Happy Go Lovely (1951)

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Not even bad in a good way

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

In the late forties and early fifties David Niven tried his hand at raising turkeys and began with a doozy, Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1948 and followed it with two in a row, The Elusive Pimpernel and this piece of cheese - incredibly Fox 'borrowed' it's main premise i.e. millionaire, smitten by showgirl pretends to be poor to win her then has to convince her he really IS a millionaire for Let's Make Love. Let's face it, it worked better with Yves Montand and Marilyn Monroe than with David Niven and Vera Ellen. It's painful to watch Cesar Romero so over the top he's looping the loop, the songs are dire, the writing and directing non- existent but apart from that it's a gem.

For my money Vera-Ellen was the best all-round female dancer from Hollywood's golden era. There were better tap-dancers such as Eleanor Powell or Ann Miller, but Vera-Ellen was extremely good at all types of dance including balletic movement. She also had just about the most beautiful pair of legs I have ever seen & they are wonderfully show-cased in this movie. Rooprect in his review says there are two reasons for watching this movie, "VERA-ELLEN'S LEGS". For the ladies there are two handsome, suave & sophisticated men, David Niven & Cesar Romero, but Vera-Ellen's legs are reason enough for me! In his review of "Happy Go Lovely", jacob chiong says the plot is "simple & easily digestible, the humour is light & clean". That very succinctly sums it all up, really!.

Actually, I'd give this one: 7.5! It's a really unusual musical comedy as the story and the comedy are both actually far more interesting and entertaining than the musical numbers -- thanks not only to the expert writing of Val Guest, but some fine acting from David Niven, Vera- Ellen, Bobby Howes, Diane Hart and company. I thought the dance numbers were a bit strained -- particularly the street number which ran far too long and way out-stayed its welcome. I watched this one on the Hollywood Comedy Legends disc. The opening reels were just a little blurry, but the rest of the film was really beautiful. It's an absolute must-have for all Niven, Vera-Ellen, Diane Hart and Bobby Howes fans, and Sandra Dorne is in there kicking too!

"Happy Go Lovely" has only two things going for it. And those two things are Vera-Ellen's legs. This is a British (Excelsior Films) version of an M-G-M musical complete with second tier stars. I would imagine that Vera-Ellen took this role thinking that it might finally propel her to the status of a major musical star. But, I'm sorry to say, Ms. Ellen's chance did not pay off.Opening with a horrible Scottish number and stumbling thru awful dialog to the next dull tune, this movie seems very heavy handed and sloppy. The predictable mistaken identity plot is very thin, and with the exception of David Niven, Cesar Romero (who is way over the top in his role of a Producer) and Bobby Howes (who is totally wasted in a nothing role) the rest of the cast is totally forgettable.The choreography is boring, but Ms. Ellen gives it her all. She was never as famous as most of the other musical stars(and she shouldn't be since she couldn't sing and even had a "dancing stand in" in several of her pictures". But when she did dance, it was just entrancing.It's too bad that this film that could have made her a star did not give her the tools she needed to shine.4 out of 10