Love Affair (1939)

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Delmer Daves (screenplay) and
Donald Ogden Stewart (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

7 April 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

French playboy Michel Marnet and American Terry McKay fall in love aboard ship. They arrange to reunite 6 months later...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Singer | French | Cruise | Cruise Ship

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars.

Cast

Irene Dunne	...	Terry
Charles Boyer	...	Michel
Maria Ouspenskaya	...	Grandmother
Lee Bowman	...	Kenneth Bradley
Astrid Allwyn	...	Lois Clarke
Maurice Moscovitch	...	Maurice Cobert (as Maurice Moscovich)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Spain:T | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #4778)

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

After this movie was released restaurants were suddenly bombarded with requests for pink champagne.

Goofs:

Continuity: Toward the end of the film, when Terry is on the sofa talking to Michel, she offers a cigarette to him. He picks it up, puts it in the mouth a little while and takes it out. Next shot, the cigarette is in his mouth.

Quotes:

Terry McKay: The things we like best are either illegal, immoral or fattening.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Happy Accidents (2000)

Soundtrack:

Plaisir d'Amour

Wonderful, charming, great performance

I didn't really intend to watch this whole movie--it was on the channel my satellite dish was tuned to, when i turned off my DVD player after watching another movie, late at night. But after only a couple scenes, i was glued to it! I was so impressed with the characterization and the witty humor (unlike other films of its era, the humor was not corny at all, and was genuinely funny), and I just HAD to keep watching, even though I wasn't looking forward to the tears that this film (and its later version, An Affair to Remember), is reputed to bring to all who watch it.

The humor centering around the nosiness and gossip among the other cruise patrons, was especially funny and timeless.

I found Irene Dunn's character (Terry) to be extremely appealing and likable, with a very expressive and beautiful face (and, as someone else mentioned, those pearly whites are stunning!). Boyer (Michael), was quite believable as a playboy experiencing true love for the first time. You could see the love in his eyes when he looked at Terry, and when he listened to her sing. And all of his other emotions throughout the movie, whether happy or sad, were readable via his expressive eyes alone--no need for any other expression!

Of course, the children at the orphanage were too good to be true (typical for old movies), but they were so adorable and likable, and I could just feel the love and pride that Terry felt while working with them. It really seemed genuine.

I had always thought of these old movies as corny, but this one changed my perspective! Highly recommended for all ages!