Holiday Affair (1949)

Director:

Don Hartman

Writers:

Isobel Lennart (screenplay)
John D. Weaver (story)

Release Date:

24 December 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

It happened in December...but its hotter than July !

Plot:

The Christmas-season romance of a young widow and a sales clerk who (thanks to her) is unemployed.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Christmas | Department Store | Single Mother | Mother Son Relationship

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Robert Mitchum	...	Steve Mason
Janet Leigh	...	Connie Ennis
Wendell Corey	...	Carl Davis
Gordon Gebert	...	Timmy Ennis
Griff Barnett	...	Mr. Ennis
Esther Dale	...	Mrs. Ennis
Henry O'Neill	...	Mr. Crowley
Harry Morgan	...	Police lieutenant (as Henry Morgan)
Larry J. Blake	...	Johnson - Plainclothesman
Helen Brown	...	Emily (Mr. Crowley's secretary)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:U | USA:Approved

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on December 18, 1950 with Robert Mitchum reprising his film role.

Quotes:

Steve Mason: Carl isn't the real threat to me. Maybe I'm not to him. This isn't two fellows and a girl, you know. This is two fellows, a girl and her husband. I can't fight a shadow - I tried - competition's too tough. You were even going to play it safe and settle for someone you didn't love so you wouldn't be unfaithful to your husband.
Connie Ennis: Oh, you're always so wrong about me. I have a wonderful memory of a husband and a marriage. You're trying to take it away from me.
Steve Mason: Nobody wants to do that. I know. I'm sure Carl doesn't. All anybody wants is for you to live in the present and not be afraid of the future. You know, maybe it could happen again if you quit pretending that something that's dead is still alive.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remade as Holiday Affair (1996) (TV)

Appealing Christmas confection!

Bright and engaging holiday-themed romantic comedy has single mom Janet Leigh wooed by two men over the holidays: devil-may-care Robert Mitchum (who really does have a sardonic demon in his eyes!) and staunch, dull Wendell Corey. Poor Corey really has a thankless role here, not only playing the third wheel but berated for it as well; still, he plays dishwater-dull to perfection and his voice of reason would surely give Leigh cause to second-guess her heart. Surprisingly quirky film isn't the least bit obvious or clichéd, and Janet's screen-relationship with the likable youngster playing her son is very well handled. Top-notch writing, directing and acting; a gem. ***1/2 from ****