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You Gotta Stay Happy (1948) : Brief Review -

You gotta enjoy H. C. Potter's version of It Happened One Night (1934). The world can never get over Frank Capra's 1934 classic rom-com, nor can it overlook the influence it left on others over the decades. Potter's You Gotta Stay Happy happens to be one such film, and you gotta see it and enjoy it despite its predictability. The film carries a similar plot, though framed within a different world and set of circumstances. A rich heiress fleeing from her wedding (with a slightly altered marriage subplot) and falling in love with a common man-this is the basic setup, strongly reminiscent of Capra's cult screwball. Interestingly, the female character here is more dominant than the male, which is quite the opposite of the earlier film. To put it simply, You Gotta Stay Happy is about a wealthy heiress, Diana, who is coerced into marriage and decides to run away on her wedding night. She barges into a neighboring hotel room belonging to a pilot, Marvin, who lets her stay the night. Diana instantly starts liking him, and by the next day, manages to tag along with him on his journey. During the trip, Marv too falls for her, but things take a downturn when he discovers her true identity and her recent marriage. I never imagined I'd enjoy Joan Fontaine in such a charming and comedic role, but I absolutely did. James Stewart and she make a fine couple, though-just to set the record straight-they're not quite on par with Gable and Colbert's finesse. Yet, there's a definite spark between them, and their chemistry lends a certain enchantment to the film. H. C. Potter has directed several delightful comedies, and this one stands out as another hidden gem in his oeuvre. Not a masterpiece, but certainly a delightful watch. This film brings back memories of a bygone era-when movies like these were made with such warmth. Now, all we can do is cherish the memories because they don't make it like this anymore.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Though screwball comedies like Bringing Up Baby and It Happened One Night had run their cycle by World Way II, Universal was persuaded to try it again with this frothy story about runaway heiress Fontaine escaping her stuffy groom for the charms of pilot Jimmy Stewart who is running a shoestring flying service. Stewart's finesse with this genre shows as does Eddie Albert's as yet another snappy best friend. Fontaine is more sweet than brittle with a comedic line, but thanks to a great supporting cast like Porter Hall, Roland Young, Percy Kilbride, and a cigar-smoking chimp,You Gotta works pretty well. The frantic pace relaxes more than it should when the cast gets airborne, but this is a very entertaining film of its kind with more than a few laughs.

This movie is certainly not a deep or memorable movie. In fact, I just saw it again for the second time and I had forgotten so much of it--even though I saw if for the first time only a couple years ago.

Jimmy Stewart is the owner of a very tiny freight airline. During a stopover, he is accidentally united with Joan Fontaine who is running from a brand new marriage she hasn't yet consummated to a man she didn't love. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that sooner or later, Stewart and Fontaine will be a couple, though the rest of the movie consists of a series of wacky adventures until the ultimate conclusion.

So why give the movie only an 8? Well, first, Fontaine's character is rather annoying and highly reminiscent of Julie Roberts' character in RUNAWAY BRIDE. Someone that ditsy and self-centered, for me, is a little hard to really care about and you aren't really pulling for the leading man to take this shallow woman. Secondly, and more importantly, the movie has way too many contrived and "wacky" subplots--a guy running off with his company's funds, the chimpanzee who loved Fontaine and smokes cigars, the Southern-fried humor supplied by the young couple from Georgia, etc. It just seemed REALLY, REALLY contrived. Plus, the dialog itself was rather forced.

So, overall it's just an adequate film--best enjoyed by old movie and Jimmy Stewart buffs.

I think this movie is charming. It is part farce and part whimsy. It is not a great comedy, and I don't think it was ever intended to be. It has a few stereotypical characters, but that can be fun. I have seen the movie several times. It is pure escapism.

Real-life airman James Stewart is enjoyed here in the first of his pilot roles. Eddie Albert, who would somehow not enjoy outdoing himself five years later in Roman Holiday, is well cast. Joan Fontaine lifted my already high opinion of her by delightfully playing an heiress whose charm and beauty are only matched by her extraordinary wealth.

You Gotta Stay Happy is one of Stewart's more rarely seen pictures despite my high rating. Fans of the aforementioned actors should consider it recommended.