HOLIDAY AFFAIR [1949 / 2020] [Warner Archive Collection] [Blu-ray] [USA Release] It Happens in December . . . But It’s Hotter Than July!
Even though he recently lost his job as a department-store clerk, Steve Mason buys an electric train set for a child he scarcely knows. It must be Christmastime.
Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh are warmly matched in ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR,’ a seasonal favourite scripted by Isobel Lennart (later to adapt Robert Mitchum’s ‘The Sundowners’) and directed by Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road movies veteran Don Hartman. Robert Mitchum plays Steve Mason, who helps a child who would otherwise find disappointment under the Christmas tree. The boy’s war-widow mom Connie Ennis [Janet Leigh] notes the gesture, and she is drawn to the handsome stranger. But will Connie Ennis abandon the security that comes from dating a prosperous attorney Carl Davis [Wendell Corey] for the charm of this unemployed man who puts his money where his heart is?
FILM FACT: ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ aired for two decades by Turner Classic Movies during the Christmas season; it has become a minor holiday classic. A made-for-television remake, also titled “Holiday Affair,” and was produced in 1996.
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, Wendell Corey, Gordon Gebert, Griff Barnett, Esther Dale, Henry O'Neill, Harry Morgan, Larry J. Blake, Helen Brown, Pat Barton (uncredited), Genevieve Bell (uncredited), Melinda Casey (uncredited), Chick Chandler (uncredited), Jack Chefe (uncredited), James Conaty (uncredited), Yvonne Crossley (uncredited), Michka Egan (uncredited), George Eldredge (uncredited), Louise Franklin (uncredited), James Griffith (uncredited), Patricia Hall (uncredited), Don Hartman (uncredited), Jimmy Hawkins (uncredited), Mame Henderson (uncredited), Billy Henry (uncredited), Robert Hughes (uncredited), Jimmy Hunt (uncredited), Frank Johnson (uncredited), Jack Kelly (uncredited), Genevieve Kendall (uncredited), Mike Lally (uncredited), Robert Lyden (uncredited), Allen Mathews (uncredited), Frank Mills (uncredited), Frances Morris (uncredited), Philip Morris (uncredited), Al Murphy (uncredited), William J. O'Brien (uncredited), Theodore Rand (uncredited), Joey Ray (uncredited), Paula Raymond (uncredited), Charles Regan (uncredited), Al Rhein (uncredited), Sammy Shack (uncredited), Carl Sklover (uncredited), Bert Stevens (uncredited), Harmon Stevens (uncredited), Mary Stewart (uncredited) and Charles Sullivan (uncredited)
Director: Don Hartman
Producer: Don Hartman
Screenplay: Isobel Lennart (screenplay) and John D. Weaver (story "Christmas Gift")
Composer: Roy Webb
Cinematography: Milton R. Krasner, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 86 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures / Warner Archive Collection
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ is a black-and-white 1949 light romantic comedy film starring Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. In this modest film, directed and produced by Don Hartman, and Robert Mitchum expanded from his typical roles in the usual “film noir” and war films. It was based on the story “Christmas Gift” by John D. Weaver, and originally was the film’s working title.
Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendall Corey all-star in this delightful little film about a train set and Christmas. Janet Leigh as Connie Ennis is a single mum, whose husband having been killed in the war and works as a comparison shopper who buys products and tests them out for competing stores. Connie Ennis buys a train for just this purpose but her adorable little son Timmy Ennis [Gordon Gebert] and finds the very expensive train who we assumes it’s for Timmy Ennis.
Steve Mason [Robert Mitchum] works at the store where the very expensive train is purchased and correctly assumes Connie Ennis is a spy, but because Steve Mason feels sorry for Connie Ennis and does not turn her in, and he is fired. Connie Ennis feels sorry for him and invites him to Christmas dinner with her son and fiancé Carl Davis [Wendell Corey]. Soon after arriving, Steve Mason learns from the little boy Timmy Ennis that he thinks he’s getting this great train that he found hidden in his mom’s room, although this was bought for her job – the train she could afford to buy him was MUCH cheaper and less fancy.
