Cheap Happy Go Lovely (DVD) (H. Bruce Humberstone) Price

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Customer Reviews of Happy Go Lovely

This print, offered by Alpha Video (Gotham Distribution), is terribly washed out. I was tempted to adjust the contrast so I could distinguish the dancers from the scenery in the opening reel. I wonder if the jewelry that looked like grey stone was actually some shiny precious metal.

I suspect, however, that the original was never great eye candy, since the costumes are quite ugly regardless of color.

As for the movie itself, the musical numbers are all from a show within a show being put on in Scotland by an American producer with no funding. The title, "Frolics to You", signals that the show is horrible, so it should not be surprising that the choreography is mostly dull with strange hand movements. There are some impressive lifts (a one-armed catch-and-lift of Vera-Ellen by her leg bent at the knee caught my attention).

Those who enjoy spotting continuity errors will have a field day with this flick. Costumes that have cleavage when the just-seen underwear could not; shoes that lose their heels mid-dance (the style of dancing changes, necessitating new shoes, but it happens during a stage performance depicted as continuous); using the same dress and jewelry for 2 scenes occuring on 2 different nights...

I did enjoy David Niven's performance, especially when he alternates between stodgy and vulnerable within a few sentences. He is quite believably smitten by Vera-Ellen.

I bought this because I remember seeing and enjoying the film on TV years ago, and because I intend to collect Vera-Ellen DVDs, so I won't be discarding it until a good print is available. But, caveat emptor.

As Happy as Can Be!!!
The Edinburgh Festival is the setting for this musical comedy, and Cesar Romero is the director of a Broadway style musical, and unfortunately, he has run out of money and the creditors do not want to wait. So in desperation, he casts a chorus girl in the leading role, believing it will get him closer to her boyfriend's fortune, but there is one slight problem - she does not have a millionaire husband.

The cast is first rate, and it is a funny movie, too. Vera Ellen has to be on of the most under-rated dancers in a Hollywood gone by. I fell in love with her dancing after watching "White Christmas," and she's a joy to watch. So exciting, lithe, and talented. She makes it look so easy. Fall in love with Vera (only in the movies, of course), and get this marvelous film.

Great lesser-known film
This is one of my favorites and offers up great acting with Vera-Ellen, David Niven and Cesar Romero as well as a great storyline and great dancing by the great Vera-Ellen. Vera-Ellen is part of a Broadway dance troupe with a very funny Cesar Romero as the director who is trying to keep his show going and in need of financing. Vera-Ellen is eventually mistaken to be the girlfriend/fiance of Scotland's most wealthy bachelor and Romero sees it as an opportunity to get financial backing and putting Vera-Ellen in the lead role. She goes along with it and it leads to hilarious results with Niven's character coming into the picture.