Let's Be Happy (1957) User Reviews (17)

Any film starring Vera-Ellen and the Edinburgh festival is worth a look!

[jinchelsea · 7/10 · 15 July 2012]

I saw this film in glorious Cinemascope and color at the Palace Theatre when it first opened in 1957, and was already enchanted with the dancing charms of Vera-Ellen, certainly one of, if not the best dancers in Hollywood history. No, she didn't sing (always dubbed, although early stage recordings display a fun dancer's voice), and her acting relied heavily on her charm and good looks, but when she danced, watch out!

The film is a slight vehicle for the charms of Vera-Ellen and Tony Martin, star baritone of various MGM films of the 40s and 50s (and as Robert Osborne points out on TCM, you expect this to be an MGM film, but it's one of the few Allied Artists musicals of the period), complete with songs written by composer Nicholas Brodszky (Love Me Or Leave Me). At least it's not studio-bound; it was filmed in 1956 at the dazzling Edinburgh Festival, as well as other beautiful Scotland locales.

You will long to see the original Cinemascope print, but all that seems to exist is a pan and scan version. Better than nothing, and it is the only chance to see the film, which TCM just began showing in the past year, after it had been seemingly lost for the past 20-odd years. But now we need a proper print in the original Scope on DVD. Come on, Warner Archives, you've released every grade B and C film known and unknown, give a little TLC to LET'S BE HAPPY.

Wooing the 'Rich' American Girl

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 24 January 2011]

Let's Be Happy is a musical film shot in Scotland by a British film company and released in America under the Allied Artist banner. It also has two American stars, Tony Martin and Vera-Ellen and both made their final big screen appearance in this production. Musicals were certainly becoming rarer and rarer on the screen by 1957.

If people have followed my reviews on Tony Martin's films, one my criticisms is why he was never teamed with his wife Cyd Charisse in any movie. Cyd was under contract to MGM and Tony did occasional films there as well. Both would move on to the nightclub phase of their careers as their primary venue and they were one of the biggest acts on that circuit for many years. I think Let's Be Happy was created with both of them in mind, but apparently Cyd was otherwise occupied with work at MGM. She did do Silk Stockings that same year over at that much bigger studio. So Vera-Ellen was brought in instead.

The story is a slight one and the songs by Nicholas Brodszky and Paul Francis Webster are pretty forgettable, but they're done well as sang by Tony and danced to by Vera-Ellen. She's a Vermont farm girl who gets an inheritance from her grandfather of $5000.00 approximately, kept in a secret compartment because apparently grandfather did not trust banks. And as a good Scots girl, she decides to visit the old country.

She meets Tony on the plane and the two seem to hit it off. But along the way an impoverished title played by Robert Flemyng gets the idea that Vera-Ellen is really loaded and in the tradition of European nobility down on its luck, they woo the rich American.

Let's Be Happy does boast some really nice cinematography of Edinburgh, a city which definitely believes in keeping its ancient look up for the tourists. It's a pleasant enough 90+ minutes of entertainment, but I do so wish Tony Martin had done this with Cyd Charisse.

Not without charm

[verna-a · 6/10 · 28 September 2012]

This film wouldn't ever be listed as a major musical, but I found it likable. There are hackneyed elements to the story but it moves along well and good use is made of minor characters. The two stars obviously both have more than a few miles on the clock - Martin has a very lived-in face, and Vera-Ellen could use a botox injection, but they are both agreeable presences. These days (I'd like to think) their age would be acknowledged in a story line which gave them each a second-time around background, but not in those days. The 50's fashions look great on Vera-Ellen and the redhead opposition. The Paris and Edinburgh locations are milked to advantage. I enjoyed the touches of Britishness in the "lord" and the hotel staff. The dances are sometimes slight, but enjoyable. Altogether quite a lot to like, worth sticking with as a pleasant piece of escapism.

A minor 50's musical: in Edinburgh!!

