Happy Go Lovely is an appealing British-American co-production starring David Niven, Vera-Ellen, and Cesar Romero, directed by American Bruce Humberstone.
The story is a light-as-air romantic comedy about a young American dancer, Janet Jones (Vera-Ellen), who is made the star of a 2nd-rate musical show because her producer-boss (Cesar Romero) mistakenly believes that she has become the mistress/fiancée of Scotland's wealthiest man, greeting-card-mogul B.G. Bruno (David Niven), despite the reality that Janet and B.G. have never actually met. The ensuing story allows David Niven to shine in one of his few truly ingratiating romantic leads, ably abetted by the delightful Vera-Ellen.
I love this film. I love Bruce Humberstone comedies. Many of his contemporaries (including movie star Maureen O'Hara) claimed that Humberstone didn't know much about movie making, dubbing him "Lucky Stumblebum" because he kept accidentally making hit movie after hit movie. Humberstone must have had incredible instincts; while none of his films are truly great, none of them are truly terrible, either. And many of them are quite memorable! Humberstone clearly had natural talent.
Humberstone films lack an auteur's vision, originality and inspiration, yes. BUT -- and this is a big BUT -- Humberstone had great instincts for creampuff comedy. His taste level was questionable, but I think that's part of his charm. Humberstone's comedies are always fun to watch, enlivened by musical numbers which mystify* as well as entertain.
* Mystify because... while they are very smoothly integrated into any given show in terms of pacing, Humberstone musical numbers are also shockingly haphazard, the product of random ideas generated by the talent surrounding each production. This gives the numbers an enlivening spark of kitsch and unexpectedness which amuses intellectuals like me. The numbers vary wildly in quality, but that's part of their pleasure. And the music is produced by some very capable professionals who were also responsible for music of many of the greatest British films of this period.
I don't know quite WHY this film is one of my favorite movies of all time. The story is preposterous, but nothing about the film is realistic so that doesn't matter. The film is never boring, but it's not riveting either. Yet, Happy Go Lovely IS a very soothing film to watch... maybe that's why I watch it so much. There is very little tension. Nothing mean or truly unhappy ever happens. The characters have issues and problems, but they're all basically decent human beings. The dark side of life is only hinted at, never exposed. And who doesn't like a good Cinderella story? Especially with David Niven smiling like that, while Vera-Ellen dances up a storm...
After a hard day's work, with all of life's stresses and miseries, there is something so life-affirming and refreshing in taking a dip into a kind, happy bubble-bath of musical romance and loveliness, played by movie stars who simply exude charm. Escapism!
