Happy Ever After

David Niven and Yvonne de Carlo. Wow. Add to that, the list of Irish character actors, headed by none other than Barry Fitzgerald himself, toss in a ghost story, a bit of romance and a plot to do in the heir, Niven and you got a great 50's comedy. Lots of wacky entanglements with the lovely Yvonne remarking about the ne'er do well, heir apparent, Niven, "He's a cad." Great escapism and nothing here to take too seriously. Alas, no video, no DVD, so watch for it on the late show where it pops up from time to time.

David Niven is recalled by movie lovers as one of those impeccable, romantic "English" gentlemen (like Ronald Colman, Errol Flynn, Ray Milland, Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) Like Colman and Milland he did get the Oscar, and like them it was for an atypical role - not a comic turn as a 1930's version of Hugh Grant, but a person who makes a glaring social error. Niven's military man in "Seperate Tables" is a mild liar (he never had a heroic war record, and never reached the rank he uses at the residential hotel), and he is arrested for exposing himself to a woman in a theater (in Terrence Rattigan's play it's a homosexual offense). In 1957 it was not a usual action for a movie to discuss such behavior. The gentle, humiliated Niven carried it off very nicely, winning the audience's sympathy.

It was not Niven's sole attempt at reaching the dark side. He had done a marvelous job as the fascinating Aaron Burr in "Magnificent Doll" in 1946. There he was playing Burr according to the "official" version of American history, as an ambitious egomaniac we were just lucky to avoid as President. But if one's historic knowledge of Burr is such as to question that viewpoint the film's impact is spoiled.

Another film that shows Niven at his "worst" best side is this forgotten comedy. An elderly Irish landowner is killed in a fox hunt, and his nephew (Niven) is found to take over the estate. The problem is that whereas the dead laird was a fine example of noblesse oblige his nephew is a sophisticated urbanite who sees the estate as something to sell and pocket the thousands of pounds. His announcement at the annual hunt ball that it is the last is a wonderful moment of total shock for the locals. As Niven has a heart condition, the locals start thinking of causing a fatal shock to kill him. Unfortunately they can't get it into their heads to coordinate their efforts. The last thirty minutes is a marvel of comic pandemonium. One only wishes that the film was shown more frequently - it was seen by this viewer on television in 1966.

This 1954 British-made comedy is set in Rathbarney (Ireland) - so the opening credits read. Its population is 507½, including, in parentheses, "the ghost, two oldest inhabitants, three leprechauns and a number of begorrahs." The best known of the cast are David Niven as Jasper O'Leary, Barry Fitzgerald as Thady O'Heggarty, and Yvonne De Carlo as Serena McGlusky.

Jasper turns the local town upside down when he fails to live up to the traditions and goodwill that his great uncle, General O'Leary had maintained as the master of the O'Leary estate. The good general, played by A.E. Matthews, dies after catching pneumonia from falling over a jump into a puddle when his horse bolted. The good general was 82 years old, and apparently his horse was older in horse years. George Cole and Joseph Tomelty head a list of supporting actors that provide most of the comedy. De Carlo plays a gold-digger whom Jasper has eyes for and who would be very willing to accept him in marriage.

This is a very funny film, one of the few in which Niven plays a despicable character. He's an actual cad here, but that's essential for the comedy that is provided mostly by the towns folk. Well, a few well-intentioned lads from the pub. The last half of the film is laugh-out-loud funny. Various groups of the lads try to bump off Jasper and keep foiling one another.

This film was produced and directed by Italian filmmaker Mario Zampi. He made fewer than 20 films and directed only 15 of which half a dozen were comedies. But three of those comedies have the leading comedy actors of the day and are among the best of British comedies of all time. They include, "Laughter in Paradise" of 1951, "Your Past is Showing" of 1957 and "Too Many Crooks" of 1959. They are filled with hilarious antics and very funny dialog throughout.

"Tonight's the Night," (aka, "Happy Ever After") isn't at the level of those three films, but it is a very funny and enjoyable comedy that most people should enjoy.

Here's my favorite line from the film. Serena, "Well, you're broke, and I've only got that three and four pence my husband left me. What are we going to live on?" Jasper, "I'll think of someone."

I have to agree with the consensus here that this a comic gem of its type. In its depiction of Irish country life it reminded me a lot of "The Quiet Man," right down to Barry Fitzgerald playing essentially the same character as in that flick, though its production values are not as high and it does not achieve the exalted rank John Ford attained with that movie. Still it's a sparkling comedy with a lot of cracklingly excellent dialogue. The viewer who commented that Niven shows his "dark side" is a bit off the mark, as this is hardly a movie about character development and Niven's character is basically a cartoon, very reminiscent of his Phileas Fogg in "Around the World in 80 Days." He may be nasty but it's hard to dislike him entirely. Yvonne deCarlo does excellent work here. She's great with accents; she's as convincing as an Irish woman here as she was as an Algerian in "The Captain's Paradise." Though the movie is not an Ealing Studios production, it has all the hallmarks of the best of that great studio's comedies in the post-WWII period. Be sure to catch this if you get the chance (thanks, TCM!).

Really love this movie. David Niven just sparkles and has some of the best lines of his illustrious career, especially the ending one. Supporting cast is superlative too. Everyone really seemed to enjoy making the movie. In addition the perfect song to set the mood. Please, someone put it one DVD or VHS.