Blog Directory CineVerse: Tinsel time fling

Tinsel time fling

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Last evening, CineVerse dusted off an old chestnut that time seems to have forgotten: Holiday Affair. It proved to be a worthy little Christmas-time flick that generated ample buzz among our members. Here's what our gab session yielded:

WHAT DID YOU FIND INTERESTING, ORIGINAL OR UNEXPECTED ABOUT HOLIDAY AFFAIR?
·       The casting of Robert Mitchum in a role depicting a kind, lovable family man of a love interest is curious, considering he had just been busted for marijuana possession a year earlier, and also considering how opposite his Hollywood persona and screen personality is to a cute but dedicated character like the one Janet Leigh plays.
·       The film tugs on the heartstrings perhaps a bit more than you think because of the fact that Connie is a war widow and Timmy has lost his father—making us care more about whom Connie picks not only for herself but as the stepfather to her child.
·       The romantic love triangle battle between the two suitors, Steve and Carl, is comical and fairly well written; the casting choices are appropriate based on the characters’ respective personalities and what each represents to Connie: one a safe, conservative breadwinner, the other more of a soulmate who offers more of a risk but also more romantic excitement and good looks.
·       The character of Timmy is pivotal in terms of setting much of the plot in motion, and he’s a real scene-stealer, which is impressive for such a young actor.

THIS FILM LOST MONEY UPON INITIAL RELEASE AND BECAME A RARE ARTIFACT OF A CHRISTMAS MOVIE. DO YOU FEEL THAT FATE WAS DESERVED? IS HOLIDAY AFFAIR AN OVERLOOKED CLASSIC THAT DESERVES TO BE RANKED ALONGSIDE OTHER CLASSIC AND TIME-HONORED CHRISTMAS FILMS?
·       Arguably, this story has little to do with the holiday of Christmas and could easily have been set at any other time of year.
·       However, the same could be said of many classic Christmas movies, including It’s a Wonderful Life.
·       Ask yourself: does this film truly get you in the Christmas spirit? Or are you entertained more by the romantic triangle angle and the curious chemistry between Mitchum and Leigh?
·       Debatably, the film features no standout performances, no Oscar-worthy screenplay, and very by-the-numbers direction, so nothing truly stands out here except for a heartwarming story that’s quite simple.
·       The fact that it’s an obscure, little-seen Christmas pic could be to its benefit: it could prove to be a refreshing, although lightweight and unsubstantial, discovery to those who enjoy unearthing antique holiday films. Too much exposure could have created a popular backlash against this picture.

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