1940·Comedy·1h 34m
7.1
★
Unexpected love blossoms when an assistant district attorney agrees to take a recidivist shoplifter home so she doesn't have to spend Christmas alone in jail.
Directed by Mitchell Leisen
new year's eve
indiana, usa
court case
redemption
road trip
respect
niagara falls
falling in love
kindness
family
district attorney
prosecutor
bail bondsman
barn dance
christmas
return home
shoplifter
mother daughter relationship
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Barbara Stanwyck
Lee Leander/Anna Rose Malone
Fred MacMurray
Jack Sargent
Beulah Bondi
Mrs. Sargent
Elizabeth Patterson
Aunt Emma "Emmie"
Willard Robertson
Francis X. O'Leary
Sterling Holloway
Willie Simms
Paul Guilfoyle
District Attorney
Charles Arnt
Tom
John Wray
Hank
Thomas W. Ross
Mr. Emory
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Rufus
Tom Kennedy
'Fat' Mike
Crew
Mitchell Leisen
Director
Preston Sturges
Screenplay
Friedrich Hollaender
Original Music Composer
Ted Tetzlaff
Director of Photography
Mitchell Leisen
Producer
William LeBaron
Executive Producer
Wally Westmore
Makeup Artist
Edith Head
Costume Design
Hal Walker
Assistant Director
Eugene Joseff
Other
Popular Reviews
84 reviews
Luz
8.0★ · 03/20/26
"Do you remember when you took my egg money I was going to buy a new dress with? And how hard you worked to pay it back when you later understood?"
"You made me understand"
"No, dear. It was love that made you understand"
"Do you remember when you took my egg money I was going to buy a new dress with? And how hard you worked to pay it back when you later understood?"
"You made me understand"
"No, dear. It was love that made you understand"
annie
8.0★ · 02/20/26
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
“you made me understand”
“no, dear. it was love that made you understand.”
this film was so cute. i absolutely adore barbara stanwyck and im starting to love fred macmurray the more films of his i watch. i loved the plot and it also made me cry ngl
2026 ranked ⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
“you made me understand”
“no, dear. it was love that made you understand.”
this film was so cute. i absolutely adore barbara stanwyck and im starting to love fred macmurray the more films of his i watch. i loved the plot and it also made me cry ngl
2026 ranked ⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
“you made me understand”
“no, dear. it was love that made you understand.”
this film was so cute. i absolutely adore barbara stanwyck and im starting to love fred macmurray the more films of his i watch. i loved the plot and it also made me cry ngl
2026 ranked ⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
“you made me understand”
“no, dear. it was love that made you understand.”
this film was so cute. i absolutely adore barbara stanwyck and im starting to love fred macmurray the more films of his i watch. i loved the plot and it also made me cry ngl
2026 ranked ⋆‧°𓏲ּ𝄢
•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•
carolina
8.0★ · 12/26/25
i’m crying so hard😭
i’m crying so hard😭
Manny
7.0★ · 12/26/25
I’d watch absolutely anything with Barbara Stanwyck
I’d watch absolutely anything with Barbara Stanwyck
Erik Olsson
8.0★ · 12/25/25
The thing that most comes to mind when rewatching this is how low-key and subtle this is for a Preston Sturges script, but still having all his heart. Great alternative Christmas movie for those who don't necessarily need the jolly.
The thing that most comes to mind when rewatching this is how low-key and subtle this is for a Preston Sturges script, but still having all his heart. Great alternative Christmas movie for those who don't necessarily need the jolly.