The Happy Time (1952)

Spring inspires lessons in love and life for a French family in 1920s Ottawa, especially for teenage Robert, who's blind to the attentions of an American neighbor girl, because he's ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Earl Felton (screenplay), Robert Fontaine (stories),

Stars:

Charles Boyer, Louis Jourdan, Marsha Hunt

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Spring inspires lessons in love and life for a French family in 1920s Ottawa, especially for teenage Robert, who's blind to the attentions of an American neighbor girl, because he's infatuated with the beautiful new maid, fleeing life as a magician's assistant. Robert's mother bemoans some of the Bonnard family male role models available to Robert: his party animal grandfather, roguish traveling salesman uncle Desmond, and an uncle who carries a water cooler filled with wine everywhere while his wife does all the work. As Desmond's temporarily off the road, he also targets the maid.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

3 December 1952 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Mein Sohn entdeckt die Liebe

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: [crying] I won't go back to school! I'll never go back to school! I didn't do it-it isn't fair! Why do I have to tell lies to escape a beating?
Jacques Bonnard: What-what's the matter? What happened? What is it at that school? Maman! Who beat you?
Susan Bonnard: Beating? What beating?
Jacques Bonnard: Come on, Bibi. Now, please, stop crying and tell us, what happened?
Uncle Desmond Bonnard: What is this of a beating?
Robert 'Bibi' Bonnard: In school, the principal finds a dirty picture. It's from my 'Gay Paree' which I have taken there.
[...]

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Connections

Features The Son of the Sheik (1926)

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Soundtracks

"Gavotte"
(uncredited)
Music by François-Joseph Gossec
Arranged by John Leipold

User Reviews

Nicely done ensemble about love and truth

The word most frequently used to describe this film is "charming". It is a clever analogy of love in various stages of incarnation from 'first innocent love' to 'new romance' to 'desire to settle down' and also 'the established couple' kind of love. This is mixed up with some lessons on truth and trust. Nicely acted, cozy settings, no bumps or dry spots. Entertaining.

The biographies on the actors here on IMDb are all fascinating, especially the sad one about Bobby Driscoll. It talks of a movie contract being canceled likely because of his severe acne. It also tells of his lonely death as a result of years of hard drug abuse. One can only speculate on whether the drug abuse was related to emotional suffering caused by acne.

This film was made during some transition years for most of the cast. You may recognize academy award nominee, Kurt Kasznar, from his later TV role in the popular Science Fiction series, "Land of the Giants".