Holiday Affair (1949)
Holiday Affair is a classic that is a favorite with some TCM viewers, so I include it here. But I confess, I have some problems with the story's premise, plot points, character arcs and conclusion. With the release in 1949, on the cusp of social changes postwar, maybe that's why it seems a little off. But I still recommend you watch it even if the story seems a little off.
You may see this movie promoted because of the leads, Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh) and Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) had become stars in horror/suspense genres. Ignore those promotional mentions. This is very much a more lighthearted romantic comedy w/dramatic tones.
Connie Ennis is a war widow, struggling with fulltime job and fulltime mothering of her son, Timmy (Gordan Gebert). She does have the friendly and loving attention of her boyfriend of the last two years, Carl Davis (Wendall Corey), a successful attorney who ardently wants to marry her and adopt Timmy. Steve Mason comes into Connie's life when she screws up in her job assignment and it causes Steve to lose his job at the store. Yup, it involves that toy train -that Connie bought for her job assignment and is returning- and Timmy spies it in her bedroom and thinks it's his Christmas gift. Then, things heat up again when the toy train shows up on the Ennis' doorstep on Christmas morning and Timmy sees his gift first!
Writing actual romantic story lines can be far more difficult, for the viewer needs direction for their emotinal pinnings to the plot and a emotionally satisfying ending for all. Holiday Affair takes me through the plot, but without the emotional pinnings and a subtexted, troubling ending. In fact, Carl suggests just that in his first scene with Connie while they're washing dishes together describing the divorces he's handled and what starts these wayward marriages
Reprinted from December 2017