The Happy Road
| The Happy Road | |
|---|---|
British quad poster | |
| Directed by | Gene Kelly |
| Written by | Arthur Julian Harry Kurnitz Joe Morhaim |
| Produced by | Gene Kelly |
| Starring | Gene Kelly Barbara Laage Brigitte Fossey Bobby Clark Michael Redgrave |
| Cinematography | Robert Juillard |
| Edited by | Borys Lewin |
| Music by | Georges Van Parys |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $575,000[1] |
| Box office | $950,000[1] |
The Happy Road is a 1957 French-American comedy film starring Gene Kelly, Barbara Laage, Michael Redgrave and Bobby Clark.[2] The plot involves two runaway students and the efforts of their respective parents to locate them.
Plot
Two students (a boy and girl) escape from their Swiss private school and make for Paris. Their respective parents, an American father and a French mother, together embark on a wide journey around the countryside, getting local police involved in finding them, with many whimsical situations, including riding on a police motorcycle, and encountering military maneuvers and a bicycle race.
Cast
- Mike Andrews — Gene Kelly
- Suzanne Duval — Barbara Laage
- Danny Andrews — Bobby Clark
- Janine Duval — Brigitte Fossey
- General Medworth — Michael Redgrave
- Doctor Salaise — Roger Tréville
- Hélène — Colette Dereal
- Madame Fallière — Maryse Martin
- Motorcycle Officer — Van Doude
- Armbruster — Colin Mann
- The Woodcutter — Alexandre Rignault
- David, Earl of Bardingham — T. Bartlett
- Carpenter — Paul Préboist
Production
Writing for TCM on June 22, 2005, Jeremy Arnold observed: “The Happy Road is a modest production (undoubtedly one of the reasons Kelly chose it to direct and produce) and though uneven, it's often warm and charming with some fine comic episodes. At its best, it reveals Kelly relying on his own unique strengths as a film artist. Since MGM played The Happy Road as a second feature on double bills, the movie didn't make much of a dent in moviegoers' consciousness. But it showcased Kelly's skills as a director, and proved he was particularly gifted at directing children.[3]
Reception
In his June 21, 1957, review for The New York Times, Bosley Crowther praises the film as "a lively and charming little tale", highlighting Kelly's multiple roles and concluding “(He)rates a good hand for this picture. So does Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer."[4]
Rotten Tomatoes shows only one review for the film, from Dennis Schwartz, describing it as a “Whimsical comedy that fails to maintain the charm it dishes out.”[5]
According to MGM records, the film earned $325,000 in the US and Canada and $625,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $117,000.[1]
The Happy Road won a Golden Globe award for "Best Film Promoting International Understanding."[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ^ "The Happy Road". BFI. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012.
- ^ "The Happy Road". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (June 21, 1957). "The Screen: 'Happy Road' Arrives; Gene Kelly Film Opens at Plaza Theatre The Cast". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ "The Happy Road | Audience Reviews | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
- ^ "15th Golden Globes", Wikipedia, February 7, 2026, retrieved February 12, 2026
External links
- The Happy Road at IMDb
- The Happy Road at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
- The Happy Road at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films