The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Seen it?1947 | 110 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (82% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics, anyone who wants a laugh and fantasy fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny, romantic.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 50 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1947: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Walter Mitty, a daydreaming writer with an overprotective mother, likes to imagine that he is a hero who experiences fantastic adventures. His dream becomes reality when he accidentally meets a mysterious woman who hands him a little black book. According to her, it contains the locations of the Dutch crown jewels hidden since World War II. Soon, Mitty finds himself in the middle of a confusing conspiracy, where he has difficulty differentiating between fact and fiction.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
82% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.8 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$957K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 69K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Norman Z. McLeod
- Danny KayeWalter Mitty
- Virginia MayoRosalind van Hoorn
- Boris KarloffDr. Hollingshead
- Fay BainterMrs. Mitty
- Ann RutherfordGertrude Griswold
- Thurston HallBruce Pierce
- Gordon JonesTubby Wadsworth
- Florence BatesMrs. Griswold
- Konstantin ShaynePeter van Hoorn
- Reginald DennyColonel