Die Frau meiner Sehnsucht

I like a lot of the older movies, including B movies and less than stellar musicals. While this one had the Scottish scenery going for it, that's about all as far as I am concerned. Tried to go it, but just couldn't. Too many "ouchies." Vera-Ellen, while good in other things, was a bit painful to watch in this. Same for Tony Martin. The redhead was, to me, hard on the eyes and nerves. The lord character was lackluster.

Surprised at the comments of other reviewers that Cyd Charise should have had the female lead. Good grief. Get some proportion. While Tony Martin was married to Cyd Charise, there is a huge difference in their movie presence and draw. They don't cast parts to be cutesy.

Ms. Charise played and co-starred with major stars in top films. Mr. Martin never did. There's no comparison. This was way too low a production for Ms. Charise. While Mr. Martin enjoyed success as a recording artist, a strong actor, he wasn't. I didn't even care for his singing in this. Forget the acting, on anyone's part.

Definitely give this one a pass - as in pass up. Good performances can override a bad script/plot. That didn't happen here.

This film wouldn't ever be listed as a major musical, but I found it likable. There are hackneyed elements to the story but it moves along well and good use is made of minor characters. The two stars obviously both have more than a few miles on the clock - Martin has a very lived-in face, and Vera-Ellen could use a botox injection, but they are both agreeable presences. These days (I'd like to think) their age would be acknowledged in a story line which gave them each a second-time around background, but not in those days. The 50's fashions look great on Vera-Ellen and the redhead opposition. The Paris and Edinburgh locations are milked to advantage. I enjoyed the touches of Britishness in the "lord" and the hotel staff. The dances are sometimes slight, but enjoyable. Altogether quite a lot to like, worth sticking with as a pleasant piece of escapism.

"Let's Be Happy" is a 1957 musical starring Vera-Ellen, Tony Martin, and Robert Flemyng.

It concerns a young woman left some money who decides it to spend it on a trip to the city of her ancestors, Edinburgh, and have an adventure. She meets an attractive salesman (Martin) and an impoverished Lord (Flemyng), whom she takes up with when she thinks the salesman has been dishonest with her.

I watched this film because I love Tony Martin's voice, but to be honest, a chimpanzee could have performed these songs.

Vera-Ellen was a pretty woman, but she wasn't much of an actress, and she doesn't look particularly well here except in one scene, where she wears a beautiful, form-fitting blue gown and looks stunning. Also, for a dancer, she sure didn't do much of it.

The music ranged from awful to merely passable.

The location shots were lovely.

I was surprised this film was made. It is very mediocre.

An independent feature made at the very, very end of the movie musical's golden age, and the desperation shows. Vera-Ellen, looking unhealthily slim and not dancing much, is a Vermont lass who inherits enough money to fly to Edinburgh, where she keeps running into Tony Martin and is wooed by impoverished lord Robert Flemyng. Martin, looking beefy and well past his leading-man prime, sings everywhere--at airport customs, in a Scottish dining car, at Vera's Vermont bungalow--and the songs, by Nicholas Brodzky and Paul Francis Webster, are neatly integrated enough but not what you'd call exciting. Nor is Henry Levin's direction, and even the Edinburgh location shooting looks rather skimpy. Wan storytelling, no-name supporting cast, so-so songs… No wonder it didn't do well.

A minor 50's musical with the unusual backdrop of Edinburgh! Vera-Ellen is the biggest name, if that's any gauge, and she seems to have been cast for the circumference of her cinched waist. Watch her attempting to obey the direction to NOT look in the camera: her eye movements bring to mind Carol Burnett's over-the-top Norah Desmond.

The storyline has a slightly screwball premise so dear to musicals; 'young' Jeannie [Vera-Ellen in her last major role] goes to Europe for a vacation and spends her entire inheritance of $4000; two cads, one a helpful Yankee [Tony Martin, stalwart of lesser musicals and Cyd Charisse's husband] and the other a poor Scottish laird [Robert Flemyng] who believes her to be a million-heiress vie for her affections. An odd jazz-ballet number reminds you it was made in the late 50's. The city of Edinburgh and some stunning gowns co-star. ** out of **** stars