The Worst Film Ever

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

Expected more

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

. . . about toy trains, check out the original version of THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. Released a couple years after HOLIDAY AFFAIR, the science fiction movie warmed the cockles of Great Depression Era hearts with its poignant scene showing an alien bonding with a little boy over a toy train set. On the other hand, HOLIDAY AFFAIR comes off more as a primer of what NOT to do with toy trains in a film. One key toy train no-no is to NOT break a tiny tyke's heart by messing with his mind over whether or not he's actually getting a toy train for his birthday, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Fourth of July or some other occasion for gift-giving, as does HOLIDAY AFFAIR. Secondly, only someone with a screw loose would dream up equating a toy train giver with stranger-danger warnings against psychos with candy. Finally, if screenwriters are trying to figure out how to work a beloved toy train into their scripts, they definitely should NOT come up with a HOLIDAY AFFAIR scenario in which crowds of adults engulf the kid with a train, stomping on this prize possession and breaking it. Probably the only reason that HOLIDAY AFFAIR is not titled THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHR!STMAS is that Dr. Seuss already had dibs on what would have been a more appropriate description of this mean-spirited story.

Directed by Don Hartman and written by Isobel Lennart and John D. Weaver, Holiday Affair stars Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey. Story finds Leigh as Connie, a widower with a young son still trying to get over the death of her husband. Semi-courting the safe and reliable Carl (Corey), Connie's head is spun when she meets the more macho and up-front Steve (Mitchum). This is all she needs at Christmas time!A lovely Christmas Cracker of a movie, Holiday Affair never over eggs the eggnog with the love triangle axis beating at the core story. The spectre of grief is a prominent character here, where thankfully the writers have come up with a smart and respectful screenplay that's blessed with quality actors able to make the script have resonance.The seasonal staging is delightful, especially when involving a white coated Central Park. Comedy is also rife, none more so than during a court hearing sequence when Harry Morgan pops in to add his delightful wry skills. The wonder of toys and trees, of snow and ice, of families and love, all come together in a seasonal film that should be on every movie lovers list of Xmas films to see. 8/10

"Holiday Affair" isn't a film that ranks with the traditional Christmas classics – "A Christmas Carol," "Miracle on 34th Street," "White Christmas" or "It's a Wonderful Life." But, it is an interesting and heartwarming story from a time when many people found Christmas observance difficult. The film came out on Christmas Eve, 1949, but was set around Christmas of 1947. World War II had been over just two years. While the American and world economies were in recovery, many people were still struggling personally. Especially those who had lost loved ones in the war. Many returning GIs were struggling to make it in the work place. So, it is very much a Christmas film of a special time in history.The movie is based on a story by John D. Weaver, "Christmas Gift." It has just the right mix of drama, romance and comedy woven around a Christmas setting. Janet Leigh plays Connie Ennis, a war-widow for two years. She has a 6 1/2-year-old son, Timmy (played by Gordon Gebert). He had never seen his father. They call each other Mrs. Ennis and Mr. Ennis. Wendell Corey is a young attorney and friend, Carl, who wants to become more than Connie's friend. But, she can't let go of the memories of her dead husband so she can move on with her life. Robert Mitchum plays Steve Mason. He's a five-year war veteran himself. After the war, he worked on a ship going to South America. Since then, he's been in New York working, and he nearly has enough money saved for his dream plans on the West Coast. He wants to design and build sailing boats. Steve enters the story by chance while working as a sales clerk in the toy department of one of the big department stores. Connie comes to buy an electric train that Steve is demonstrating. She has the exact amount and wants to take it with her now. Steve spots her for what she is – a comparison shopper (aka, spy for another store). She'll buy the train then bring it back the next day. He should report her to the store detectives, but he doesn't. That sets the stage for the rest of the film that involves comedy, romance and endearing actions by little Timmy. One can guess how it turns out, but it's still much fun to watch as the romance unfolds. The cast are all very good, and the direction and technical production are excellent. It isn't so much a stretch having this couple fall for each other in a very short time as it is Connie falling for Steve at all. Because Mitchum plays his role in his most comfortable and familiar persona as someone who isn't terribly excited about romance or anything else. He says he loves her, but he doesn't emote that love. That was an avowed characteristic of Mitchum's acting persona. Leigh gives more life and reality to her role. But, Timmy will capture one's heart for sure, and it's a happily ever after movie. "Holiday Affair" has two very funny, memorable scenes. The first is an exchange between Steve and Carl after they meet in Connie's apartment. While she's fixing them a drink they stand with their backs to the fire and exchange single lines of general talk. It's a very clever sketch, and very funny. The second is a longer scene toward the end in a police court with Harry Morgan as the police lieutenant. It involves Steve, Carl, Connie, the lieutenant and uniformed and plain clothes cops. It's hilarious and one of the funniest court scenes I've ever seen in the movies.Here's a little trivia. Comparison shoppers worked on the sly for large stores until the mid to late 20th century. It was one way retail businesses had to know what their competition was doing. They could alter their prices to draw more shoppers and sales. With the spread of television stations and sets after 1950, stores no longer needed these secret spies. In time, technology advances also led to the evaporation of other retail jobs such as floorwalkers and store detectives. Incidentally, Robert Mitchum was 24 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was one of a handful of actors who didn't rush off to enlist in the Armed Forces. But, he did wind up serving a short stint in the Army when he was drafted in early 1945. The war was nearly over and he never had to leave the States. From April 12 to Oct. 11, 1945, he served as a medic in California. My dad was in the medical corps and served in Europe. After the war ended there, he was assigned to the West Coast. He met Mitchum in a bar one night, and knew who he was. Mitchum was short on cash, so my dad gave him $10 and Mitchum wrote him a check. Needless to say, dad never cashed that check, but carried it in his billfold for years to show people after he told them the story.This is an enjoyable movie with a heart-warming story and a nice cast of popular stars of the time. It also has considerable historical value. It shows a slice of life for many thousands of families who were personally and emotionally affected by the war for many years afterward.

Delightful Christmas romantic comedy about a widowed single mother (Janet Leigh) who gets a toy store clerk (Robert Mitchum) fired and thus begins their bumpy road to romance. It's a very special movie, underrated in many ways. The performances are all earnest and authentic. The script is smart, funny, and heartwarming without being cloying. Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh are both great and have a wonderful, believable chemistry together. Child actor Gordon Gebert is adorable. His performance feels very real, though I suspect some of that is accidental. What I mean is sometimes the actor seems to stumble over lines in such a way it doesn't seem like acting. Instead of being a flaw, however, it actually works. His infectious enthusiasm in the role certainly helps. So the question remains how much is intentional on his part and how much is just serendipity. Either way, the end result is an enjoyable performance that feels legit compared to most overly-precocious child actors. Wendell Corey is really good in a well-written role. The 'also-ran' guy in romantic comedies is usually pretty clichéd. This one is a genuinely nice, dependable guy who, like so many nice guys, just can't compete with handsome dreamers like Mitchum. It's a terrific film with a lot going for it. It never talks down to you or plays with your emotions in a cheap way. It's just a very genuine, mature romance story about characters who feel like real people not movie 'types.'