Where to Watch This Happy Breed (1944) in the US

What it's about

Episodic telling of 20 years of the working-class Gibbons family in their South London rental house from 1919 to 1939--from just after the conclusion of WWI to just before the start of WWII. Beyond the profound effect of such world events on their lives, and the ebbs and flows of general western society in all aspects, husband and wife Frank and Ethel Gibbons must hold their family together through other, more personal events. Besides their immediate family, their household consists of her mother, Mrs. Flint, who is always feigning that she is on her deathbed; and his spinster sister Sylvia Gibbons, who clings to odd notions of life as her only sense of independence; these two don't get along, each seeing the other as an intrusion on the household. The three Gibbons offspring are a disparate group but generally get along. Only son Reg is easily swayed, especially by his best friend Sam Leadbitter, who wants to see social justice at all cost. While she secretly loves Sam, level-headed older daughter Vi doesn't like Sam's influence on Reg and his life choices. Younger daughter Queenie hates their "common life" and will do almost anything to escape it, meaning that she will not marry Billy Mitchell, who has always loved her, and she has always loved him in her own way although he isn't her idea of husband material. Billy, a career sailor in the British Navy, is the son of their next-door neighbor, Frank's best friend and "Johnnie Walker and soda"-drinking buddy Bob Mitchell; they originally met on the battlefield in 1915, fighting for the British in different regiments.

Cast and crew

Director

David Lean

Writer

David Lean, Ronald Neame, Anthony Havelock-Allan

Starring

Robert Newton, Celia Johnson, John Mills

Details

Release date

Apr 12, 1947

Language

English

Country

United Kingdom

Awards

1 win

Where to Watch This Happy Breed (1944) in the US — common questions

Where to watch This Happy Breed in the United States?

This Happy Breed is available with a subscription, free with ads, free, or to rent in the United States. Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD). Watch the movie free with ads on Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), The Roku Channel (HD), Tubi TV, and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free on Darkroom (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream This Happy Breed or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Watch the movie with a subscription on The Criterion Channel (HD). Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch This Happy Breed for free in the United States?

Watch the movie free with ads on Plex Channel (HD), Plex Player (HD), The Roku Channel (HD), Tubi TV, and YouTube (HD). Watch the movie free on Darkroom (HD).