Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2790. Holiday Affair (1949)

    2790. Holiday Affair (1949)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on December 21, 2019 1949, 6 - 7.9, 80-89 mins, Christmas, Comedy, Dec 19, Movies Of 2019, Review, Romance, United States
    7.7 Charming and emotionally gripping
    • Acting 7.8
    • Directing 7.7
    • Story 7.7
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey

    Director: Don Hartman

    Running Time: 87 mins


    Holiday Affair is an American film about a woman who develops an unlikely bond with a man she met while Christmas shopping, and inadvertently got him fired.

    Few things sound as sappy and generic as a Christmas romantic comedy, but Holiday Affair proves that the genre doesn’t always have to be predictable garbage.

    With two splendid lead performances from Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh, wonderful, funny humour throughout, and a story with genuinely gripping emotional depth, Holiday Affair has all the ingredients of a thoroughly delightful festive watch, and although it may lag at moments, it impresses by taking a generic formula and giving it real life and passion.

    We’ll start off with the story, which is probably the biggest surprise of the whole film for me. On the surface, there’s nothing exceptional about Holiday Affair: the story of a man and a woman who meet just as Christmas rolls around, and despite their differing situations come to develop a deep bond that could well lead to romance.

    However, while it’s a fairly generic movie on the surface, there’s a very unique depth and intelligence to Holiday Affair’s story, which brings real, challenging emotional drama to a plot premise that’s usually entirely devoid of just that.

    More than just a will-they-won’t-they love story, the film offers up an interesting and often even rather sobering look at what happens when romance blossoms, but in the wrong circumstances. Holiday Affair isn’t a prim, perfect love story, and it shows that real life sometimes gets in the way, as we see Mitchum struggle to see his love requited by Leigh, whose own relationship, personal history and economic situation all play a part in her emotions.

    As a result, there’s so much more at play here than just cheesy romance, and I was really impressed by just how genuine and emotionally gripping Holiday Affair turned out to be. It’s heartfelt, sweet and pleasant – as all festive romances should be – but it doesn’t shy away from some of the more challenging realities of love in the real world, something that makes for a fully engrossing watch.

    But don’t think for a moment that this is some sort of sombre, real world drama, because for all its genuine, down-to-earth emotional depth, there’s more than enough upbeat festive cheer to entertain as well.

    A snowy New York City sets the scene perfectly, and with a story that revolves just as much around Christmas and presents as it does love and romance, the film feels like a festive classic right from the start. Couple that with its sweet and genuine heart, and it’s the perfect film to fill you with joy on a cold winter’s day.

    What’s more, the film is properly funny too, balancing its comedy with the engrossing drama brilliantly throughout. Whenever there’s a moment to make you ponder, Holiday Affair comes up with something to make you chuckle just as well, consistently impressing with wonderful, charming charisma that makes it a properly fun watch too.

    And finally, the performances are great here across the board. Janet Leigh is a delight in the lead role, and at such a young age (just 22 in this film), her performance is so mature, commanding a strong presence alongside Robert Mitchum, 10 years her senior.

    The pair have delightful chemistry throughout, with Leigh’s hard-working young mother complementing the idealistic Mitchum brilliantly, and although neither quite manages to hammer home some of the screenplay’s deeper emotional themes – which leaves the film’s ultimate conclusion feeling a little unearned – the two central performances are just as infectiously enjoyable as the rest of the movie.

    Overall, I really enjoyed Holiday Affair. A sweet, heartfelt festive classic that takes a painfully generic rom-com formula and gives it riveting depth and gripping, real-world emotion. Couple that with great humour, a cheery festive atmosphere and two delightful lead turns, and you have an effortlessly charming watch from beginning to end, which is why I’m giving Holiday Affair a 7.7.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.4
    Review
    August 1, 20160

    1438. Harold And Maude (1971)

    8.6
    Review
    August 6, 20170

    1847. Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)

    8.5
    Review
    June 3, 20160

    1371. The Nice Guys (2016)

    8.5
    Review
    June 12, 20130

    183. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)

    8.0
    Review
    May 4, 20210

    3336. Adaptation. (2002)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.