So Steve Mason decides to buy the child that exact train, although he is out of work. When Connie Ennis finds out, is very upset and Steve Mason is practically a stranger and is out of work. When the boy Timmy Ennis hears this, he knows he can’t keep the train and so Timmy Ennis sneaks out of the house to return the train. This scene of such a little boy wandering up the chain of command at the department store to return the train is priceless! What happens next is something you’ll have to see for yourself. Although the eventual outcome is rather predictable, and it arrives at its destination in such a classy way and is very engaging in its way that you won’t be at all disappointed.
This Christmas film is perhaps one of the best examples of the magical films that Hollywood was capable of making in the 1940s. The dialogue is among the best and the long string of coincidences that makes this film charming, and not at all clichéd. Plus, it’s a nice example of a film with a child star who acts a lot like a real child and he keeps his own among all the big-name stars! Give it a chance, as it’s sure to brighten up your festive holiday. All in all, this remains a totally hidden gem that has been given a new lease of life for a new generation.
HOLIDAY AFFAIR MUSIC TRACK LIST
AULD LANG SYNE (uncredited) (Written by Robert Burns)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Warner Archive Collection presents the film ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ with a wonderful 1080p black-and-white image and especially for a film of this period is show in the standard 1.37:1 aspect ratio. When it comes to the close-ups of the main actors, they are really sharp, although in some scenes appear softer and grainier than others, but despite this, the overall image presentation is really good. This is another first-class effort from Warner Archive Collection that rejuvenates and preserves a time-honoured classic festive holiday film. To sum up, ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ Blu-ray release is an overlooked Christmas Classic that gets a beautiful upgrade.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Warner Archive Collection brings us one standard 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio experience and is well balanced with the front speakers and has no age related audio problems. The sparse music cues by prolific RKO Radio Pictures composer Roy Webb are also balanced well with a relatively full dynamic range is also well executed and enhances the films performance. It also has a wide audio dynamic audio that embraces all of its highs and lows without any distortion, and all the dialogue by the all actors is really good and well prioritized and easy to comprehend, as well as with the crowded scenes like in the department store, a city bus, and especially as well as the open-air locations like a handful of scenes shot in Central Park. This is a really good audio quality track that perfectly complements the on-screen action throughout the film.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ Lux Radio Theater Broadcast episode #750 [1950] [1080p] [1.78:1] [59:56] Broadcast on the 18th December, 1950 and was sponsored by: Lux. Charming seasonal clerk Steve Mason catches beautiful Connie Ennis in a fraudulent shopping scheme during the busy Christmas rush. But when he discovers that Connie Ennis is a war widow and single mother, Steve Mason takes pity on Connie Ennis and cannot bring himself to turn her in. Steve Mason supervisor takes notice and fires him on the spot. Steve Mason befriends Connie Ennis and her young son, Timmy and this may complicate her plans to marry the boring nice guy Carl Davis. Cast: Bradford Browne (doubles), Colleen Collins, Edwin Max, Gordon Gebert, Joe Forte, Laraine Day, Lois Corbett, Robert Mitchum and Kay Christopher (intermission guest).
Theatrical Trailer [1949] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:56] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR.’
Finally, ‘HOLIDAY AFFAIR’ by film director Don Hartman, is a well-acted, entertaining, and a nice romantic drama that nonetheless features a few extremely memorable scenes and moments along the way. Although it is slightly dated, in some respects it still holds some value as a potential Christmas favourite for the right crowd. In this absolutely charming yet little-known RKO Radio Pictures Christmas film, where Janet Leigh plays a widowed single mother torn between Robert Mitchum and Wendell Corey and, not surprisingly, drawn to the one her son Timmy Ennis prefers. There's a sweet opening sequence and a nice sense of New York at Christmas time that's a touch reminiscent of the film ‘Miracle on 34th Street.’ Robert Mitchum reveals what a subtle actor he can be and Janet Leigh proves yet again that she was one of the most delectable of cinematic charmers and if you are in the right mood this is delightful seasonal entertaining film. It is definitely for established fans of this film, though newcomers may want to try before you buy. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