[dubyah1 · 5/10 · 17 May 2004]

A minor 50's musical with the unusual backdrop of Edinburgh! Vera-Ellen is the biggest name, if that's any gauge, and she seems to have been cast for the circumference of her cinched waist. Watch her attempting to obey the direction to NOT look in the camera: her eye movements bring to mind Carol Burnett's over-the-top Norah Desmond.

The storyline has a slightly screwball premise so dear to musicals; 'young' Jeannie [Vera-Ellen in her last major role] goes to Europe for a vacation and spends her entire inheritance of $4000; two cads, one a helpful Yankee [Tony Martin, stalwart of lesser musicals and Cyd Charisse's husband] and the other a poor Scottish laird [Robert Flemyng] who believes her to be a million-heiress vie for her affections. An odd jazz-ballet number reminds you it was made in the late 50's. The city of Edinburgh and some stunning gowns co-star. ** out of **** stars

Made me laugh out loud.

[kenwest · 6/10 · 14 February 2005]

A minor musical, to be sure, but some of the dialogue reminds us that things have not changed much. How about the bell boy who, when asked by the hick from Vermont, if she should tip him, says with Scottish reserve: "yes, it has been done.". When Tony Martin, appliance magnate, proposes to Vera Ellen, he ups the ante with "You don't know what you're getting -- a washer that irons!".

A musical with bagpipes! A lord who acknowledges that he needs tourist dollars (before he admits that he needs to marry for money), an American that can out-duel a French customs-clerk!

How can one not be affected by this innocent charm!?

Watching the movie musical die before your eyes

[marcslope · 5/10 · 4 December 2013]

An independent feature made at the very, very end of the movie musical's golden age, and the desperation shows. Vera-Ellen, looking unhealthily slim and not dancing much, is a Vermont lass who inherits enough money to fly to Edinburgh, where she keeps running into Tony Martin and is wooed by impoverished lord Robert Flemyng. Martin, looking beefy and well past his leading-man prime, sings everywhere--at airport customs, in a Scottish dining car, at Vera's Vermont bungalow--and the songs, by Nicholas Brodzky and Paul Francis Webster, are neatly integrated enough but not what you'd call exciting. Nor is Henry Levin's direction, and even the Edinburgh location shooting looks rather skimpy. Wan storytelling, no-name supporting cast, so-so songs… No wonder it didn't do well.

Let's Be Happy- Can't With this Film **

[edwagreen · 3/10 · 2 July 2011]

Weak musical despite the stars Tony Martin and the tragic Vera-Ellen. The latter comes off as a real greenhorn in the opening scenes. She is Molly Brown without the Debbie Reynolds talent.

They should have made more of the Lord, who, actually broke and thinks that Ellen has a fortune. The fortune consisting of $4952.00.

As for Martin, he is give little insofar as the material and the songs he sings are really for the canaries. He has a wonderful voice so he should have been given the songs that match his voice range.

Who was the redhead who was infatuated with Martin? She reminded me, without the accent, of Maureen Arthur of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

As for "Let's Be Happy," it's totally benign

Ouch

[misctidsandbits · 19 September 2011]

I like a lot of the older movies, including B movies and less than stellar musicals. While this one had the Scottish scenery going for it, that's about all as far as I am concerned. Tried to go it, but just couldn't. Too many "ouchies." Vera-Ellen, while good in other things, was a bit painful to watch in this. Same for Tony Martin. The redhead was, to me, hard on the eyes and nerves. The lord character was lackluster.

Surprised at the comments of other reviewers that Cyd Charise should have had the female lead. Good grief. Get some proportion. While Tony Martin was married to Cyd Charise, there is a huge difference in their movie presence and draw. They don't cast parts to be cutesy.

Ms. Charise played and co-starred with major stars in top films. Mr. Martin never did. There's no comparison. This was way too low a production for Ms. Charise. While Mr. Martin enjoyed success as a recording artist, a strong actor, he wasn't. I didn't even care for his singing in this. Forget the acting, on anyone's part.

