Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Holiday 1938


    This film is based on a 1928 Broadway play by Philip Barry.  Johnny Case meets Julia Seton and they instantly fall in love during a holiday in Lake Placid, New York.  They want to be married right away but first Johnny must meet Julia’s family.  Johnny learns quickly that the Seton family is very wealthy and this might not be as easy as he thought?  Julia has a sister Linda and she wants to plan their engagement part.  Their father Edward overrules this party and plans his own engagement celebration instead.  Julia’s brother Ned has given up on life and he just drinks.  Johnny isn’t sure if he’s ready to settle down to big business like Edward.  Johnny is thinking that he would like to spend the beginning years of his newly married life on “holiday” instead of pursuing wealth. This idea doesn’t sit very well with Julia or Edward?
     There is a twist at the end of this film that I didn’t know was going to happen?  The only down to earth people in this film are Johnny, Linda and Johnny’s friends the Potter’s.  Susan Elliott Potter and Professor Nick Potter.  They think Johnny really needs to think everything over very seriously before he jumps into this marriage.  Linda also has the same advice and Ned is always too drunk to give advice.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)
  
95 min, Comedy directed by George Cukor with Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres, Edward Everett Horton, Henry Kolker, Binnie Barnes, Jean Dixon, Henry Daniell.

Note:  Imdb 7.8 out of 10, 100% critic 90% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Three Movie Buffs.com average 3* out of 4*, TCM Leonard Maltin 3.5* out of 4* average user rating 4.7* out of 5*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 2918 reviews. 
Special Note:  The play was adapted for film twice.  The first was released in 1930 and the second in 1930.  Filmed in Los Angeles and Bishop, California and New York City, New York.  Studio boss Harry Cohn was upset at negative publicity focused on star Katharine Hepburn.  He proposed to take out an ad in Variety but Hepburn cautioned against the idea. 

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