What a delightful movie this is. "The Happy Road" was made by and starred Gene Kelly. But this comedy and somewhat family adventure shares the lead roles with two very good child actors, Bobby Clark and Brigitte Fossey. Their characters, Danny Andrews and Janine Duval, are the core of the story that centers around their sneaking away from an exclusive Swiss school to go to Paris. That's where Danny's widower father, Mike, has moved from America to set up a business. And, where Janine's mother, Suzanne, is whom she hasn't seen for three months.
The plot technique switches back and forth between the two kids and the two adults. Danny and Janine make their way across the Swiss border and then into the French countryside. Mike and Suzanne meet at the school after being called and told that their children have run away. They begin their trek together to try to find their children. The kids get help, mostly from other children after they meet a young boy who's on a family picnic. When they tell him that they have run away from a school to get to their parents, he sets into motion an amazing network of cousins and their friends who help them avoid the police and get on their way through the next couple of towns.
The parents, in their interspersing scenes, get into one funny situation after another. Their escapades account for much of the laughable comedy, but the movements of the kids provide for many smiles and much warm humor. They are always a step or two ahead of the parents and authorities who are in pursuit.
The film has some nice scenes in the French countryside, and a kaleidoscope of local people. It also has a couple of anomalies in the setting. Mike says the school is more than 400 miles from Paris which would mean it would have to be in the far northeast corner of Switzerland, near the Austrian border. They would have had a long way to go across northern Switzerland first. The second anomaly is a field exercise in France with British and American Army units, under the command of British General Medworth, played by Michael Redgrave. This segment adds some more humor to the film.
While the Army exercise may seem a strange thing to have in this movie, such training by NATO countries was frequent in Western Europe during the early years of the Cold War. I was a paratrooper in the U. S. Army in Germany, from early 1962 to late 1964. In that time we had several military field exercises. In two large NATO operations, we jumped in Denmark and Turkey.
This is a very good film that many people should enjoy. But, modern audiences who need constant fast-action may find it too slow. Here are some favorite lines from the film.
Danny Andrews, "Look, Janine. To get to Paris I'll have to walk, hitch rides, hop freight cars. Well, you're smart... for a girl. But you can't do all that." Janine Duval, "I speak French." Danny, "All right, so you speak French, for Pete's sake." Janine, "And I want to be with you."
Janine Duval, "Why do they have frontiers, Danny?" Danny Andrews, "I don't know. So we can tell one country from another, I guess."
Janine, "I don't think it's good for parents to be left alone too much."
Mike Andrews, after a crammed car ride with three French relatives, "Well, I'm glad they brought the food along. It wouldn't have been as much fun without it."
Mike, "That's over 400 miles to Paris. They don't have any money or food." David, the young Earl of Boardingham, looking at a list he has, "Oh, yes, Danny has 82 francs and 30 centimes. And he has five sandwiches - two ham, one cheese, two cucumber. He's bound to make it to Paris." Mike, "I wouldn't bet on it." David, "I already have."
Mike, after their several transport problems, "You know, our kids are smart - they're WALKING to Paris."
Mike, "For Pete's sake, wouldn't you know it - lunch time? City hall, the police station, everything's gotta close at lunch time. There's no calling. The whole place becomes a ghost town. Look! Look! Not a soul in the street. I wonder what happens if there should be a fire during lunch. No, no, don't tell me. Everybody grabs a leg of lamb and roasts it over the burning building. Hah! The French!"
Mike, "I'm a father." Suzanne Duval, "How did you keep your temper long enough to become a father?"
Mike, to the motorcycle cop giving them a ride, "Hey, what are you - a French policeman or a Japanese suicide pilot?"
Mike, "Your daughter, may I remind you, speaks French. She's getting them in and out of these towns like the Scarlet Pimpernel."
Mike, to a policeman who can't speak English, as they leave, "You big clod. You couldn't find your own nose with both hands, a full moon and radar."
Gen. Medworth, "I do assure you then, the little nippers'll be in our hands, safe and sound. Ah, tea."
Mike, "General, if you could get us a car and let us have a look..." Suzanne, "Oh yes, please general." Gen. Medworth, "My dear sir...and madame, 18 cars, 10 tanks, six weapon carriers, a dozen scout cars, hundreds of men and six aircraft are covering the area now."
Suzanne, "I'm not French - I'm alone. Just as you're not an American, but also alone. We're human beings and we're alone. Nationality doesn't help us there."
Mike, "I'm over here trying to start a business, all I'm starting is an ulcer." Sgt. Morgan, "That's funny. I had an ulcer on the way, when the Army took me. Since I've been in France, something's happened - no more ulcer. Yeah, I learned something. Maybe it was just how to relax."
