''It Had to Happen'' is a 1936 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

starring George Raft and

Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, comedienne, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in the H ...

. The movie was written by Kathryn Scola, and Howard Ellis Smith, and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It is based on the 1909 short story "Canavan, the Man Who Had His Way" by

Rupert Hughes Rupert Raleigh Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes Sr. and uncle of billionaire Howa ...

Plot

An Italian, Enrico Scaffa, emigrates to America where he has a run-in with Beatrice, the elegant wife of a wealthy banker. Enrico gets a job working for a politician and works his way up to be a power in the city. Despite romancing his secretary Miss Sullivan, he crosses with Beatrice again and pursues her.

Cast

* George Raft as Enrico Scaffa *

as Beatrice Nunes *

Leo Carrillo Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo (; August 6, 1880 – September 10, 1961), known professionally as Leo Carrillo, was an American actor, vaudevillian, political cartoonist, and conservationist. He was best known for playing Pancho in the television ...

as Giuseppe *

Arline Judge Margaret Arline Judge (February 21, 1912 – February 7, 1974) was an American actress singer who worked mostly in low-budget B movies, but gained some fame for habitually marrying. Early years Arline Judge was born in Bridgeport, Connect ...

as Miss Sullivan * Alan Dinehart as Rodman Dreke *

Arthur Hohl Arthur Hohl (May 21, 1889 – March 10, 1964) was an American stage and motion-picture character actor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began appearing in films in the early 1920s. He played a great number of villainous or mildly la ...

as John Pelkey

Production

Raft's casting was announced in September 1935. He was borrowed from Paramount. The same month Roy Del Ruth was announced as director. Leo Carillo was borrowed from Columbia. Constance Bennett was mentioned as a possible female lead. Filming started November 1935.

Reception

The film was a box office hit.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013 p 68-69 It was one of several films Raft made for Daryl F. Zanuck.

References

External links

*
It Had to Happen
at Letterbox DVD
Review of film
at Variety * 1936 films 1930s English-language films 1936 drama films American black-and-white films Films directed by Roy Del Ruth American drama films Films produced by Darryl F. Zanuck Films based on works by Rupert Hughes 20th Century Fox films Films based on short fiction Films scored by Arthur Lange Films with screenplays by Kathryn Scola 1930s American films {{1930s-drama-film-stub