''Let's Be Happy'' is a

Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...

1957 British

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

starring Tony Martin, Vera-Ellen and Robert Flemyng and directed by Henry Levin. It was written by Dorothy Cooper and Diana Morgan in

CinemaScope CinemaScope is an anamorphic format, anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its cr ...

. This film was an updated remake of '' Jeannie'' (1941), starring Barbara Mullen, which itself was based on the stage play ''Jeannie'' by Aimée Stuart. The film was Vera-Ellen's final film; she later withdrew from public life after the death of her daughter, Victoria Ellen Rothschild. The film was also Tony Martin's final appearance in a movie musical, although he later made a cameo appearance in '' Dear Mr. Wonderful'', a 1982 film. ''Let's Be Happy'' premiered in London on 9 May 1957.

Plot

Jeannie McLean is 28 and lives in rural

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...

. Inheriting a few thousand dollars from her Scottish-born grandfather she was looking after in his old age, she decides to travel to Scotland to see her ancestral country. On the journey by air and train, Jeannie finds herself continuously near Stanley Smith, a brash washing-machine salesman from Idaho. Having been closely monitored and controlled by her grandfather, she's hesitant to accept his help. However, Jeannie ends up asking for Stanley's aid a few times. His extroverted ways help her through various difficulties such as experiencing turbulence without becoming too nervous, getting through customs and getting seated in the dining car. Jeannie finally reaches

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

(during the Festival). Losing her room she'd expected to have in a boarding house, she seeks Stanley in his hotel. As he's sorting out her room, the impoverished landowner Lord James MacNairn, who has overheard them talking and believes that she is wealthy, introduces himself. When Jeannie catches out Stanley in a lie, taking out a red-headed model to dinner instead of her as agreed, she breaks off their friendship and accepts James' attentions. After they sightsee in Edinburgh, Jeannie gets herself spruced up in a beauty salon, then splurges on a designer gown. Stanley still follows her around, with the pretty French redhead in tow, including taking seats right behind James and Jeannie at the ballet, and inviting them to join him and the model in a restaurant. However, still sore at him, she disregards his invitation. James takes Jeannie to see

Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (; ) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF), often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands.Tom Weir. ''The Scottish Lochs''. pp. 33-43. Published by ...

, then to a family wedding of her distant relative and finally to his family home - a huge castle. However, he is restricted to a very small wing of the castle with his housekeeper Miss Cathie, and the rest of the building is open to the public. James asks Jeannie to marry him, but before she can answer him Stanley approaches them. She tells him she's engaged and he leaves upset. When James learns that she has spent all her inheritance which was only a few thousand, he confesses he originally wanted her for her money but now really does love her. However, now knowing that he is needing someone with money, she turns him down. Jeannie returns home to Vermont, but Stanley, having made a major sales coup, tracks her down. After declaring his love, he proposes and she accepts.

Cast

* Vera-Ellen as Jeannie MacLean (singing voice was dubbed by Joan Small) * Tony Martin as Stanley Smith * Robert Flemyng as Lord James MacNairn * Zena Marshall as Helene * Helen Horton as Sadie Whitelaw * Beckett Bould as Rev. MacDonald * Alfred Burke as French Ticket Clerk * Vernon Greeves as First Air France Steward * Richard Molinas as Bearded Man * Eugene Deckers as Diner Car Attendant * Russell Waters as Hotel Reception Clerk * Paul Young as Page Boy, Bobby * Peter Sinclair as MacTavish * Magda Miller as Mrs. MacTavish * Brian Oulton as Hotel Valet * Guy Middleton as Mr. Fielding *

Katherine Kath Katherine Kath (born Rose Marie Lily Faess; 11 August 1920 – 17 November 2012) was a French prima ballerina at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, who became an actress after suffering from an injury which destroyed her chances of continuing her ...

as Mrs. Fielding * Charles Carson as Mr. Ferguson, Lawyer * Jock McKay as Elderly Dancer * Michael Anthony as Monsieur Fior * Jameson Clark as MacPhail *

Eric Pohlmann Eric Pohlmann (; born Erich Pollak; 18 July 1913 – 25 July 1979) was an Austrian theatre, film and television character actor who worked mostly in the United Kingdom. He is known for voicing Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the primary antagonist of t ...

as Customs Official * Carl Duering as Customs Inspector * Molly Weir as Flower Girl * Ewan Roberts as Hotel Porter * Jean Cadell as Mrs. Cathie * Gordon Jackson as Dougal MacLean

Production

Location filming took place in

and other locations in Scotland,

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, and Thirlestane Castle which serves as Lord James' country house.

Reception

The film was a box office disappointment.

References

External links

* {{Henry Levin 1957 films British romantic musical films Films shot at Associated British Studios 1950s English-language films 1957 musical comedy films Films directed by Henry Levin British films based on plays 1957 romantic comedy films British romantic comedy films 1950s romantic musical films Musical film remakes 1950s British films Films scored by Nicholas Brodszky English-language romantic comedy films English-language romantic musical films English-language musical comedy films