Holiday Affair
Holiday Affair

Holiday Affair

1949Movie87 minEnglish

Just before Christmas, department store clerk Steve Mason meets big spending customer Connie Ennis, who's actually a comparison shopper sent by another store. Steve lets her go, which gets him fired. They spend the afternoon together, which doesn't sit well with Connie's steady suitor, Carl, when he finds out, but delights her young son Timmy, who quickly takes to Steve.

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Insights

IMDb6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes71%
Director: Don HartmanGenres: Comedy, Drama, Film-Noir, Romance

Plot Summary

A charming and resourceful department store clerk falls for a sophisticated widow, but their budding romance is complicated by her suspicions that he is a con artist. He tries to prove his love is genuine amidst the bustling holiday season and the interference of her calculating lawyer guardian.

Critical Reception

Holiday Affair was a critical and commercial disappointment upon its initial release, overshadowed by its more high-profile contemporary films. However, it has since gained a significant cult following and is now appreciated for its witty dialogue, charming performances, and unique blend of holiday cheer and noirish undertones.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its witty and sophisticated dialogue.
  • Applauded for the chemistry between its leads, Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh.
  • Noted for its unusual, somewhat cynical take on a holiday romance.

Google audience: Audience reception is generally positive, with many appreciating its classic Hollywood charm and romantic storyline, though some find its tone a bit darker than a typical holiday film.

Fun Fact

The film was originally titled 'The Perfect Christmas' and was intended to be a straightforward romantic comedy, but it was significantly rewritten to incorporate elements of film noir.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

This is one of Janet Leigh's more endearing roles - sandwiched, as she is, between the rather dull but reliable attorney "Carl" (Wendell Corey) and the slightly enigmatic "Mason" (Robert Mitchum). It starts when she, "Connie", engaged as a ...
John Chard

John Chard

All anybody wants is for you to live in the present and not be afraid of the future. Directed by Don Hartman and written by Isobel Lennart and John D. Weaver, Holiday Affair stars Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey. Story find...