The Happy Ending (1969)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Jean
Simmons, Shirley Jones, John Forsythe, Lloyd Bridges, Teresa Wright, Dick
Shawn, Nanette Fabray
My Review and Thoughts:
Film: My Rating: 4 out of 5
This is the first time seeing this. I always love coming
across films that I have not seen. It’s always a treat and wonderful experience
adventuring into older films when you have no knowledge of them. Especially when
the film stars’ dynamic performers. The wonderful, beautiful, amazing and all
around brilliant actress Jean Simmons. Jean was an actress that not only could
create a character in a film, but possess that character and mold that
character into a breathing, living persona. The character of Mary Wilson in The
Happy Ending is no different from that living, breathing persona. She owns, operates
and transcends her character on and off screen as a believable persona. That is
what makes her so important in the annuls of film history. Simmons was the very
essence of Hollywood. She goes up there with all the greats. I have always felt
she never got the legendary status like many others. When I think of the all
the greats like, Grant, Bogart, Cagney, Crawford, Davis, just to name a few, I
think of Simmons right along with them. She is an important part of cinema
history. Any true film historian, film buff will know and recognize her warrant
of expertise in cinema. It’s always a fantastic treat to see her perform and
The Happy Ending is another treat.
Also starring an ensemble cast of perfection. The extraordinary
John Forsythe who really needs no introduction. The beautiful Shirley Jones.
The one of a kind Lloyd Bridges who has an impressive tally of over 200
performances in his career. The whole cast is excellently performed and
directed. The film is a worthy film to praise and remember and thankfully
Twilight Time has honored this film, with an excellent transfer to Blu-ray.
Directed by Richard Brooks. Brooks was truly one of the best
directors to ever grace the movie world. He has directed so many wonderful
pieces of film. Films such as the flawless masterpiece 1967’s In Cold Blood.
The masterpiece 1958’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The amazing 1962 Sweet Bird of
Youth. He was a writer, director and producer of so many wonderful pieces of
cinema. I feel he was a director that was never really honored in the limelight
of cinema. He should have been and should be mentioned when all great film
directors are spoken about. He was a dynamic writer. He scripted so many
wonderful films. He won an Oscar for best adapted screenplay for the amazing
Elmer Gentry (1960).
Interesting to note he married Jean Simmons and they were
married for almost 20 years.
The plot to The Happy Ending is an array of drama of the 1960’s, and the coming 70’s. You are introduced to Mary Spencer in 1953. She drops out
of college to marry Fred Wilson. You then move to 1969, it’s 16 years later, 16
years of marriage. Mrs. Wilson boards a plane to the Bahamas where she remembers
the past anniversary and the many years of marriage. This is a film mixed with
drama and the what if’s, or what could have been. It’s a mix of changing your
life, surroundings and questioning the present, and moving to change the future.
Jean Simmons acting is so good in this film the Academy
Awards nominated her for an Oscar. She didn’t win but her performance in this
was truly Oscar worthy. Also what needs to mentioned is the songs written for
this film. I feel the songs What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? And Hurry
Up ‘N Hurry Down and Something for Everybody are pieces of film music that
create a setting in themselves. Michael Dees sang the song What Are You Doing the
Rest of Your Life? for the film. The song was nominated for Best Original Song
for an Oscar and it rightly should have won. The acting, direction and music all
create this film. It’s a film that comes together with amazing performances.
Dynamic script. Flawless music.
Audio/Video: My Rating; 5 out of 5
Never seeing this before I have nothing to compare it to, but
seeing it with this transfer to Blu-ray by Twilight Time, it could not be any
better. The colors and imagery, are crisp and the audio is pure. Another fine example of how
to treat an older film and give it a new worthy product.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
Extras: My Rating: 1 out of 5
Slim pickings on this outing, but you do get the all import
isolated score. The music was done by a wonderful composer and master musician
Michel Legrand. Not only a composer, he was an arranger, conductor, and an
amazing pianist. His mastery was a wide range of film and TV scores. A huge
accomplishment of over 200 scores. He won an impressive 3 Oscars and many
nominations. As of this writing his last work was in 2014. His career has been
of a grand nature. The Happy Ending is a prime example of his mastery. His
talent is truly something to praise. His music has continued to be used on Soundtracks
to this day. One of my favorite films that he created music mastery for, was the
stunning, and film importance, 1971’s Summer of ’42. Legrand brought life to
every piece of film, no matter how great, or small the entertainment was, he left
his mark.
Original Trailer
The wonderful insert booklet.
The wonderful insert booklet.
Overall:
Another fantastic release by Twilight Time. Beautiful
transfer to blu-ray. An amazing audio and video reality. A wonderful added
isolated music track. Seeing this for the first time, I am utterly happy I got
to experience it on this wonderful Special Edition 3,000 Unit production of
this classic film. A stunning cast of amazing performers. Tightly directed. An
awesome music score. Simply put a must own, must experience product. A truly
memorable film, given a high class treatment.
INFO:
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beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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