The Happy Ending *** (1969, Jean Simmons, John Forsythe, Shirley Jones, Lloyd Bridges, Dick Shawn, Nanette Fabray, Bobby Darin, Tina Louise, Teresa Wright) – Classic Movie Review 7426

Writer-producer-director Richard Brooks’s 1969 drama The Happy Ending stars Jean Simmons as a middle-aged American woman who looks back on a long, unhappy marriage as she walks out on her husband and family in order to find herself. It was nominated for two Oscars.

Simmons is effectively showcased in her real-life husband Brooks’s occasionally incisive drama, written with the cutting edge of truth about getting older, though this may not be a message people want to hear much.

So, after 16 years of marriage, housewife Mary Wilson (Simmons) leaves her sleepy husband Fred (John Forsythe), heads for the Bahamas and falls into the arms of Franco (Bobby Darin), who is just a gigolo, and comes home for night classes.

Although this plot is frankly not very believable, Brooks’s screenplay manages bright moments, recognisable details and witty lines. Simmons is very good, and was rewarded with an Oscar nomination as Best Actress for her last decent big part, and Michel Legrand’s lovely song ‘What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?’ was also nominated.

Not surprisingly, The Happy Ending was not a hit in the revolutionary youth-cultured late-Sixties.

Also in the good cast are Shirley Jones, Lloyd Bridges, Dick Shawn, Nanette Fabray, Tina Louise, Teresa Wright, Kathy Fields, Gail Hensley, Eve Brent, William O’Connell, Miriam Blake and Barry Cahill.

Jean Simmons, born 31 January 1929, died 22 January 2010.

Jean Simmons (1929–2010). She was married to Stewart Granger from 20 December 1950 – 12 August 1960 (divorced) (one child) and then to Richard Brooks from 1 November 1960 – 1977 (divorced) (one child). She ended up living in Santa Monica, California, with her dog Mr Gates and her two cats Addison and Megan. Was that The Happy Ending she was looking for?

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7426

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