Blog Happy

LOVE HAPPY-United Artists-1950-Not counting Irwin Allen’s all-star historical disaster THE STORY OF MANKIND this is the so-called last Marx Brothers movie. It’s practically all Harpo (not a bad thing) and though sub-standard, when viewed as a Harpo solo effort (with brief appearances by his brothers) it’s a little easier to take.

The main story concerns the exploits of a musical troupe trying to open their production on Broadway. Harpo is his usual happy go lucky silent character stealing food for the troupe’s daily meals. Chico is Faustino, his usual fast talker with the phony Italian accent. Groucho is Grunion, a private eye who appears in framing sequences as the narrator and only shows up in the real story at the end. Some diamonds are hidden in a sardine can that Harpo steals. Ilona Massey (FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN) and her gang want them. Raymond Burr and Bruce Gordon play her two henchmen.

Harpo has some good gags and it’s interesting (and kind of strange) to see him alone most of the time, but one of the funniest scenes in the film involves him and Chico as he wordlessly tries to tell his brother their friends are in danger.

Paul Valentine who’s terrible plays the nominal romantic lead. Others in the cast include Vera Ellen, Marion Hutton (who was in IN SOCIETY with Abbott & Costello), Melvin Cooper and Eric Blore. However, the film might actually be best known for a brief cameo by a still unknown Marilyn Monroe as one of Grunion’s clients.

Several stories abound as to why the film was made as it was. You can check out Glenn Mitchell’s fact filled THE MARX BROTHERS ENCYLOPEDIA for the full story. At one point it played on a double bill with Abbott & Costello’s AFRICA SCREAMS. 

Director David Miller went on to make some serious dramas like LONELY ARE THE BRAVE (1962) and CAPTAIN NEWMAN, MD (1963) as well as the super conspiracy movie EXECUTIVE ACTION (1973). He ended his career with two TV movies starring O.J. Simpson!

The story is by Harpo and Ben Hecht was an uncredited screenwriter.

Thanks for reading!