Customer Reviews

Happy Go Lovely [VHS]

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Happy-Go-Lovely (1951) is a bright, breezy backstage musical which takes place at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

A chorus girl in a musical revue (Vera-Ellen) thumbs a ride in a limo belonging to a Scottish millionaire, leading to rumors of an affair even though they haven't met. Hoping for an investment, the amusingly unscrupulous producer of the show (Cesar Romero) elevates her from chorine to the lead. When the millionaire (David Niven) comes to the theater to investigate, he is mistaken for a reporter, and Vera-Ellen promptly falls in love with him.

Don't be fooled. This movie plays much better than the plot would suggest, providing a delightful piece of comfort food with excellent performances and entertaining musical numbers.

David Niven, playing a true "romantic" lead, is more charming than I have ever seen him before. Vera-Ellen, also charming and funny, dances beautifully and, playing one of her only undisputed female musical leads, carries the picture in excellent style. Cesar Romero is in his element as the comical producer/director, and, with the help of a fine supporting cast, provides zany, and surprisingly tasteful, fun.

Another highlight is the score by Mischa Spoliansky, which really gives the film its musical comedy feel, leaving one with the impression of much music and dancing despite the film having only four musical numbers.

The Roan Group DVD transfer of "Happy-Go-Lovely" is worth the extra money; in fact, it is the best print I have yet seen of this film. The colors are bright, the picture is reasonably sharp and clear, and, although it would benefit from further picture and sound restoration, the film overall is in pretty good shape.

I have watched Happy-Go-Lovely again and again, and it always entertains. I hope you enjoy it, too!

The Edinburgh Festival is the setting for this musical comedy, and Cesar Romero is the director of a Broadway style musical, and unfortunately, he has run out of money and the creditors do not want to wait. So in desperation, he casts a chorus girl in the leading role, believing it will get him closer to her boyfriend's fortune, but there is one slight problem - she does not have a millionaire husband.

The cast is first rate, and it is a funny movie, too. Vera Ellen has to be on of the most under-rated dancers in a Hollywood gone by. I fell in love with her dancing after watching "White Christmas," and she's a joy to watch. So exciting, lithe, and talented. She makes it look so easy. Fall in love with Vera (only in the movies, of course), and get this marvelous film.

HAPPY GO LOVELY is a charming musical, filmed in England and set against the backdrop of the Edinburgh Festival. Vera-Ellen, considered the greatest female dancer of her generation (and the best dancer to have been employed at MGM) plays Janet Jones, a young corps dancer in a new musical called "Frolics to You". Thanks to a case of jumping to the wrong conclusion, director Frost (Cesar Romero) believes Janet is the girlfriend of millionaire B.G. Bruno (David Niven). Frost decides to get B.G. to bankroll the musical and put Janet in the starring role. Comedic situations ensue before Janet and B.G. really find love in the final reel.

Fans of musicals (and in particular fans of the magnificent Vera-Ellen) will find HAPPY GO LOVELY a wonderful movie experience. Vera-Ellen is showcased in several musical numbers where she displays her unique combination of balletic grace, athleticism and coquettish charm. David Niven and Cesar Romero are great and the supporting cast features top British actors (Gordon Jackson, Bobby Howes and Joyce Carey to name three, but it's fun trying to spot others).

Alpha's DVD includes a decent print, perhaps a bit too bright and overexposed at times, but still very watchable

Terribel DVD recording, bad sound, bad contrast. Obviously copied from a print and not a negative...too bad. Cheaply done and not at all sharp. If you can stand that, get it for the performances.

I'm not writing this review to talk about the MOVIE, because everyone else here says how wonderful it is and I completely agree. But about the DVD... I just bought the Roan version, and I must say that the picture is GREAT. Beautiful print, gorgeous colors, perfect contrast, and all the details are visible. My only complaint is the sound - low volume, high-frequency-muffled, and sometimes a little "garbled". I also have a 1-dollar DVD of this movie with washed-out picture and weak colors - like other people here describe the Alpha version - but the sound on THAT one is very good!. If only we could take the soundtrack from the cheapie and marry it to the picture from the Roan, we'd have a first-rate DVD!

This is one of my favorites and offers up great acting with Vera-Ellen, David Niven and Cesar Romero as well as a great storyline and great dancing by the great Vera-Ellen. Vera-Ellen is part of a Broadway dance troupe with a very funny Cesar Romero as the director who is trying to keep his show going and in need of financing. Vera-Ellen is eventually mistaken to be the girlfriend/fiance of Scotland's most wealthy bachelor and Romero sees it as an opportunity to get financial backing and putting Vera-Ellen in the lead role. She goes along with it and it leads to hilarious results with Niven's character coming into the picture.

I have searched and waited for this great movie since seeing it on PAX. Once I checked amazon my search was successful. This movie was creative; not the same old plot, as many are today. I enjoyed the predicament that came from a rumor that was not denied. And how Vera Ellen reaped benifits from this rumor. Please veiw and confirm my excitement.

Vera- Ellen is great in this film. Her dance numbers really are wonderful. She will always be my favorite female dancer. She has such talent and grace and this film shows it so. Their's a beautiful romance between Vera and David Niven's character in the film. It is a romantic film, with beautiful scenery, costumes, and entertainment and take splace in Scotland.

I've seen worse Alpha transfers. Like some other reviewers stated, turning the contrast down helps. The colors are not very vivid, but they are not totally washed out. This transfer is just bad enough to make you wonder if the Roan DVD would be worth the money. Roan states, "from a pristine 35mm print." I thought the acting and story very engaging. To me the costumes were very colorful even in this average Alpha transfer. It would be worth the money to see this movie in "pristine" Technicolor. Can Roan be trusted?

This old fashioned musical is just lovely fun and entertainment. Vera Ellen dances beautifully as always and David Niven is fun to watch as the almost boyishly charming love interest.

The plot is as follows: Janet Jones (vera ellen) is late for her practice and hitches a ride with the driver of millionaire B.G. Bruno (niven). All of the other dancers and her director (cesar romero) seem to think that janet is engaged to B.G. bruno and that therefore they will be able to get lots of money from him (as they really have no money) for the show if Janet (after getting fired for being late) gets the lead. Of course true to the genre Janet and Bruno meet and fall in love.

A wonderfully entertaining movie you can watch many times. i didn't give it 5 stars because of the picture quality. With a lot of musicals being remastered i have become spoiled and this looks untouched. Especially the dance scenes where the dancers are mostly wearing white seem to be overly lit, causing loss of definition.