25 Greatest Christmas Films: #14 — ‘A Holiday Affair’ (1949)
by John NolteAt first glance that steamy noirish poster might come off as a pretty deceptive piece of advertising for what looks like just another boy meets girl, post-war, studio Christmas film. But bubbling beneath the surface of “A Holiday Affair” are some pretty heavy themes that give this under-rated classic an unexpected emotional maturity and complexity.
Though only 22 years-old at the time, the heart-stoppingly gorgeous Janet Leigh is superb and mature beyond her years as Connie Ennis, a war widow and single mother who understands that her young son Timmy needs a father even though she’s unwilling to betray the memory of her dead husband by falling in love with someone else. This is what makes Carl (the always excellent Wendell Corey) a perfect suitor. Buttoned down, bland and safe, Carl’s a good man who will always love and take care of her and Timmy, but Connie doesn’t and will never fall in love with him.
Enter Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) to really complicate things.
Steve’s a devil-may-care drifter working this job and that and in no hurry to save money for a sailboat when — in a pretty effective meet-cute — Connie gets him fired from his job as a toy department sales clerk just a few days from the holidays. A number of believable plot contrivances keep Steve and Connie in regular contact until a potential romance blooms that makes things stickier for Connie than she would like.
One of the reasons the love triangle works so well is due to Corey’s very sympathetic portrayal of Carl. In CinemaWorld, guys who look like Carl aren’t supposed to end up with gals who look like Connie, and from the moment the sleepy-eyed Mitchum enters the scene Carl becomes our underdog and, like Connie, we feel a little guilty rooting against him.
The plot might not surprise, but there are a number of individual scenes, all of them involving Mitchum, that do. Sharp, perceptive dialogue that roots around the human condition and comes up with some universal pearls of wisdom.
The film’s warm Christmas flavor and spirit arrives courtesy of an effective backlot standing in for a snowy Manhattan, young Timmy’s desperate need for an expensive train set and in the film’s most memorable scene, his encounter with the friendly president of big city department store.
For twenty years I’ve been waiting for the rediscoverers to rediscover this. So help me out here….
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
25 Comments
I also particularly enjoyed this film tho have only seen it once and recently on TCM.
It doesn't get in the way of my Christmas spirit and even adds to it. I would put it
on my Christmas favorites list tho be it a little short than yours, Mr Nolte.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Walczak, Big Tweeting. Big Tweeting said: BigHollywood: 25 Greatest Christmas Films: #14 — ‘A Holiday Affair’ (1.. http://bit.ly/4pOqUD #BigTweet [...]
This has been on my Netflix queue for weeks, but it has a "long wait" listing. Sometimes that happens just before a movie becomes unavailable for whatever reason. I hope that doesn't happen to this film.
We watched this film a couple of years ago. Because this movie hasn't had much exposure, we were not expecting too much. We were pleasantly surprised and added "Holiday Affair" to our home collection.
I've never heard of this film. It looks interesting, and I'll be looking out for it.
[...] post: 25 Greatest Christmas Films: #14 — ‘A Holiday Affair’ (1949) This entry is filed under America – Blogs, Big Hollywood. You can follow any responses to this [...]
The deceased husband deserves a mention in this love triangle, and the movie handles it well. War widows are not just for WWII.
John, I saw your review and went instantly over to Netflix to enter it in my queue. Uh, I must not be the only person. Because there's 'a very long wait' for it. But then, with all the lousy films out there, I don't mind waiting for a good film.
Merry Christmas.
I saw this one for the first time last year. I don't know…something with it didn't click. I think perhaps it was the fact that, for most of my adult life, I was the Wendell Corey part, forever losing girls to the dreamy good-for-nothing. It has always predisposed me to root for the underdog in films like this.
Let's face it–Wendell Corey wasn't as dreamy or exciting, but guys like that would do a better job of providing a stable and supportive home for both mother and son. Too bad that doesn't make a good movie.
Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey should be on the list.
I just noticed Steve Crowder's John Lennon hate video was removed. Thank you.
I feel your pain. I was the 3rd guy, the one that didn't make the movie, you know, the one that was totaly out of the question. But since this is a mostly anonymous site, I am the hero of the film and Janet is mine.
My wife HATES this film. Hates Mitchum in a Christmas film. Thought Leigh was too manny pamby. The kid was insufferable. Corey was the only tolerable character. When I told her this beat out Christmas in Connecticut she wanted to tear her skin off. Please redeem yourself by unearthing some true classics, like The Cheaters(1949) or Remember the Night (1940).
LOL — I'm a big Lennon fan (musically, not politically) but I don't see any reason the admins would want to remove it. It was a bit lame, but pretty damned funny.
Nevah hudduhvit.
But Robert Mitchum is one of the truly great actors. He never did all that shilly-shallying about his artistic muse or other BS, either. Paraphrasing him: I hit the mark and say my lines. What's so artistic about that?
He was so good in "Home from the Hills."
Just checked. It's on on Thursday on TCM at 9:00 PM Central.
It will be on TCM on Dec 17. at 10:00 p.m.
I feel your pain. Pacific Heights is currently on "Very Long Wait" in my queue.
I've seen this movie a few times and have enjoyed it but Christmas in Connecticut beats Holiday Affair for me.
Why Leigh ever dyed her hair blond is beyond me. She was far more attractive as a brunette.
John! Again – you surprise me with your list.
YES, I love this, too.
It's sweet and compassionate and tender.
And Robert Mitchum is VERY easy on the eyes.
Mr. Nolte, you're doing an excellent job of redeeming yourself with picks like this.
Keep it up. A truly enjoyable film – and an unusual rendering of a familiar genre in many ways.
I echo the sentiments that Janet Leigh was a serious looker, and much better as a brunette. She could also act when given a chance, as this film shows.
I used to be the sort of person who wouldn't watch a film unless it was less than 20 years old. However I've given up that bad habit in recent years and am finding it amazing how many fantastic old films there are – including "A Holiday Affair"
I just watched The Rainmaker on TCM, first time in years, you got the girl in the end, Kathern Hepburn,
over Burt Lancaster. I unfortunately, as the 3rd guy, didn't make the plot. I relinguish getting
the girl in my imagination and allow you to enjoy.
My particular film has a happy ending– I finally caught on, and I ended up marrying a positively wonderful woman. The secret–marry a woman whose first husband was a total s.o.b. It makes them grateful, realistic and appreciative of a guy who, while not Robert Mitchum, keeps the home fires burning!
Good for you, I am single but my good friend did just as you described and it has turned out to be
the best that could have happened to the two of them. They all most make me wish I was mature enough to make the commitment. As I said I'm the guy that there Mothers told them to avoid.
Bless you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.