Happy Anniversary (United Artists) (1959)

Still HA-P-12 Mat 2B David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor indulge in a favorite pastime of most married couples — quarreling! It’s all in fun in the saucy, sexy comedy, “Happy Anni versary,” coming ...... io the... oo eee Theatre. Adult Fun Has a Spree In “Happy Anniversary” Adult is a word which Hollywood has used almost exclusively in two contexts: to describe a type of western movie; and to describe a movie dealing with a portentous “problem.” What it frequently comes down to, in the end, is that the adult western has an uncomplex psychological overtone, and the problem picture points out a moral. Nobody ever thinks of calling a comedy adult. which is really too bad, because many of them frequently are, in the sense that they tangle with “untouchable” issues more cooly and more daringly than any other genre. Such a comedy—though it claims only to be a very funny picture, and let the chips fall where they may— is “Happy Anniversary,” opening Gis a eh ey. RTA ts oe see oa Theatre through Artists release. An adaptation of the Broadway hit play by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodoroy, “Happy Anniversary” is a sexy, spicy, sometimes rowdy comedy dealing in hilariously frank fashion with the subject of pre-marital relations. David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor are starred, with co-starring roles played by Carl Reiner, Loring Smith, Monique Van Vooren and Phyllis Povah. A Fields Productions presentation, “Happy Anniversary” was produced by Ralph Fields and directed by David Miller. A few years back, another comedy, “The Moon is Blue,” made a rather obvious point about men, girls and matrimony. Obvious though this point might have been, the film was nevertheless beset by censorship troubles because of it. “Happy Anniversary” makes the point (Kinsey proved it irrevocably a few years back) that many married couples have had intimate relations prior to the ringing out of the wedding bells. “Happy Anniversary” won't run into censorship troubles. Not because it’s any less “scandalously” candid than “The Moon is Blue,” but because its approach is adult. It doesn’t hint at anything, but comes right out and Says so—not in a_ hard-breathing way, as the “problem” pictures do. but with wit. In short, its approach is adult. Niven Puts His Foot In lt— And TV-Haters Roar! In “Happy Anniversary,” opening OU eee Gt the 5 08.. Theatre through United Artists release, David Niven plays the role of a man who hates television; whose hatred, in fact, is so intense that, twice during the course of the film, he puts his foot through the center of an innocent TV set. The scenes are very funny, and Niven performs them with the gusto of a well-disciplined actor, but his actions pained him very grievously. “T felt,” he says, “like a Benedict Arnold. Who else would kick the hand that feeds him?” “Happy Anniversary,” in which Niven stars with Mitzi Gaynor, is a sexy. spicy, rowdy comedy adapted from the Broadway hit play by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodoroy, and dealing in hilariously candid fashion with the subject of premarital relationships. In the film, Niven plays an other wise charming and urbane father of two children whose sole crochet is an unreasoning hatred of television. He doesn’t allow a set in his house, maintaining that the Cyclopean monster paralyzes the intellect. The fun starts when wellmeaning in-laws buy him a set as an anniversary present. In a fit of anger, he puts his foot through it. Later on, he repeats this action with another set, presented by Carl Reiner, his business partner. Although there will doubtless be many in the audience who will sympathize with Niven’s anti-TV violence, Niven himself does not. The reason is, of course, that, as one of television’s busiest actors. and as co-owner (with Charles Boyer and Dick Powell) of the thriving TV production company, Four Star Playhouse, he feels it ill-becomes him to maltreat the medium which is making him a very rich man. Father Knows Best He Thinks! As propaganda for the school of thought which holds that father knows best, the failure of the three Fields kids to heed the advice of their famous father (Lew Fields, of the celebrated team of Weber and Fields) falls considerably short of the mark, Forty years ago, Lew Fields warned his brood to “stay out of showbusiness.” The brood—Herbert, Dorothy and Joseph—proceeded to disregard the old showman’s advice and, as a result, became rich, famous, satisfied and happy. Of the three, only the youngest, Joseph, made even a token attempt to follow Pop’s dictum. But he too, in time, defected, and became one of the country’s most successful and popular writers of Broadway comedies. At the moment, he is represented by a film translation (he wrote the screenplay with Jerome Chodorov) of his and Chodorov’s Broadway smash hit, “Happy Anniversary.” Wena p woiir sc ead tas at the sb heel arees Theatre through United Artists release. “Happy Anniversary” is a sexy, spicy, rowdy com edy dealing in hilariously candid fashion with the subject of premarital relationships. The film stars David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor. Although an attempt to get Joseph through law school failed miserably, Poppa Lew was pleased when his youngster