The Happy Time (1952) is one of those little darling gems that I had no plan to watch, decided to watch due to the happy tune, knew nothing about, read nothing while watching it so that I would just enjoy it, and now deserves to be shouted from the rooftop, "Everyone should see The Happy Time!!!"
The film is set in Ottawa, Canada. It's actually a coming of age film for Bobby Driscoll. He's super darling and plays the perfect 50's teen on the cusp of manhood. He has trouble at school, a crush on the wrong female, ignores the right female, and finds himself caught in a few misunderstandings that make for some comedic moments.
But enough about Bobby. This film is so charming due to his exuberantly wonderful French-Canadian family. His grandfather is so dear, his mother and aunt are worriers, but his father and uncles really put the jewel in the crown. Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, and Kurt Kasznar play his father and uncles respectively. Individually they are entertaining, but when these three get together they are hilarious and happy.
Their French joie de vivre comes shining through, and they band together to help solve the teen angst dilemmas. There is a side romance with Jourdan and a beautiful woman employed by Bobby's family. Kasznar has a subplot where he keeps getting kicked out of his home for being a drunk. It sounds sinfully wrong, but it is done in such a lighthearted comical fashion that it doesn't detract from the film.
The "birds and bees" talk at the end is one of the cutest and absolute sanest explanations for sexual desire I've ever seen. Two of my sons got home about that time and I replayed it for them. They thought it was a hoot. I would never want to give it away. You just have to see it.
If you get a chance to see this delightful gem with some very handsome and talented Frenchmen, then look for The Happy Time. You'll be humming the little ditty and not be taking the little things too seriously afterward.
The film is set in Ottawa, Canada. It's actually a coming of age film for Bobby Driscoll. He's super darling and plays the perfect 50's teen on the cusp of manhood. He has trouble at school, a crush on the wrong female, ignores the right female, and finds himself caught in a few misunderstandings that make for some comedic moments.
But enough about Bobby. This film is so charming due to his exuberantly wonderful French-Canadian family. His grandfather is so dear, his mother and aunt are worriers, but his father and uncles really put the jewel in the crown. Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, and Kurt Kasznar play his father and uncles respectively. Individually they are entertaining, but when these three get together they are hilarious and happy.
Their French joie de vivre comes shining through, and they band together to help solve the teen angst dilemmas. There is a side romance with Jourdan and a beautiful woman employed by Bobby's family. Kasznar has a subplot where he keeps getting kicked out of his home for being a drunk. It sounds sinfully wrong, but it is done in such a lighthearted comical fashion that it doesn't detract from the film.
The "birds and bees" talk at the end is one of the cutest and absolute sanest explanations for sexual desire I've ever seen. Two of my sons got home about that time and I replayed it for them. They thought it was a hoot. I would never want to give it away. You just have to see it.
If you get a chance to see this delightful gem with some very handsome and talented Frenchmen, then look for The Happy Time. You'll be humming the little ditty and not be taking the little things too seriously afterward.