This Happy Feeling

This Happy Feeling
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Blake Edwards
Screenplay by	Blake Edwards
Based on	For Love or Money 1947 play by F. Hugh Herbert
Produced by	Ross Hunter
Starring	Debbie Reynolds Curt Jürgens John Saxon
Cinematography	Arthur E. Arling
Music by	Frank Skinner
Distributed by	Universal-International
Release date	June 18, 1958 (1958-06-18)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.4 million^[1]

This Happy Feeling is a 1958 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Blake Edwards, adapted from the 1947 F. Hugh Herbert play For Love or Money.^[2]^[3]

Edwards regretted Universal-International's eleventh hour decision of a name change, but the studio was hoping to trade off another pop hit by Debbie Reynolds as they had with Tammy and the Bachelor. Reynolds stars, along with John Saxon, Curt Jurgens and veteran Hollywood actresses Alexis Smith and Mary Astor.^[4]^[5]

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Plot

Nita Holloway, a woman romantically involved with veteran actor Preston "Mitch" Mitchell, tries to persuade him to come out of retirement to appear in a Broadway play as the father of a character played by a new teen idol, Tony Manza. At his Connecticut farm, next-door neighbor Bill Tremayne asks to borrow Mitch's car. He goes to a party and meets secretary Janet Blake, who is trying to escape the clutches of her drunken boss, a dentist. Bill offers her a ride home in a rainstorm, but is a little too attentive to her liking.

Soaked to the skin, Janet ends up knocking on Mitch's door. He permits her to spend the night while her dress dries. Nita arrives in the morning and mistakenly concludes an affair is taking place, and soon others assume the same. Mitch puts her on a train but also offers Janet a job as his own secretary. As the train leaves, he stumbles, injuring his back.

Bill isn't worried at first because Mitch is too austere and somber for her, however he comes to realize that she's coming to care for him profoundly and is indeed falling dearly in love with Mitch a little more every day. Scheduled to ride Mitch's star horse in an equine contest, Bill jealously decides to ride another entry instead. Mitch must compete against him, bad back and all.

Although he feels great affection towards her, Mitch ultimately realizes that he feels for Nita most. He goes to Nita to reveal where his heart really lies, and is last seen on stage in the new Broadway play.

Cast

Debbie Reynolds: Janet Blake
Curd Jürgens: Preston Mitchell
John Saxon: Bill Tremaine
Alexis Smith: Nita Hollaway
Mary Astor: Mrs. Tremaine
Estelle Winwood: Mrs. Early
Troy Donahue: Tony Manza
Hayden Rorke: Mr. Booth
Gloria Holden: Mrs. Dover
Alex Gerry: Mr. Dover
Joe Flynn: Dr. McCafferty

Production

John Saxon was cast after his success in Rock, Pretty Baby.^[6]

Reception

Variety called it "a delightful comedy".^[7]

References

^ "Top Grossers of 1958". Variety. 7 January 1959. p. 48. Please note figures are for US and Canada only and are domestic rentals accruing to distributors as opposed to theatre gross
^ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 3, 1957). "Prelude to Marriage' to Star Ann Sothern; Dress Nominees Voted". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
^ "THIS HAPPY FEELING (1958), ALSO KNOWN AS: FOR LOVE OR MONEY". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
^ "This Happy Feeling". FilmAffinity. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
^ "This Happy Feeling". AFI. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
^ Vagg, Stephen (July 29, 2020). "The Top Twelve Stages of Saxon". Filmink.
^ Review of film at Variety