It's a Wonderful World (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1939, It's a Wonderful World is a comedy, crime, mystery and romance film directed by W.S. Van Dyke, running about 86 minutes. “THE HAPPENINGS OF ONE WONDERFUL NIGHT!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Detective Guy Johnson's client, Willie Heywood, is framed for murder. While Guy hides him so he can catch the real killer, both of them are nabbed by the police, tried, convicted and sentenced to jail: Guy for a year with Willie to be executed. On the way to jail, Guy comes across a clue and escapes from the police.
Who’s in it. It's a Wonderful World stars Claudette Colbert as Edwina Corday, James Stewart as Guy Johnson, Guy Kibbee as Fred 'Cap' Streeter and Nat Pendleton as Sergeant Fred Koretz, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, It's a Wonderful World has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch It's a Wonderful World page.
If you liked it. Fans of It's a Wonderful World tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch It's a Wonderful World (1939)?
- In US, It's a Wonderful World is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is It's a Wonderful World worth watching?
- It's a Wonderful World holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, crime, mystery and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in It's a Wonderful World?
- It's a Wonderful World stars Claudette Colbert, James Stewart, Guy Kibbee, Nat Pendleton and Frances Drake.
- When was It's a Wonderful World released?
- It's a Wonderful World was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 86 minutes.