It Should Happen to You. 1954. USA. Directed by George Cukor. Screenplay by Garson Kanin. With Judy Holliday, Peter Lawford, Jack Lemmon. 86 min.
Fresh out of a job, unknown actress Gladys Glover bumps into documentary filmmaker Peter while walking in Central Park, and though she’s glum and dejected, he manages to make her smile. When Gladys suddenly becomes the toast of New York thanks to huge billboards advertising her name and likeness, she is pursued by the public, a playboy, and the press. Famous only for being famous, Gladys must grapple with the fallout of attaining her wish for notoriety—and her feelings for poor Peter. In our contemporary society, where fame is sought but rarely deserved, It Should Happen to You is a cautionary tale—but a fabulous one directed by George Cukor!