Let's Be Happy

Let's Be Happy
Original three sheet poster
Directed by	Henry Levin
Written by	Dorothy Cooper
Screenplay by	Diana Morgan (screenwriter)
Based on	Jeannie (1940 play) by Aimée Stuart
Produced by	Marcel Hellman
Starring	Vera-Ellen Tony Martin Robert Flemyng
Cinematography	Erwin Hillier
Edited by	Edward B. Jarvis
Music by	Nicholas Brodszky Angela Morley
Production companies	Marcel Hellman Productions/ Associated British Picture Corporation^[1]
Distributed by	Associated British-Pathé^[2] ^[3]
Release date	9 May 1957 (1957-05-09) ^[4]
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Let's Be Happy is a Technicolor 1957 British musical film starring Tony Martin, Vera-Ellen and Robert Flemyng and directed by Henry Levin.^[1] It was written by Dorothy Cooper and Diana Morgan in CinemaScope. This film was an updated remake of Jeannie (1941), starring Barbara Mullen, which itself was based on the stage play Jeannie by Aimée Stuart.^[4]

The film was Vera-Ellen's final film; she later withdrew from public life after the death of her daughter, Victoria Ellen Rothschild.^[5] The film is also Tony Martin's final appearance in a movie musical, although he later made a cameo appearance in Dear Mr. Wonderful, a 1982 film.^[6]

Let's Be Happy premiered in London on 9 May 1957.^[4]

Plot

Jeannie McLean lives in rural Vermont and inherits some money from her Scottish-born grandfather whom she was looking after in his old age. She decides to travel to Scotland to see her ancestral country. On the journey by air and train, she finds herself continuously sitting near Stanley Smith, a brash washing-machine salesman, whose pushy ways help her through various difficulties. She finally reaches Edinburgh (during the Festival).

At her hotel, Jeannie is romanced by Lord James MacNairn, an impoverished landowner, who has heard that she has money. When she catches out Stanley in a lie, she breaks off their friendship and accepts James' attentions. Stanley still follows her around, with a pretty French redhead in tow, including taking seats right behind James and Jeannie at the ballet, and inviting them to join them in a restaurant.

James takes Jeannie to see Loch Lomond and to a family wedding and to his family home - a huge castle. However, he is restricted to a very small wing of the castle with his housekeeper Miss Cathie, with the rest of the castle open to the public.

James asks Jeannie to marry him, but when he learns that she has spent all her inheritance, he confesses he originally wanted her for her money but now really does love her. But now knowing that he is also broke, she turns him down. Jeannie returns home to Vermont, but Stanley, having made a major sales coup, tracks her down and proposes to her.

Cast

Vera-Ellen as Jeannie MacLean (singing voice was dubbed by Joan Small)
Tony Martin as Stanley Smith
Robert Flemyng as Lord James MacNairn
Zena Marshall as Helene
Helen Horton as Sadie Whitelaw
Beckett Bould as Rev. MacDonald
Alfred Burke as French Ticket Clerk
Vernon Greeves as First Air France Steward
Richard Molinas as Bearded Man
Eugene Deckers as Diner Car Attendant
Russell Waters as Hotel Reception Clerk
Paul Young as Page Boy, Bobby
Peter Sinclair as MacTavish
Magda Miller as Mrs. MacTavish
Brian Oulton as Hotel Valet
Guy Middleton as Mr. Fielding
Katherine Kath as Mrs. Fielding
Charles Carson as Mr. Ferguson, Lawyer
Jock McKay as Elderly Dancer
Michael Anthony as Monsieur Fior
Jameson Clark as MacPhail
Eric Pohlmann as Customs Official
Carl Duering as Customs Inspector
Molly Weir as Flower Girl
Ewan Roberts as Hotel Porter
Jean Cadell as Mrs. Cathie
Gordon Jackson as Dougal MacLean

Production

Location filming took place in Edinburgh and other locations in Scotland, Paris, and Thirlestane Castle which serves as Lord James' country house.^[7]