The Happy Time (1952)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Earl Felton (screenplay)
Robert Fontaine (stories)

Release Date:

3 December 1952 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Charles Boyer	...	Jacques Bonnard
Louis Jourdan	...	Uncle Desmond Bonnard
Marsha Hunt	...	Susan Bonnard
Bobby Driscoll	...	Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard
Linda Christian	...	Mignonette Chappuis
Kurt Kasznar	...	Uncle Louis Bonnard
Marcel Dalio	...	Grandpere Bonnard
Jeanette Nolan	...	Felice Bonnard
Jack Raine	...	Mr. Frye - School Principal
Richard Erdman	...	Alfred Grattin
Marlene Cameron	...	Peggy O'Hare
Gene Collins	...	Jimmy Bishop
Ann Faber	...	Yvonne Bonnard
Kathryn Sheldon	...	Miss Tate - Schoolteacher
Edward Clark	...	Dr. Marchaud

Runtime:

USA:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #15823) | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Quotes:

Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: It's not Uncle Desmond's fault! Only Peggy O'Hare's. When the principal asks her if I drew the picture, she says yes, I drew it! It's a lie, I didn't draw it!
Susan Bonnard: But why would Peggy tell a lie like that about you?
Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: I don't understand! She kicks me, she trips me, she spills ink on my books!
[the brothers begin to exchange knowing smiles]
Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: Why does she do this to me?
Jacques Bonnard: Ah!
Uncle Desmond Bonnard: Oh ho!
Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: But why?
Jacques Bonnard: Well, Bibi, it is that Peggy wishes to be your girl.
Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: My girl?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features The Son of the Sheik (1926)

Soundtrack:

Hymn to the Sun

Love is a beautiful thing where ever you find it.

The Happy Time `The Happy Time'(1952) is a wonderful movie in which Bobby co-starred with Louis Jourdan and Charles Boyer, in the story of a boy growing up in an eccentric French Canadian family during the 1920's. This charming movie gets everything right. What makes `The Happy Time' unique is its portrayal that the end of childhood, not as a time of regret, but as something to be enjoyed. Especially when you grow up in a terrific family. Bobby's character falls in love with the new maid, who is also the object of his Uncle Desmond's affections. Gently and wisely, Dad and the family guide the young man's affection toward the next-door neighbor's daughter, Peggy, who is already in love with Bobby's character, 14-year-old Bibi. The last scene of the movie is wonderful: Bibi has received his first pair of long pants and then Mom catches him kissing Peggy, who then flees. Papa walks in on both of them and just when Bibi starts to explain, his voice starts to crack. Dad takes Bibi in his arms and unabashedly cries. What a wonderful movie, now I remember why I liked it 30 years ago. Everybody deserves a family like that. Which goes to prove that happiness is easy when you only have to look next-door to find it, and your family is willing to give you directions so you don't get lost.