In September of 1948, brooding Hollywood star Robert Mitchum (Rachel and the Stranger, Blood on the Moon) was caught up in a sting operation and arrested for the possession of marijuana at a Hollywood party. While that seems positively quaint by today’s standards, Mitchum actually had to serve a bit of jail time to make up for his transgressions, which would be dismissed a few years later due to being deemed a setup. When he got out of prison in 1943, the actor best known for playing darker characters in countless film noirs and westerns was looking for a way to polish up his reputation as a bad boy. What better way than to star in a heartwarming holiday film? Based on the story “Christmas Gift” by John D. Weaver, Holiday Affair finds Mitchum at his most charming opposite the incredible Janet Leigh (Psycho). While not a box office smash at the time, the film has garnered a reputation as a holiday classic over time thanks to numerous airings on Turner Classic Movies. Once again, Holiday Affair gets a major boost for modern audiences thanks to Warner Archive as it makes its Blu-Ray debut right in time for the holidays.
In Holiday Affair Mitchum plays Steve Mason, a veteran who is working as a clerk during the holiday season at Crowley’s department store in New York. One particularly busy day he notices a beguiling customer behaving atypically when inquiring about a model train set. The customer in question is Ms. Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh), who just so happens to be a comparative shopper sent from a rival store to get the lowdown on their prices. Connie buys the expensive train set with the intention of returning it later as a part of her duties. Connie is the single-mother to the precocious Timmy (Gordon Gebert), whose father perished in the war. Despite Connie keeping it hidden and telling Timmy that the present is not for him, he sneaks a peek at the train set which makes the little dude just “so happy” and feel good. When Connie goes to return the train the next day, Steve confronts her with his suspicions and tells her he has to report her to the powers that be, which would ultimately result in her losing her job. But, when Steve learns that she is a widow with a little boy, he is not heartless enough to enact such a deed and gives her the refund – leading to his firing. With their lives intertwined and guilt lingering in the air, the two start to have a spark of something more.
This is not good news for Connie’s lawyer boyfriend, lawyer Carl Davis (Wendell Corey), who intends to propose marriage in the very near future. The thing that makes Holiday Affair such a great Christmas movie is the way in which it avoids being malicious or mean-spirited in any way. Sure, when Steve shows up at Connie’s doorstep in the spirit of “friendship” after losing track of her in a crowd, Carl definitely does the typical male puffing-out of the chest to assert his dominance. He is also more than a little taken aback when Steve purchases the train set for Timmy, making his present seem even more lame. Yet, Carl is never outright depicted as a bad guy, maybe just not the best guy for Connie in the end. He ultimately wants what is best for her, which is a welcome notion.
The moving is as charming as anything as the natural chemistry between Mitchum and Leigh keeps you glued to the screen every time they are together. Connie is not trying to hurt Carl, but circumstances keep putting her in the proximity of Steve and one can only resist the bubbling passion for so long. Carl is the safe choice; he is someone who would be a good father for Timmy but might not quite be lighting the fire for Connie (if she were to be honest with herself). Steve, now without a job, makes her nervous in a way that scares her. This is partly due to her obstinance to having things change and truly move on from her husband, which is said louder by her actions than by anything she wants to admit out loud (even to herself). The choice seems obvious as an audience, but it is easy to put yourself in Connie’s shoes.
The first time I watched Holiday Affair about five years back, it did not really connect with me for some reason. I had it in my mind that it did not really tap into the spirit of the season as much as I had wanted. Thankfully, upon a second viewing, I have been completely won over by this picture. This movie is teeming with Christmas spirit and a simmering passion that is quite the combo around the holidays. There are elements that I do not completely love; Timmy can be a bit much in his childishness, and there is a stolen kiss between Mitchum and Leigh early on that did not sit well with me in the moment, but everything else is pretty much golden. Janet Leigh is such a ray of light in this role, masterfully balancing comedic timing with a natural allure that makes your heart flutter a bit. Mitchum may be known for his darker turns such as in The Night of the Hunter, but he knows how to use that charm for good in these lighter roles which makes me understand why my mother always gushed about him when I was growing up. The movie has some really funny moments with a highlight being a Christmas Day misunderstanding that leads to a hilarious scene with a police lieutenant (Harry Morgan, MASH). Holiday Affair is well-acted, heartwarming and the perfect length to keep things from becoming tired. This may not be THE best known classic holiday movie, but it deserves a place in your Christmas rituals.
Video Quality
Holiday Affair comes to Blu-Ray with a brand new 1080p transfer courtesy of Warner Archive sourced from a new 2K scan of the interpositive. While the original camera negative was unavailable, you would be hard pressed to notice a difference with this spectacular looking presentation. The beautiful black-and-white photography sparkles in high definition with natural grain intact. The contrast is well defined, and there is virtually no print damage to be found. There is an incredible amount of detail present with nice texture on the costumes and in the thoughtful production design. Black levels are appropriately deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. Warner Archive has once again proven why they are a leader in the preservation front.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that is likewise quite fabulous. Dialogue and background noises are represented perfectly along with the whimsical score from Roy Webb. No sounds ever overpower the classic dialogue that is being spoken here. There is no discernible age related wear and tear to the track such as hissing or popping. While mostly dialogue driven throughout, the more madcap moments are handled with ease and give the track a bit of punch. There are also optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film. Warner Archive has provided an excellent sounding disc.
Special Features
- Lux Radio Theater (12/18/50): A one-hour radio play of the film in which Mitchum reprises his role alongside Laraine Day (Foreign Correspondent) in the role of Connie Ennis. This is an especially fun way to experience the story that serves as a welcome throwback to a simpler time in entertainment. I could see putting this one on some Christmas Eve with the family.
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute theatrical trailer is provided here which does give away quite a bit, but leaves some surprises for the audience.
Final Thoughts
Holiday Affair is a witty and charming film that warms your heart in just the right way. The film honestly feels under-appreciated for the Christmas classic that it is. The chemistry between Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh is electrifying, and it seems like the perfect addition to any holiday festivities. Warner Archive has provided this classic with a stunning new Blu-Ray with a top-tier A/V presentation and a couple of interesting special features. There is more than one old-school classic holiday movie, and this one is a lovely addition to any collection. Highly Recommended
Holiday Affair can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
