The Happy Ending (1969): cast, story & where to watch
1969 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1969, The Happy Ending is a drama film directed by Richard Brooks, running about 107 minutes. “Marriage is a 30 billion dollar business! And that's just to get married.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The triumphs and failures of middle age as seen through the eyes of runaway American housewife Mary Wilson, a woman who believes that ultimate reality exists above and beyond the routine procedures of conscious, uninspired, everyday life. She feels cheated by an older generation that taught her to settle for nothing less than storybook finales, people who are disillusioned and restless and don't know why, people for whom life holds no easy answers.
Who’s in it. The Happy Ending stars Jean Simmons as Mary Wilson, John Forsythe as Fred Wilson, Shirley Jones as Flo Harrigan and Teresa Wright as Mrs. Spencer, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Happy Ending has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel and Philo. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Happy Ending page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Happy Ending tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Happy Ending (1969)?
- In US, The Happy Ending is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Happy Ending worth watching?
- The Happy Ending holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Happy Ending?
- The Happy Ending stars Jean Simmons, John Forsythe, Shirley Jones, Teresa Wright and Lloyd Bridges.
- When was The Happy Ending released?
- The Happy Ending was released in 1969, with a runtime of about 107 minutes.