You Gotta Stay Happy (1948): Cast & Plot
You Gotta Stay Happy is a 1948 romantic comedy directed by H. C. Potter, starring Joan Fontaine as Dee Dee Dillwood, James Stewart and Willard Parker. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 40m (100 min)
- Director
- H. C. Potter
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- William Dozier Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is You Gotta Stay Happy About?
The premise of You Gotta Stay Happy without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Indecisive heiress Dee Dee Dillwood, pressured into marrying her sixth fiancé, panics at the thought of the wedding night and escapes to the next‑door hotel room, where commercial pilot Marvin Payne is trying to get some sleep. Dee convinces Marvin to whisk her away to California, leading to a hilarious, romantic and delightfully wacky adventure.
You Gotta Stay Happy Themes & Keywords
· 30 tags- pilot
- hotel
- coffin
- storm
- sleeping pill
- newlywed
- millionaire
- heiress
- farm
- screwball comedy
- cigar smoking
- chicago illinois
+18 more Show fewer
- tractor
- runaway heiress
- orphan
- new york city
- native american
- monkey
- marriage
- love at first sight
- large family
- honeymoon
- friendship
- emergency landing
- embezzlement
- cargo plane
- bank
- aviation
- animated title sequence
- airfield
You Gotta Stay Happy Cast & Characters
Joan Fontaine leads the cast as Dee Dee Dillwood, with James Stewart as Marvin Payne and Willard Parker as Henry Benson. Directed by H. C. Potter; 48 actors are credited in all.
- Director H. C. Potter
-
Joan Fontaine as Dee Dee Dillwood -
James Stewart as Marvin Payne - Willard Parker as Henry Benson
- Roland Young as Ralph Tutwiler
Also Starring in You Gotta Stay Happy
· 44 more- Paul Cavanagh Dr. Blucher
- William Bakewell Dick Hebert
- Eddie Albert Bullets Baker
- Robert Rockwell Eddie
- Marcy McGuire Georgia Goodrich
- Arthur Walsh Milton Goodrich
- Porter Hall Mr. Caslon
- Fritz Feld Pierre
- Edith Evanson Mrs. Racknell
- Percy Kilbride Mr. Racknell
- Mary Forbes Aunt Martha
- Chief Yowlachie Native American Man (Uncredited)
- William H. O'Brien Waiter (Uncredited)
- Larry Steers Bank Customer (Uncredited)
- Edward Gargan Detective (Uncredited)
- Emory Parnell Bank Watchman
Show all 48 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Stanley Prager Jack Samuels
- Frank Darien Old Man (Uncredited)
- Hal K. Dawson Night Clerk
- Halliwell Hobbes Martin
- Frank Jenks Carnival Man
- Myron Healey Day Clerk (Uncredited)
- Arthur Hohl Cemetery Man
- Houseley Stevenson Jud Tavis
- David Sharpe Motorcyclist (Uncredited)
- Tiny Jones Pedestrian (Uncredited)
- Jimmie Dodd Curly
- George M. Carleton Portly Man (Uncredited)
- Isabel Withers Maid (Uncredited)
- Beatrice Roberts Maid (Uncredited)
- Al Murphy Mechanic (Uncredited)
- Vera Marshe Mae
- Harland Tucker Mr. Thrush (Uncredited)
- Don Shelton Minister (Uncredited)
- Don Kohler Ted
- Bert Conway Neil
- Don Garner Bellhop (Uncredited)
- Bill Clauson Simon (Uncredited)
- Frank White Elevator Operator (Uncredited)
- Donald Dewar Boy (Uncredited)
- Hal Melone Elevator Operator (Uncredited)
- Peter Roman Barnabas
- Eddie Ehrhart Thaddeus (Uncredited)
- Joe Cook Jr. Bellhop (Uncredited)
More from H. C. Potter
More films directed by H. C. Potter: Top Secret Affair, Three for the Show, The Miniver Story and The Time of Your Life.
You Gotta Stay Happy Plot Summary
What happens in You Gotta Stay Happy from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Diana “Dee Dee” Dillwood, Joan Fontaine, is a New York heiress about to marry Henry Benson when she admits to her guardian Ralph Tutwiler, Roland Young, and psychologist Dr. Blucher, Paul Cavanagh, that she has serious second thoughts. They urge her to stop doubt and “plunge into it,” a line that echoes through the moment. > plunge into it
Full summary
The whole story of You Gotta Stay Happy, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know You Gotta Stay Happy?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays the heiress Diana "Dee Dee" Dillwood?
You Gotta Stay Happy Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “L'extravagante Mlle Dee” and “Startbahn ins Glück”.
- Also known as
-
- L'extravagante Mlle Dee
- Startbahn ins Glück
- Devi essere felice
- ¡Viva la vida!
- 永保幸福
- Upp genom luften
Seen You Gotta Stay Happy?
Movies Like You Gotta Stay Happy
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Honeymoon Hotel, Come Fly with Me and The Bride Came C.O.D..
You Gotta Stay Happy FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of You Gotta Stay Happy, each answered in a sentence.
How long is You Gotta Stay Happy?
You Gotta Stay Happy runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).
When was You Gotta Stay Happy released?
You Gotta Stay Happy was released on October 28, 1948.
Who directed You Gotta Stay Happy?
You Gotta Stay Happy was directed by H. C. Potter.
More films by H. C. Potter Who is in the cast of You Gotta Stay Happy?
You Gotta Stay Happy stars Joan Fontaine as Dee Dee Dillwood, James Stewart as Marvin Payne and Willard Parker as Henry Benson, among 48 credited actors.
Does You Gotta Stay Happy have a post-credit scene?
No. You Gotta Stay Happy has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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