Love Happy (Marx Brothers)

 

"I am the same Sam Grunion who solved the international uranium-mining swindle. Scotland Yard was baffled; the FBI was baffled. They sent for me and the case was solved immediately: I confessed."

A struggling group of performers, led by dancer Mike Johnson (Valentine), are trying to put on the show "Love Happy."  Their backer isn't answering their calls and Mr. Lyons (Belasco) is threatening to take back their costumes and sets.  No one is getting paid, so their hope is turned to Harpo (Harpo).  Harpo steals lunch from them and unknowingly also steals the priceless Romanov diamonds which are hidden in a can of sardines.

The sardines/diamonds were meant for Madame Egelichi (Massey), who seduced her way to the secret location of the diamonds.  She and her thugs, Lefty (Cooper), Alphonse (Burr) and Hannibal (Gordon), will do whatever it takes to get the diamonds back.  Meanwhile, back at the theater, Harpo's friend Faustino the Great (Chico) has joined the group and is trying to keep Lyons at bay.  The diamonds and Madame Egelichi are also being pursued by Detective Grunion (Groucho).  Can they finance the show and keep the diamonds away from Madame Egelichi?


Twenty years after their film debut with The Cocoanuts, the Marx Brothers made this, their final film.  The film was initially conceived as a vehicle for Harpo Marx, to be called Diamonds in the Sidewalk, but the studio wanted a Marx Brothers film and found a way to add Chico and Groucho to the story.  Harpo received top billing and has the biggest part.

Despite being marketed as a Marx Brothers film, it doesn't feel the same.  The brothers are never all on the screen at the same time.  Harpo and Chico are together several times, and each get a musical number.  Chico and Harpo communicate the usual way, with Harpo miming the message to Chico who has to guess what is happening, which is always entertaining.  Harpo and Groucho have a long scene together towards  the end of the film, which ends with Groucho shaking Harpo's knee, which is a long-running gag in their films.  Groucho and Chico are in a scene (but not on screen together) at the end.  But the usual battle of wits/words between the characters is missing.  Groucho's role is significantly smaller than the other two, and he interacts with the least number of other characters.  He narrates the film, but doesn't engage the others until the end.

The film has the distinction of being Marilyn Monroe's first film role.  She is only on screen for a few minutes, as one of Groucho's clients, but it is interesting to see her so early in her career.  It is considered the weakest of the Marx Brothers films, but it still has some memorable and hilarious moments.  Harpo is always a joy.  He is hilarious in the gag (which also marked the first time a film had product placement/advertisement) when he runs from the gangsters on the rooftops and hides in the billboard ads.  Chico also acts out one of his go-to routines from stage and radio with the help of actor/musician Leon Belasco.  Fun fact, the last song Chico plays in the film is also the first song he ever played in a Marx Brothers film ("Gypsy Love Song" which he also played in The Cocoanuts).  Even if it isn't as good as other Marx Brothers films, it is still better than many comedies out there.

Check it out to see Monroe in a little role and enjoy the zaniness of Harpo, Chico and Groucho in their final film collaboration.

For more about this film and other Marx Brothers films, check out http://theageofcomedy.laurelandhardycentral.com/lovehap.html

Love Happy (1949) 85 minutes
Director: David Miller
Starring: Harpo Marx as Harpo
Chico Marx as Faustino the Great
Groucho Marx as Detective Sam Grunion
Ilona Massey as Madame Egelichi
Vera-Ellen as Maggie Phillips
Marion Hutton as Bunny Dolan
Raymond Burr as Alphonse Zoto
Melville Cooper as Lefty Throckmorton
Bruce Gordon as Hannibal ZotoLeon Belasco as Mr. Lyons
Paul Valentine as Mike Johnson