child went off to Paris, where he ran a successful perfume business for eight years. Meanwhile, back on Broadway, Herbert and Dorothy were already famous. Came the depression, and Joseph’s perfume business collapsed. He returned to New York, and stopped fighting the inevitable. Hooking up with Chodorov in the first of a long line of successful collaborations, he wrote “My Sister Eileen” and had a smash hit on his hands. “Junior Miss.” the second play of the partnership was another hit. As things stand at the moment, Fields holds the record for having written (solo or in collaboration) more plays which have run over 500 performances on Broadway than any other contemporary playwright. Father knows best? Hollywood Turns To Comedy SHORTS David Niven, one of television’s foremost actors and _ producers (with Charles Boyer and Dick Powell he owns Four Star Playhouse), considers himself TV’s top candidate for “Benedict Arnold honors” following his performance in “Happy Anniversary,” opening ON ctr t ses atithed cet a: Theatre through United Artists release. In the spicy film adaptation of the Broadway hit play, Niven twice— and deliberately — puts his foot through a television set. Mitzi Gaynor is starred with Niven in “Happy Anniversary,” which also stars Carl Reiner, Monique Van Vooren, Loring Smith and Phyllis Povah. Joseph Fields, author of the screenplay of “Happy Anniversary” (and collaborator with Jerome Chodorov of the Broadway hit play upon which the spicy, sexy film comedy is based), comes by his theatrical heritage naturally. He’s the son of Lew Fields, of the great vaudeville team of Weber and Fields. Opening on .......... at PROS gr. hee Theatre through United Artists release, “Happy Anniversary” stars David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor, and co-stars Carl Reiner, Monique Van Vooren, Loring Smith and Phyllis Povah. Still HA-P-18 Mat 1B Although millions have seen her in “Gigi,” Monique Van Vooren makes her Hollywood film debut as the seductive divorcee in “Happy Anniversary,” the David Niven-Mitzi Gaynor SLABPET COMMNG 17 :.4.% a. «coi s 240 thews.'. .... Theatre. With Outstanding Success &Y KK ! \ \ NY i { Not that it should matter one way Laughter, with overtones of love and undertones of sex, is once again dominating the local movie screen. Motion picture makers have shifted into high comedy gear and are rolling merrily along with such delectable hits as ”Some Like It OSS or another. but Monique Van Vooren (39-23-35), co-starred in “Happy Anniversary,” speaks four languages fluently (English, Italian, French and Dutch) and is on a familiar nodding basis with two more (Latin and Greek). A sexy, Hot,” “The Mating Game,” “Pillow Spicy comedy OPEDINS ON cas. ¢ at Talk,” “It Started With a Kies? the 239 s0.'; .+++. Theatre through and most recently, “Happy AnniUnited Artists release, “Happy versary,” the attraction due ...... Anniversary” stars David Niven and at*thesee. 3 Theatre with David Mitzi Gaynor, and co-stars Carl Niven and Mitzi Gaynor, Carl Reiner and Monique Van Vooren. The return of comedies to the big screen is significant in many ways. It indicates that the mere filling of the huge movie screen with foreign locales, super-spectacles and colossal action is no longer the only answer to television. Home audiences have reacted strongly to the mediocrity of television’s situation comedies, now at its lowest ebb. Thus while TV has resurrected the western the moviemakers have returned to comedy. something they have always done well. The resurgence of movie comedies has also enticed many outstanding dramatic actors into this field. Stars such as Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Rock Hudson, Glenn Ford, Tony Curtis, David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor are but a few of the topflight stars who have taken the plunge. “Happy Anniversary” is a perfect example of this new Hollywood development. It has been adapted from the rollicking Broadway stage hit by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, produced by Ralph Fields and directed by David Miller. PAGE 1 2 Sica ache esas pecan me z SS a. —sS = Celebrants at the 13th anniversary (it’s really their 14th) of David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor in “Happy Anniversary” include Monique Van Vooren, Carl Reiner, Phyllis Povah and Loring Smith. Caricature by Al Hirschfeld. Mat 3A Reiner, Loring Smith and Phyllis Povah. Carl Reiner, who makes his movie debut in “Happy Anniversary,” OPENING IONG.c os « at sthietec:ae'. 5 Theatre through United Artists release, earned a salary of one dollar per performance in his first professional appearance, with a_ little theatre group. “I was,” he recalls proudly, “the highest paid actor in the company!” A spicy, sexy comedy, “Happy Anniversary” stars David Niven and Mitzi Gaynor. and co-stars Monique Van Vooren, Loring Smith, Phyllis Povah and the aforementioned Mr. Reiner. Mitzi Gaynor, starring with David Niven in “Happy Anniversary,” Opening on te aiithe serath ox Theatre through United Artists release, was born just plain Francesca Mitzi deCzenyi von Gerber. The impressive moniker was mercifully altered when she made her movie debut a few years back. A spicy, sexy comedy romp, “Happy Anniversary” also co-stars Carl Reiner, Loring Smith, Monique Van Vooren and Phyllis Povah,