds, Ball discovers that parting with such a prized possession is far more complicated—and far more comical—than he anticipated.
Easy Living Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- mix up comedy
- screwball comedy
- stock market manipulation
- gay coded character
- sable coat
- chauffeured limousine
- black cat
- telegram
- white grand piano
- spiral staircase
- kolinsky fur coat
- fur coat collection
+38 more Show fewer
- hit by a falling object
- breaking a piggy bank
- bird in a cage
- phone ringing off hook
- english sheepdog
- floor of stock exchange
- police escort
- motorcycle cop
- stock manipulation
- slip and fall
- inhaling black pepper
- hotel louis
- stock market crash
- automatic
- hedley hardware company
- ticker tape
- pandemonium
- rent
- hat
- gift
- sable
- automat
- marriage
- financier
- fur coat
- food
- husband wife relationship
- falling down stairs
- slapstick comedy
- french in usa
- wealth
- riot
- piggy bank
- penthouse
- new york city
- mortgage
- milliner
- marriage proposal
Easy Living Cast & Characters
Ray Milland leads the cast as John Ball Jr., with Edward Arnold as J.B. Ball and William Wagner as J.B. Ball's Valet (uncredited). Directed by Mitchell Leisen; 73 actors are credited in all.
- Director Mitchell Leisen
-
Ray Milland as John Ball Jr. - Edward Arnold as J.B. Ball
- William Wagner as J.B. Ball's Valet (uncredited)
- Mary Nash as Mrs. Jenny Ball
Also Starring in Easy Living
· 69 more- Jean Arthur Mary Smith
- Franklin Pangborn Van Buren
- Luis Alberni Mr. Louis Louis
- Andrew Tombes E.J. Hulgar
- Robert Haines Hulgar Stock Tally Man (uncredited)
- William B. Davidson Mr. Hyde
- Lee Bowman Motorcycle Policeman (uncredited)
- Lee Phelps Hotel Detective (uncredited)
- Lester Dorr Stock Investor (uncredited)
- Robert Homans Private Guard (uncredited)
- Vernon Dent First Partner (uncredited)
- Dennis O'Keefe Office Manager (uncredited)
- Stanley Andrews Police Captain Jackson (uncredited)
- Sidney Bracey Hornsby - Mary's Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Forbes Murray Husband (uncredited)
- Olaf Hytten Joseph aka Justin - Houseman (uncredited)
Show all 73 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Carl M. Leviness Automat Customer (uncredited)
- Don Brodie Automobile Salesman (uncredited)
- John Dilson Nervous Hotel Registrant (uncredited)
- Arthur Hoyt Jeweler (uncredited)
- Frank McLure Office Worker (uncredited)
- Florence Wix Woman in Hat Shop (uncredited)
- William Demarest Wallace Whistling
- Gertrude Astor Saleswoman (uncredited)
- Edwin Stanley Second Partner (uncredited)
- Hal K. Dawson Jeweler (uncredited)
- Tom Coleman Doubledecker Bus Conductor (uncredited)
- Wilson Benge Neighboring Butler (uncredited)
- Nora Cecil Miss Swerf
- Robert Greig Butler
- Frances Morris Assistant Secretary (uncredited)
- Jack Rice Man in Ball's Outer Office (uncredited)
- Esther Dale Lillian
- Marsha Hunt Girl Getting Coat Dropped on Her at Finale (uncredited)
- Harlan Briggs Magazine Office Manager
- Benny Bartlett Newsboy (uncredited)
- Jack Raymond Bum (uncredited)
- Hector V. Sarno Armenian Rug Salesman (uncredited)
- Jesse Graves Graves - J.B. Ball's Porter (uncredited)
- Kate Price Laundress (uncredited)
- Francis Sayles Martin - Houseman (uncredited)
- Ethel Clayton Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
- Dora Clement Saleslady (uncredited)
- Virginia Dabney Blonde Woman (uncredited)
- Barlowe Borland Mr. Gurney
- Harry Worth Hindu Man on Bus (uncredited)
- Leonid Snegoff Chef (uncredited)
- Adia Kuznetzoff Bum (uncredited)
- Lillian Lawrence Magazine Office Worker (uncredited)
- Harold Entwistle Elevator Man (uncredited)
- Gloria Williams Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
- Florence Dudley Cashier (uncredited)
- Hayden Stevenson Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Laura Treadwell Wife (uncredited)
- Bob Murphy Automat Detective (uncredited)
- John Picorri Ernest - Hotel Waiter (uncredited)
- Nick Lukats Bum in Automat (uncredited)
- Rex Moore Elevator Boy (uncredited)
- Bernard Suss Man in Automat (uncredited)
- John Marshall Osric (uncredited)
- George Cowl Bank President (uncredited)
- Richard Barbee Third Partner (uncredited)
- Hal Greene Bellhop (uncredited)
- Helen Huntington Stenographer (uncredited)
- Amelia Falleur Housemaid (uncredited)
- Elsa Connor Undetermined Role (uncredited)
- Lois Clinton Brunette Woman (uncredited)
- Kathleen Hope Lewis Stenographer (uncredited)
- Lu Miller Housemaid (uncredited)
More from Mitchell Leisen
More films directed by Mitchell Leisen, best-rated first: Remember the Night, Hold Back the Dawn, To Each His Own and Death Takes a Holiday.
Easy Living Plot Summary
What happens in Easy Living from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
J.B. Ball [Edward Arnold], the third richest banker in America, shares a tense breakfast with his son John Jr. [Ray Milland], a confrontation that ends with John leaving to prove he can make his own way. Ball’s fury erupts again when he learns his wife Jenny Ball [Mary Nash] bought a sable fur coat worth $58,000, and he insists it must be returned. After discovering the coat in her closet, he grabs it, Jenny wrestles it away, and the chase drives them to the roof of their New York City penthouse, where Ball hurls the sable coat over the edge.
Full summary
The whole story of Easy Living, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Easy Living?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of J.B. Ball, the film’s wealthy male lead?
Cars in Easy Living
1 car on screen: the 1937 Cadillac.
-
1937 Cadillac Important role
Seen Easy Living?
Movies Like Easy Living
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Easy to Love, Easy Money and Live, Love and Learn.
Easy Living FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Easy Living, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Easy Living?
Easy Living runs 1 hour 28 minutes (88 minutes).
When was Easy Living released?
Easy Living was released on July 7, 1937.
Who directed Easy Living?
Easy Living was directed by Mitchell Leisen.
More films by Mitchell Leisen Who is in the cast of Easy Living?
Easy Living stars Ray Milland as John Ball Jr., Edward Arnold as J.B. Ball and William Wagner as J.B. Ball's Valet (uncredited), among 73 credited actors.
Does Easy Living have a post-credit scene?
No. Easy Living has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
