Chris (Niven) and Alice (Gaynor) are preparing to celebrate their thirteenth year of marriage. They are still very much in love, but don't have much time for each other. They have two children, Ockie (Coughlin) and Debbie (Duke). Chris is a successful lawyer, who works alongside his best friend Bud (Reiner), who also served as his best man.
On their anniversary they recreate a romantic tryst, and enjoy some time away from life. That evening they have a party with Alice's old-fashioned parents Arthur (Smith) and Lillian (Povah), who bring a gift for the family: a television. Chris is vehemently against owning a TV. The evening continues to go downhill when Chris drunkenly discloses a secret to the entire family. The ensuing arguments escalate and threaten the Walters happy marriage.
I decided to watch this film on a whim after I saw it on Amazon Instant Video and liked the main cast. It is a cute film, but unmemorable.
This is the second film collaboration of David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor. Their first film was The Birds and the Bees, in which Niven plays Gaynor's father, three years before. This is the film debut of Carl Reiner, he was a writer and performer on TV. The three leads are all talented, and do ok here. Niven and Reiner are entertaining, especially together, and Gaynor gets one song. The kids are entertaining, but a little grating. Patty Duke's next film was The Miracle Worker, which was her big break.
This is not the best use of any of the stars talents, but it isn't terrible either... just dated and light.
Happy Anniversary (1959) 83 minutes
Director: David Miller
Starring: David Niven as Chris Walters
Mitzi Gaynor as Alice Gans Walters
Carl Reiner as Bud
Loring Smith as Arthur Gans
Monique van Vooren as Jeanette Revere
Phyllis Povah as Lillian Gans
Elizabeth Wilson as Millie
Patty Duke as Debbie Walters
Kevin Coughlin as Ockie Walters
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