Main Cast: David Niven, Vera-Ellen, Cesar Romero, Bobby Howes, Diane Hart
Release Year: 1951
Country: UK
Run Time: 95 minutes
Plot
The Anglo-American musicomedy Happy Go Lovely is set in Edinburgh, Scotland, during a major film festival. The gathered throngs are aghast when unknown dancer Janet Jones (Vera-Ellen) steps daintily from a limousine owned by a Scottish millionaire. A few miles earlier, the girl had thumbed a ride from the limo driver, but the public doesn't know this, and soon rumors are flying. Before she knows what has happened, Jones has become the festival's main attraction. She is also romanced by B.G. Bruno (David Niven), whom she assumes to be a reporter but who, of course, is the millionaire in disguise. Ostensibly a musical, Happy Go Lovely is limited to two songs, though both are performed con brio by the fabulous Vera-Ellen. The film was produced independently by N. P. Rathvon and released by Rathvon's former studio, RKO Radio. It was shot in black and white but is now reportedly only available in a colorized print. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Happy Go Lovely is a moderately entertaining British-made musical that falls short of being first rate. What keeps it in the second tier is the confinement of musical talent to female lead Vera-Ellen. This is not to knock the leading lady, for she gives the part her all and is quite winning an actress and a knock-out as a dancer. (Her singing is, as usual, dubbed). The problem is that the male lead is played -- deftly and quite well -- by David Niven, whose many talents do not include those associated with a song-and-dance man. In a typical musical, the most important moments are of course the musical numbers; when the male lead is not called upon to participate in them, it usually creates a serious imbalance, as here. This situation is made worse by the fact that there are several moments when the script seems to cry out for the Niven character to become musical; had Fred Astaire, for example, been cast in the role, the dinner sequence at the swank restaurant would have become a true musical scene that would have made the sequence something truly special. As it is, it's amusing but nothing more. Aside from this, the only serious flaw is the over-the-top performance of Cesar Romero. It's true that the script is contrived, but it still is diverting. It is also offset by some very good choreography, particularly impressive in the street ballet near the end of the picture, and by some nice location shots. Light and breezy, Happy Go Lovely is an enjoyable trifle. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Gordon Jackson - Paul Tracey; Barbara Couper - Mme. Amanda; Henry Hewitt - Dodds; Gladys Henson - Mrs. Urquhart; Hugh Dempster - Bates; Sandra Dorne - Betty; Joyce Carey - Secretary; John Laurie - Jonskill; Wylie Watson - Stage Doorman; Joan Heal - Phyllis Gardiner; Hector Ross - Harold; Ambrosine Phillpotts - Lady Martin; Molly Urquhart - Mme. Amanda's Assistant; Kay Kendall - Secretary; Douglas Scott - Principal Dancer; Jack Billings - Principal Dancer
Credit
John Howell - Art Director, Pauline Grant - Choreography, Jack Billings - Choreography, H. Bruce Humberstone - Director, Bert Bates - Editor, Mischa Spoliansky - Composer (Music Score), Louis Levy - Musical Direction/Supervision, Erwin Hillier - Cinematographer, Marcel Hellman - Producer, Arthur Macrae - Screenwriter, Val Guest - Screenwriter, F. Dammann - Short Story Author, H. Rosenfeld - Short Story Author
