The Happy Time

This fine film version of a stage hit captures the world opening before the eyes of an innocent, beguiling 12-year-old boy, Bibi (Bobby Driscoll), who lives in Ottawa with his warm, fun-loving, largely French-Canadian family. His father, Jacques (Charles Boyer), is a kindly man who sees him through his first romantic crisis. His Scottish-born mother (Marsha Hunt) provides balance for a family that is more carefree than responsible, more capricious than pragmatic. The dialog is charming and witty, and the entire cast--particularly Boyer--play their roles with aplomb. This was Boyer's last starring role, and it remained one of his favorite films. Driscoll, who was on...