Though nearly forgotten for decades, this charming and enjoyable comedy/musical directed by Tay Garnett and starring Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is a little gem. RKO surrounded this good story by Dorothy and Herbert Fields with top production values and some pleasant songs penned by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. The story is slight but quite charming, and becomes very funny the longer you stay with it.

Irene Dunne is Margaret Garret, a broadway and radio musical sensation mobbed at every turn by adoring fans. She is rescued from one of these mobs by Daniel Brewster (Fairbanks), a wealthy young shipping tycoon with his own island in the South Seas who has fallen for Margaret from afar. She, of course, promptly has the brash Daniel arrested as a masher! When he brings her to court and the judge is going to give him six months for doing what amounts to nothing, Margaret persuades the judge to go easy on him.

To her dismay, however, the judge uses a little known law to appoint her his probation officer, creating just the opportunity Daniel needs to show Margaret how to have fun. Margaret is all responsibility, supporting a family who have become much too dependent on her — and her considerable salary — which they squander as fast as she can earn it.

Dunne had starred in the best screen version of Show Boat and she does a nice job with some very pretty Jerome Kern melodies, including “Just Let Me Look at You” and “You Couldn't Be Cuter.” Lucille Ball portrays her sister, Salina, who is chomping at the bit to be in Margaret’s shoes, while Alice Brady and Guy Kibbee offer fine support as her mother and father. Her dad has no end of ingenious methods of sneaking liquor into every container in the house.

It is charming to watch Daniel’s enthusiasm for living life to the fullest wear down Margaret’s defenses. Recording their own song, having a drinking contest, and a wild time at a rollerskating rink make for fun viewing indeed. Dunne is a hoot as she constantly reminds everyone who'll listen that she is Margaret Garret and she can do as she pleases! But how to reconcile her family responsibilities and her own happiness?

The story by Dorothy and Herbert Fields resolves everything quite nicely and the final scene is very enjoyable. Because of the expensive RKO production values, Joy of Living was considered somewhat of a financial flop in 1938, coming as it did on the heels of Dunne's success in The Awful Truth with Cary Grant. Today, however, it is easy to appreciate it for the little gem it is rather than what it is not. A nice surprise for those who have never seen it. ( )