Let's Be Happy

Vera-Ellen presumably enjoyed the trip to Britain six years years earlier to make 'Happy-Go-Lovely' since she returned to make a second musical remake in Technicolor of an old British film - also set in Edinburgh - for producer Marcel Hellman, again with a director and male lead imported from Hollywood. (Since she promptly retired upon completing it doesn't suggest she cared much for the final result.)

Only the British supporting cast (including a few authentic Scots) and actual shots of Vera-Ellen in Paris and Edinburgh - as well as the rather drab look of the piece overall - confirm that it was indeed made in Britain since it remains largely studio-bound; while the musical numbers are stagy and look shoe-horned into the film.

The annoying, ever-present incidental music by Nicholas Brodsky is at least the subject of one nice little joke on the soundtrack. While the rare opportunity it furnishes to see Zena Marshall in Technicolor is sadly compromised by the fact that they've made her a harshly made-up brassy redhead on the make.

Anyone who has seen ' White Christmas ', ' On the Town ' and especially ' Call Me Madam ' will know that Vera-Ellen was enchanting to watch. But in these films she had excellent support, and here sadly she is paired with Tony Martin, who is in no way her equal. Robert Flemyng who is also the third man in the film is not right either, his acting stilted and unconvincing. But it is after all Vera-Ellen's last screen performance and in many ways she is as much fun, and as gloriously watchable as in her previous films. The story is banal; Vera-Ellen inherits money and goes to Scotland and there has a good time for the first time in her life. Although somewhat dully directed the film holds and despite mediocre songs there is a certain joy of life and in my opinion she was a loss to the cinema. Her dancing is extraordinary in a ballet sequence ( more of a musical than ballet, but well choreographed and designed, ) and see it if you can. The UK has great Cinemascope and not pan and scan version on DVD.

The locations are finely filmed, and is worth seeing simply for her performance.

"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.

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.

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