Let's Be Happy
Let's Be Happy is a Technicolor 1957 British musical film starring Tony Martin, Vera-Ellen and Robert Flemyng and directed by Henry Levin.[2] It was written by Dorothy Cooper and Diana Morgan in CinemaScope. This film was an updated remake of Jeannie (1941), starring Barbara Mullen, which itself was based on the stage play Jeannie by Aimée Stuart.[1]
| Let's Be Happy | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Original three sheet poster | |
| Directed by | Henry Levin |
| Produced by | Marcel Hellman |
| Written by | Dorothy Cooper |
| Screenplay by | Diana Morgan (screenwriter) |
| Based on | Jeannie (1940 play) by Aimée Stuart |
| Starring | Vera-Ellen Tony Martin Robert Flemyng |
| Music by | Nicholas Brodszky Angela Morley |
| Cinematography | Erwin Hillier |
| Edited by | Edward B. Jarvis |
Production company | Marcel Hellman Productions |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists Pictures (USA) Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The film is notable as star Vera-Ellen's final film; she later withdrew from public life after the death of her daughter, Victoria Ellen Rothschild.[3] The film is also Tony Martin's final appearance in a movie musical. He later made a cameo appearance in Dear Mr. Wonderful, an obscure 1982 film starring Joe Pesci.[4]
Filmed on location at Edinburgh as well as at Elstree Studios, Let's Be Happy premiered in London on 9 May 1957.[1]
Plot
Jeannie McLean, who lives in rural Vermont, inherits some money from her Scottish-born grandfather. She decides to travel to Scotland to see her ancestral country. On the journey by air and train, she finds herself continuously sitting near Stanley Smith, a brash washing-machine salesman, whose pushy ways help her through various difficulties.
Finally reaching Edinburgh (during the Festival). Jeannie makes the acquaintance of Lord James MacNairn, an impoverished landowner, who takes her to see Loch Lomond and also his ancestral castle. Stanley gets to know a French blonde named Helene, but also manages to follow Jeannie around.
James asks Jeannie to marry him, but when he learns that she has spent all her inheritance, he breaks it off. Jeannie flees back to Vermont, but Stanley, having made a major sales coup, follows her and proposes to her.
Cast
- Vera-Ellen as Jeannie MacLean (singing voice was dubbed by Joan Small)
- Tony Martin as Stanley Smith
- Robert Flemyng as Lord James MacNairn
- Zena Marshall as Helene
- Helen Horton as Sadie Whitelaw
- Beckett Bould as Rev. MacDonald
- Alfred Burke as French Ticket Clerk
- Vernon Greeves as First Air France Steward
- Richard Molinas as Bearded Man
- Eugene Deckers as Diner Car Attendant
- Russell Waters as Hotel Reception Clerk
- Paul Young as Page Boy, Bobby
- Peter Sinclair as MacTavish
- Magda Miller as Mrs. MacTavish
- Brian Oulton as Hotel Valet
- Guy Middleton as Mr. Fielding
- Katherine Kath as Mrs. Fielding
- Charles Carson as Mr. Ferguson, Lawyer
- Jock McKay as Elderly Dancer
- Michael Anthony as Monsieur Fior
- Jameson Clark as MacPhail
- Eric Pohlmann as Customs Official
- Carl Duering as Customs Inspector
- Molly Weir as Flower Girl
- Ewan Roberts as Hotel Porter
- Jean Cadell as Mrs. Cathie
- Gordon Jackson as Dougal MacLean
References
- "Let's Be Happy - Stylish Strictly showgirl pop art by Art & Hue". Art & Hue.
- "Let's Be Happy (1957)". BFI.
- Lobosco, David (21 December 2012). "A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: VERA-ELLEN: THE LATER YEARS". A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- Maslin, Janet (21 December 1983). "Lilienthal's 'Mr. Wonderful'" – via NYTimes.com.