THIS HAPPY FEELING
US, 1958, 92 minutes, Colour.
Curt Jurgens, Debbie Reynolds, John Saxon, Alexis Smith, Mary Astor, Estelle Winwood.
Directed by Blake Edwards.
This Happy Feeling is one of Blake Edwards' earliest direction projects. Writing a number of musicals and comedies in the '50s, he moved to direction with such films as Mister Cory, Operation Petticoat. During the '60s and '70s he had great success (Days of Wine and Roses, Pink Panther series) and some flops and studio disagreement with The Return of the Pink Panther and films such as 10, S.O.B. and Victor/Victoria he established himself as a director of the '80s. The film is based on a play, For Love or Money, by comic writer F. Hugh Herbert. It is a star vehicle for Debbie Reynolds and a vehicle for introducing Curt Jurgens to American audiences. There is a strong supporting cast, especially with veteran actresses Alexis Smith, Mary Astor, Estelle Winwood. A pleasant theatrical comedy.
1. Entertainment? Comedy? Insight into the theatre world? Romance?
2. Colour photography, Cinemascope? Musical score? The title song? For the mod of the film?
3. The popularity of theatre films? The background and glamour of Broadway? Stardom? Retirement and comebacks? The attraction of the audience? The ego of actors? The production of plays? Conventional material - pleasantly done?
4. How realistic the portrait of the ageing star? Comebacks? The generation gap? His falling in love with his secretary? Her response? The new lease of life?
5. The picture of Preston Mitchell - his status on the stage, his retirement, the Connecticut farm, the invitation to return to Broadway? His estimation of his age? His refusals? Janet and her urging him to go back, confidence, love? The crises? Janet and her youthfulness? Mitchell's skill in breaking off the romance? The experience of Broadway, the younger actors and actresses, the clashes. new determination and energy? Success? Curt Jurgens in this role?
6. Debbie Reynolds and her liveliness, charm? Her working for Mitchell? Persuading him to go back. admiration. falling in love, her romantic dilemmas, the pain, the humour? The end of the romance? Success for her, for him?
7. The background of New York theatre? The attractiveness of the stage, the audiences? The tensions of rehearsals? Comedy and irony?
8. The supporting cast, attractive, humorous, ironic? The gallery of stars and their skills - Alexis Smith, Mary Astor, Estelle Winwood? The humour of Estelle Winwood and her age, appearances, whimsy?
9. John Saxon as youthful, romantic - American hero?
10. Particular sequences and their humour. comedy touches, verbal humour, slapstick?
11. An attractive piece of '50s Americana?
