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

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)

One to get you into the Holiday Spirit!

With Christmas a few days away I thought I'd watch this film to try and get into the holiday spirit. I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. This is one of the sweetest and loveliest films I've seen in a long time and will be one for the permanent Christmas collection. You know, those films you get out without fail every year!! A young Janet Leigh and a handsome Robert Mitchum meet in the top department of a large shopping complex. Although it is not love at first sight it soon blossoms into something more and I'm sure you'll be willing them to be together, as I was.

This is one of the best roles I've seen Robert Mitchum in - he is wonderful as the kind-hearted man trying to win the woman he loves. There are some heartwarming scenes between Leigh and her young son Timmy, which will sprinkle Christmas magic over everyone.

A 10/10 film in my book!