Happy Days (1929)

Happy Days Poster

Margie, singer on a showboat, decides to try her luck in New York inspite of being in love with the owners grandson. She is successful, but suddenly she hears that the showboat is in deep financial trouble, and she calls all the boats former stars to join in a big show to rescue it.

Film Overview
"Happy Days" is a 1929 technicolor American musical movie directed by Benjamin Stoloff, marking a substantial minute in film history as it was the first musical feature-length sound film produced by Fox Studios. The film boasts of a bulky star cast featuring Charles E. Evans, Marjorie White, Stuart Erwin, and other popular stars of the period, all carrying out musical numbers that singularly brought a new level of home entertainment to motion pictures. It's a musical revue, featuring the tunes made up by numerous lyricists such as De Sylva, Brown, and Henderson including "The Song of the Setting Sun", "Turn Up the Radio", and "Happy Days Are Here Again", the latter of which later ended up being an enduring anthem of cheer.

Plot Summary
Opening in the rundown town of Hot Dog, once busy now in disarray, the plot gets momentum when the residents come together to put on a program to conserve their town. Opportunity occasions result in a misplaced ticket for a cross country race, which becomes a golden chance for the residents to return the splendor their town when held. Joining their forces, they choose to organize a grand musical extravaganza, wanting to bring in a wide range of tourists, thus declaring life to their forgotten town.

Efficiency and Musical Numbers
"Happy Days" is known for its catchy tunes and vaudevillian performances. The movie integrates various vignettes, mainly created to display a myriad of entertainers from Fox Studios, delivering charming renditions of popular tunes of the time. Standout numbers consist of "Happy Days Are Here Again", often associated today with the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, and different guest efficiencies from well known stars. A total of 50 musical acts were showcased with varied efficiencies from hair salon quartets to the Wiere Brothers' comedic balancings.

Technicolor Showcase
A considerable aspect of "Happy Days" is the substantial use of the technicolor process. Fox Studios adopted this strategy to create a brilliant watching experience that was both new and interesting. The movie showcased 65 musical ensembles and a host of vaudeville entertainers in stunning shades that were still reasonably new to the movie scene and offered a novelty to the audience, making the film stand apart. This was a turning point that marked a shift from black and white to color movies, rendering "Happy Days" as an essential piece in the history of American cinema.

Vital Reception
"Happy Days" was welcomed with both vital recognition and viewer appreciation at the time of its release. Critics applauded the successful shift to sound, the innovative use of technicolor, and the energetic and engaging performances. The audience, on the other hand, was mesmerized by the dynamic colors, the innovatively staged performances, and the heartfelt, simplistic story, turning it into a traditional film of the period.

In conclusion, "Happy Days" from 1929 was even more than simply a musical movie. It was a beacon of development in cinematic methods, marking the start of color movies, the introduction of sound, and the successful amalgamation of a simple plot with commendable performances. The movie holds an unique area in cinematic history, integrating advancements in innovation with a narrative that served its purpose, enchanting audiences and setting the phase for the golden age of Hollywood musicals.

Top Cast

  • Stuart Erwin (small)
    Stuart Erwin
    Jig
  • Marjorie White (small)
    Marjorie White
    Margie
  • Richard Keene (small)
    Richard Keene
    Dick
  • Janet Gaynor (small)
    Janet Gaynor
    Herself
  • Charles Farrell (small)
    Charles Farrell
    Himself
  • Frank Albertson (small)
    Frank Albertson
    Frankie Albertson
  • Rex Bell (small)
    Rex Bell
    Rex Bell
  • Victor McLaglen (small)
    Victor McLaglen
    Minstrel Show Performer
  • El Brendel (small)
    El Brendel
    Minstrel Show Performer
  • George Jessel (small)
    George Jessel
    Minstrel Show Performer
  • Will Rogers (small)
    Will Rogers
    Minstrel Show Performer