This film was produced by Doris Day's husband at the time, Marty Melcher.

The film is set in Maine. Doris Day is the owner of a tiny company that sells lobsters. When a shipment of hers is allowed by the railroad to sit for several days instead of sending it to the customers, the lobsters die and her company loses several important contracts. She contacts the railroad to have them pay damages and they agree to pay the going rate for the lobsters. However, Day isn't about to just accept this--her company reputation has been harmed and she is without customers. And, she hires her goofy friend (Jack Lemmon) to represent her in a lawsuit, as the railroad isn't about to budge. Normally, you'd think that the railroad would just pay her off, but the owner (Ernie Kovacs--who is very difficult to recognize under all the makeup) refuses. The case is decided in Day's favor, but the lawyers for the railroad mean business and promise to tie this up in appeals for years--even though the amount is only a couple thousand dollars. Fortunately, the judge must have really felt that the railroad was acting in bad faith, and so Day is awarded one of the railroad's engines to hold until they do pay. Soon, things escalate wildly out of proportion, as the story hits the national newspapers and the public support for this tiny company against an uncaring corporation is strong. So strong, in fact, that Day becomes an instant celebrity. As the case escalates further and further, where is all this going to lead?! The railroad is mean and nasty and they aren't about to give in--nor is Day.

Despite losing money and being considered one of Day's 'lesser' films, I enjoyed this little civics lesson very much. Kovacs was quite enjoyable as the evil corporate giant and the script was fresh and amazingly original. If you like this film, try watching "Solid Gold Cadillac"--a film with a similar one lady versus corporate big-wigs script.

Saw 'It Happened to Jane' as a fan of Doris Day and wanted to see the films of hers not yet seen for completest sake. And it is a decently pleasant film that had potential to be so much more.

'It Happened to Jane' is not one of her best. It is no 'Calamity Jane', 'Pillow Talk', 'Move Over Darling', 'Lover Come Back', 'On Moonlight Bay' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon'. However, no it is not one of her worst either (if anything it's a middling effort of hers that does deserve a better reputation). It is much better than 'Starlift', 'Lucky Me', 'The West Point Story' (aka 'Fine and Dandy') and 'Do Not Disturb' of her films seen to date (which is most but a few more to see).

Not without its faults. The children are badly cast, being irritating and trying so hard to be cute that it's almost too sickly sweet. Their scenes are overplayed, under-directed, dull and annoying. The "Be Prepared" number did not fit within the film, went on for far too long (wouldn't have been so much an issue if it didn't interrupt the flow, seeing as it did substantially it was an issue),one really doesn't see the need of its inclusion and it's just not a good song and a weakly done scene all round in general.

Would have liked to have seen more chemistry between Day and Jack Lemmon. There are certainly some lovely and enjoyable moments that Day and Lemmon bring out beautifully, but mostly there could have been more of it and generally it could have been better executed. It's through no fault of Day, neither is it through fault of Lemmon, who really tries his best and gives an earnest charm, but their chemistry just seemed bland and underwritten. Lemmon's character is also a little underused and sketchily developed, a waste of a fine actor who still gives his all.

The story is lightweight and far-fetched, and, although there are plenty of entertaining and charming moments and most of the pacing is fine, the slightness is obvious at times which leads to a few scenes lacking zip. Without some of the children's scenes and "Be Prepared" there would already be a better film.

This may sound like 'It Happened to Jane' was a bad film to me. It wasn't, far from it. It just could have been much better and had some major faults even for somebody taking it for what it was and set out to do.

For all its flaws, however, there are a number of positives. 'It Happened to Jane' is lovely to look at, the exteriors and fashions are fabulously lavish and it is beautifully photographed. The locomotives also look amazing and like their own characters. With the exception of "Be Prepared", the music is not bad at all, it has the right amount of quirkiness and elegance. While Day has certainly had better songs in her career (don't misunderstand, this is not a musical but it has a few songs sung by Day),the music here is nonetheless pleasant and suit her voice, especially the title song. She sings them very well with her usual uniquely beautiful sound and with her usual musical and interpretive understanding and sincerity.

Regarding the script, a lot of it is amusing and almost to the level of an Ealing comedy in its best bits, charming and touching, with parts that also probe a great deal of thought like with the social satire Frank Capra style. The town hall speech is also stirring, packs a punch content-wise and has a message that still resonates and feels relevant. The story is hardly great, but there is an amiable light-heartedness and never too cloying sweetness that makes 'It Happened to Jane' still pleasing to watch and difficult to be too tough on. Most of the pacing is bright and breezy.

Day is perky and luminous, has deftly witty comic timing, sincerity and just charms everybody every time she's on screen in front of the camera and to the viewer watching. Lemmon is compromised somewhat by his writing and character, but still brings an earnest charm and he really sells it intensity-wise in his speech. Steve Forrest is dashing, and there is dependably solid support from Russ Brown, John Cecil Holm and Mary Wickes. Stealing the show, with the film's juiciest character, is Ernie Kovacs (reminding one of legendary Harry Cohn),who gives the film so much zest. The quirky and witty direction was a suitable fit and added a lot to the best of the material.

Overall, decent pleasant film that could have been more. 6/10 Bethany Cox

This is a fun period movie. It's a great snap shot of rural New England in the late 1950's. I remember watching this movie when I was a young boy growing up in the Hartford area of Connecticut. Thought the story is about the fictitious town, Cape Anne, Maine, the story was actually filmed in Connecticut. I remember everyone being excited about the movie because they had filmed scenes at the Hartford Railroad Station, one being where George kisses Jane. Back then we all had traveled someplace from the Hartford Station. The movie's vivid color gives us great views of the landscape, the old New England houses, stores, churches, and court house. The "Town Meeting" as it was, and still is, in some ways still in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The various types of cars of the time, and of course the different trains. It's a great story of the little guy (gal in this case) against the big corporation. Doris Day and Jack Lemmmon are at their best as well as the supporting cast. This is a movie the whole family can sit down to and have a great time, especially if you are from New England.