Happy Anniversary (film)
| Happy Anniversary | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | David Miller |
| Produced by | Ralph Fields |
| Written by |
Jerome Chodorov Joseph Fields |
| Starring |
David Niven Mitzi Gaynor Carl Reiner Loring Smith Monique Van Vooren |
| Music by |
Robert Allen Sol Kaplan Al Stillman |
| Cinematography | Lee Garmes |
| Edited by | Richard Meyer |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates | November 10, 1959 |
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,800,000 (US/ Canada)[1] |
Happy Anniversary is a 1959 comedy film starring David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor.
Directed by David Miller, the movie's cast also included Carl Reiner and a young Patty Duke. Duke's next film, The Miracle Worker, would earn her an Academy Award.
Plot
Chris Walters is a happily married father of two. For his 13th wedding anniversary, he sneaks home with a gift for wife Alice, a diamond brooch, and with a desire to have a romantic interlude.
Interruptions ensue. If it isn't their children, Debbie and Okkie, needing something, it's their maid, Millie, or it's Alice's mother on the phone. And then two delivery men arrive with a new television set. It's a gift from Alice's parents, Lilly and Arthur.
Chris is not pleased. He hates television. He thinks the whole idea of TV is a needless distraction and corrupting influence on today's youth.
At work, Chris has a partner, Bud, who is trying to woo a new client, Jeanette Revere, a woman who has been divorced four times. Jeanette is amazed in this day and age that a couple can remain happily married as long as the Walterses have.
Over a celebration dinner, Chris lets it slip that he and Alice had sexual relations a year before they got married. Lilly and Arthur are offended, having been under the impression that Alice didn't have relations with Chris until they were wed. They storm out. Chris is so angry, he kicks in the screen of the new TV. He argues with Alice and has to spend his anniversary night sleeping on the sofa.
A gift arrives from Bud—it's another TV. Chris is irritated again but promises not to cause a scene this time. When they turn it on, however, a show called "Kids Kouncil" has his daughter Debbie as a guest. And the child blurts out for all to hear that her parents are having marital difficulties and had been intimate prior to their wedding. Chris again kicks in the TV.
Chris storms out of the house this time. Meantime, Alice's parents also have a quarrel, which eventually leads to Lilly attempting to move in with her daughter. Everybody's angry now.
A distraught Chris wants to come home. Alice feels no one cares about her. She intends to leave home herself. The family doctor, however, suddenly informs Alice that she is pregnant. She decides to give Chris another chance ... as a gift from him arrives, yet another TV. This time it is from Chris.
Cast
- David Niven as Chris Walters
- Mitzi Gaynor as Alice
- Carl Reiner as Bud
- Monique Van Vooren as Jeanette
- Loring Smith as Arthur
- Elizabeth Wilson as Lilly
- Patty Duke as Debbie
Title song
"Happy Anniversary" is also the title of a popular song with music written by Robert Allen and lyrics by Al Stillman, that was introduced in this film. Recordings have been made by The Four Lads, Jane Morgan, Maureen Evans and Joan Regan.
See also
References
- ↑ "Rental Potentials of 1960", Variety, 4 January 1961 p 47. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
External links
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