Happy Days (1929) Review: A Loud, Weird Time Capsule

If you are looking for a movie with a plot that actually makes sense from start to finish, you should probably just skip this one. Happy Days is really just a giant excuse for Fox to show off every actor they had on the payroll in 1929. It is worth watching if you are a total nerd for early sound films, but most people will probably find it pretty loud and exhausting. 😫

The whole thing starts on a showboat. Margie, played by Beverly Royde, finds out the show is broke and decides to save the day by going to New York. It is one of those plots where everyone she ever met just happens to be a massive superstar now.

It’s very convenient. A little too convenient, if you ask me.

The movie feels like it was filmed by people who were still terrified of the new microphones. Everyone stands very still and shouts their lines like they are trying to be heard in the next county. It reminds me a bit of the stiff acting in The Broken Butterfly, but with way more yelling.

There is this one scene where a kid named Martha Lee Sparks does a dance. She’s talented, sure, but the camera just stares at her for what feels like ten minutes. I actually started checking my phone during that part because it just wouldn't end.

One thing that’s actually cool is seeing Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. They were the biggest deal back then, the "it" couple of the silent era. They show up in a little skit that is actually kind of sweet, even if they aren't doing much. It’s the only part of the movie that feels like it has a soul.

Then there is El Brendel. He plays a character with a fake Swedish accent that was apparently hilarious in 1929. To me, it just sounded like someone making weird noises. It’s definitely not as funny as the slapstick you get in Tillie's Punctured Romance.

I noticed that the sets look strangely empty. Even when there is a crowd, it feels like they are all standing on marks they are afraid to leave. It gives the whole movie this ghostly, artificial vibe. 👻

The music is... a lot. There is a lot of singing. Most of it is that high-pitched, tinny style that makes your ears ring after a while. I liked the showboat song at the beginning, but by the third chorus, I was ready for a nap.

We have to talk about the finale. It’s a minstrel show. It is incredibly uncomfortable to watch with modern eyes. Everyone is in blackface and they are doing these "comedy" bits that are just painful. It’s a part of history, I guess, but it’s a tough sit.

The movie was filmed in a special wide-screen process called Grandeur. You can tell because everything looks too wide for the actors. There is all this dead space on the sides of the screen where nothing is happening. It makes the movie feel even more lonely than it already is.

I did like seeing Victor McLaglen pop up for a second. He always looks like he’s having a better time than everyone else. Most of the other actors look like they are waiting for the director to tell them they can finally go home.

If you liked the variety style of Pretty Mrs. Smith, you might find something to enjoy here. But for most folks, it’s just a lot of noise and 1920s jazz. It’s a curiosity, not a masterpiece.

I’m glad I saw it once just to see the stars, but I don't think I'll be visiting this showboat again anytime soon. It’s a weird piece of junk from a time when Hollywood didn't know what it was doing yet. 🚢

One more thing—the costumes are wild. Some of the hats are so big I don't know how the actresses kept their necks straight. It’s the little things like that that keep you awake while the third chorus of a boring song starts up.