The story takes place on Fifth Avenue in New York City, at the home of the extremely wealthy Michael O'Connor (Charlie Ruggles). Every winter, from November 1st to March 15th, O'Connor closes up his mansion and heads south to Virginia. What he doesn't know is that after he moves out, the homeless Aloysius McKeever (Victor Moore) moves in.
This particular year, McKeever runs into Jim Bullock (Don DeFore), whose apartment building has just been sold, sending him to the streets in search of new living arrangements. Unable to find anything, Jim is resting on a park bench when McKeever meets up with him. Telling Jim he lives alone, McKeever invites Jim to be his guest for the evening. Jim has no idea Mac (as he calls McKeever) is living in the home with the owner unaware, so he accepts the offer.
Before long, two of Jim's Army buddies---unable to find a suitable apartment---are calling the O'Connor mansion home, and then when O'Connor himself makes an unexpected early appearance, he is assumed to be homeless and, also, is welcomed into the fold.
How long can the charade be kept up? How long will Michael O'Connor be willing to be a guest in his own home? And what happens when Trudy's mother---Michael's ex-wife (Ann Harding)---shows up as well? These are the questions that play out in this very sweet little film.
This sweet film is on TCM's Christmas Day schedule---Friday, December 25th at 6:00 p.m. (ET), so if you'd like to see it (and I definitely recommend it), be sure to set your DVR. It's also TCM's lineup earlier in the month---Sunday, December 20th, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).
Happy viewing!!!