Definitely give this one a pass - as in pass up. Good performances can override a bad script/plot. That didn't happen here.

The Poor Little Rich Girl

[richardchatten · 4/10 · 7 June 2020]

Vera-Ellen presumably enjoyed the trip to Britain six years years earlier to make 'Happy-Go-Lovely' since she returned to make a second musical remake in Technicolor of an old British film - also set in Edinburgh - for producer Marcel Hellman, again with a director and male lead imported from Hollywood. (Since she promptly retired upon completing it doesn't suggest she cared much for the final result.)

Only the British supporting cast (including a few authentic Scots) and actual shots of Vera-Ellen in Paris and Edinburgh - as well as the rather drab look of the piece overall - confirm that it was indeed made in Britain since it remains largely studio-bound; while the musical numbers are stagy and look shoe-horned into the film.

The annoying, ever-present incidental music by Nicholas Brodsky is at least the subject of one nice little joke on the soundtrack. While the rare opportunity it furnishes to see Zena Marshall in Technicolor is sadly compromised by the fact that they've made her a harshly made-up brassy redhead on the make.

What's not to be happy about ?

[davidallen-84122 · 10/10 · 13 July 2017]

I really must come to the defence of "Let's Be Happy"; a near-forgotten little gem. My family and I enjoyed this film twice,on it's initial release,so I'll admit to a certain amount of nostalgia in my review. This was the last time Vera-Ellen appeared on screen;a pity,given her talent and charm. It's not difficult to share her enthusiasm as she travels to Scotland to enjoy her inheritance and while the plot may be considered tame by the many detractors,there is a naive appeal about the way it all unfolds. Robert Flemyng essays a certain Gaelic charm as he escorts the heroine on a guided tour of Scotland (nice location shots too). This was also the last time Tony Martin appeared on screen in a musical. The songs are pleasant and he is in good voice,particularly singing 'One Is A Lonely Number";a lovely,haunting ballad. Three other musicals released in N. Z. in 1957;"Silk Stockings", ''Funny Face" and "Les Girls",may now enjoy a 'cult' following,but,strange as it may seem, they all irritate me in ways that "Let's Be Happy" does not. I'm looking forward to replacing my poor quality video copy with the wide-screen DVD.

N. B. Since writing the above review, I have purchased the fully restored, wide-screen DVD which I will relish watching forever.

sheer agony

[blanche-2 · 5/10 · 10 November 2015]

"Let's Be Happy" is a 1957 musical starring Vera-Ellen, Tony Martin, and Robert Flemyng.

It concerns a young woman left some money who decides it to spend it on a trip to the city of her ancestors, Edinburgh, and have an adventure. She meets an attractive salesman (Martin) and an impoverished Lord (Flemyng), whom she takes up with when she thinks the salesman has been dishonest with her.

I watched this film because I love Tony Martin's voice, but to be honest, a chimpanzee could have performed these songs.

Vera-Ellen was a pretty woman, but she wasn't much of an actress, and she doesn't look particularly well here except in one scene, where she wears a beautiful, form-fitting blue gown and looks stunning. Also, for a dancer, she sure didn't do much of it.

The music ranged from awful to merely passable.

The location shots were lovely.

I was surprised this film was made. It is very mediocre.

Not Rocking in Scotland

[wes-connors · 4/10 · 3 July 2011]

After inheriting some money, small Vermont town dancer Vera-Ellen (as Jeannie MacLean) decides to visit Scotland. On the plane, she meets singing Idaho businessman Tony Martin (as Stanley Smith). Romance begins, but things get complicated when she meets dashing Robert Flemyng (as James "Jimmy" MacNairn), a broke English Lord looking for a rich American wife. Meanwhile, Mr. Martin has caught the eye of sexy red-haired Zena Marshall (as Helene). The film's tagline "Tony Rocks 'Em!! Vera Rolls 'Em!!" points to how the two early 1950s stars were being falsely promoted to a new audience, who were not going to find any "Rock 'n' Roll" here. "Let's Be Happy" features nice color and setting.

