The Pursuit of Happiness is a 1971 American drama film about a student who goes on the run to avoid serving his full prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter. The film was directed by Robert Mulligan. The producer was David Susskind and the associate producer Alan Shayne. The screenplay was written by Jon Boothe and George L. Sherman. Plot Disenchanted college student William Popper (Michael Sarrazin) is convicted of vehicular manslaughter for killing a woman with his car. With only a week left on his sentence and the help of his girlfriend, Jane (Barbara Hershey), he escapes to Canada, making both of them wanted fugitives. Cast Michael Sarrazin as William Popper Barbara Hershey as Jane Kauffman Robert Klein as Melvin Lasher Sada Thompson as Ruth Lawrence Ralph Waite as Detective Cromie Arthur Hill as John Popper E.G. Marshall as Daniel Lawrence Maya Kenin as Mrs. Conroy Rue McClanahan as Mrs. O'Mara Peter White as Terence Lawrence Joseph Attles as Holmes Beulah Garrick as Josephine Ruth White as Mrs. Popper Charles Durning as Guard #2 Barnard Hughes as Judge Vogel David Doyle as Senator James J. Moran Gilbert Lewis as George Wilson Albert Henderson as McArdle William Devane as Pilot See also List of American films of 1971 External links 1971 films 1971 drama films American chase films American drama films Columbia Pictures films 1970s English-language films Films scored by Dave Grusin Films based on American novels Films directed by Robert Mulligan Films set in Canada Films set in New York City 1970s prison drama films 1970s American films