I really must come to the defence of "Let's Be Happy"; a near-forgotten little gem. My family and I enjoyed this film twice,on it's initial release,so I'll admit to a certain amount of nostalgia in my review. This was the last time Vera-Ellen appeared on screen;a pity,given her talent and charm. It's not difficult to share her enthusiasm as she travels to Scotland to enjoy her inheritance and while the plot may be considered tame by the many detractors,there is a naive appeal about the way it all unfolds. Robert Flemyng essays a certain Gaelic charm as he escorts the heroine on a guided tour of Scotland (nice location shots too). This was also the last time Tony Martin appeared on screen in a musical. The songs are pleasant and he is in good voice,particularly singing 'One Is A Lonely Number";a lovely,haunting ballad. Three other musicals released in N. Z. in 1957;"Silk Stockings", ''Funny Face" and "Les Girls",may now enjoy a 'cult' following,but,strange as it may seem, they all irritate me in ways that "Let's Be Happy" does not. I'm looking forward to replacing my poor quality video copy with the wide-screen DVD.
N. B. Since writing the above review, I have purchased the fully restored, wide-screen DVD which I will relish watching forever.