**** Let's Be Happy (5/8/57) Henry Levin ~ Vera-Ellen, Tony Martin, Robert Flemyng, Zena Marshall

Let's be bored!

[geoffm60295 · 5/10 · 13 June 2020]

Vera Allen and Tony Martin lack any chemistry on screen in this very contrived story of: 'American young woman with Scottish ancestry, inherits a lot of money and decides to visit the land of her grandfather's birth.' Her flight from the US to France, and then onto Scotland, we are presented with the usual embarrassing national caricatures of Frenchmen and Scots to remind the audience, as if we didn't know, that Vera Allen is 'abroad,' and that our American gal is required to come to terms with the strange and bizarre manners and customs of them their foreigners! The story line is simplistic, with a middle aged Tony Martin, bursting into various songs, which at can best be described as forgettable, at the mere drop of a hat. Vera Allen tries desperately to put a lot of energy into her role, but the feeble storyline and the pedestrian pace of the narrative, left me yawning. The film was already past its sell by date in 1957, a year when this type of musical was already 'old hat.' I admired earlier Hollywood performances of Vera Ellen, a highly talented dancer, but here she has little opportunity to display her talents. By the end of the film, I was totally underwhelmed! All in all, a very disappointing film.

Last film of fading lead

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 2 January 2016]

This was the last film for both for Tonyartin,often out of tune,and Vera Ellen,out of form.The story is silly,the music mediocre and the dances are dull.This film highlights all that was wrong with a genre that was going extinct.When this film was being made Bill Haley and Elvis were wowing cinema-goers.The leads were playing a style that might have worked in the forties but was becoming passé.Martin was 44 and Vera Ellen was 36 when this film was made which emphasised the problems of the musicals.All the main musical stars,Astaire,Crosby,Kelly,Sinatra were middle aged and would have to turn to dramatic roles to prolong their film careers.Colour and scope do a lot for Edinburgh but little for the stats

Worth it for Vera-Ellen

[jromanbaker · 8/10 · 13 May 2021]

Anyone who has seen ' White Christmas ', ' On the Town ' and especially ' Call Me Madam ' will know that Vera-Ellen was enchanting to watch. But in these films she had excellent support, and here sadly she is paired with Tony Martin, who is in no way her equal. Robert Flemyng who is also the third man in the film is not right either, his acting stilted and unconvincing. But it is after all Vera-Ellen's last screen performance and in many ways she is as much fun, and as gloriously watchable as in her previous films. The story is banal; Vera-Ellen inherits money and goes to Scotland and there has a good time for the first time in her life. Although somewhat dully directed the film holds and despite mediocre songs there is a certain joy of life and in my opinion she was a loss to the cinema. Her dancing is extraordinary in a ballet sequence ( more of a musical than ballet, but well choreographed and designed, ) and see it if you can. The UK has great Cinemascope and not pan and scan version on DVD.

The locations are finely filmed, and is worth seeing simply for her performance.

Lovely film well worth watching!

[rxelex · 10/10 · 12 June 2020]

This is a really nice bit of escapism! Scenics and a Lockheed Connie and Edinborough and lovely sets and dresses to die for and happy dancing and not a bit of grubbinessor that gritty realism that dragged cionema into the gutter a few years later! Watch it with a box of choccies and nice drinks and a nice person beside you.

A Doris Day film without Doris.

[plan99 · 8/10 · 23 July 2021]

I was not aware of the leading lady until I saw her in this and she was very good in the part with Doris not really being missed, her waistline was tiny and probably not healthy for being so small. Nice to see Edinburgh in glorious colour from so long ago and the plot runs along nicely. I failed to spot Paul Young as the page boy but spotted Alfred Burke and Molly Weir. Worth watching for the nostalgia content alone.