''What a Life'' is a 1939 American

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by

Theodore Reed Theodore Reed (June 18, 1887 – February 22, 1959) was an American film director, producer and former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Selected filmography * ''Say! Young Fellow'' (1918) * '' Arizona'' (1918) * '' ...

and starring

Jackie Cooper John Cooper Jr. (September 15, 1922 – May 3, 2011) was an American actor, television director, producer, and executive, known universally as Jackie Cooper. He was a child actor who made the transition to an adult career. Cooper was the first ...

Betty Field Betty Field (February 8, 1916 – September 13, 1973) was an American film and stage actress. Early years Field was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to George and Katharine (née Lynch) Field. She began acting before she reached age 15, and went ...

John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...

Janice Logan Janice Logan (May 30, 1915 – October 23, 1965) was an American film actress. Early years Logan was a native of Chicago. Her father was Stuart Logan, "one of Chicago's leading investment brokers." Film Logan's film debut came in '' Dr. Cyc ...

, Vaughan Glaser,

Lionel Stander Lionel Jay Stander (January 11, 1908 – November 30, 1994) was an American actor in films, radio, theater and television. He is best remembered for his role as majordomo Max on the 1980s mystery television series '' Hart to Hart''. Early ...

, and Hedda Hopper. Written by

Charles Brackett Charles William Brackett (November 26, 1892 – March 9, 1969) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He collaborated with Billy Wilder on sixteen films. Life and career Brackett was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of ...

and

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-American filmmaker. His career in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Holly ...

, the film was released on October 6, 1939, by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. This is the first in a series of eleven Henry Aldrich films (1939-1944) based on the leading character from the radio series The Aldrich Family

Plot

Henry (Jackie Cooper) is falsely accused of making trouble at school. He must clear himself.

Cast

References

External links

* * 1939 films 1939 comedy-drama films The Aldrich Family films American black-and-white films American comedy-drama films American films based on plays Films directed by Theodore Reed Paramount Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy-drama-film-stub