Although there ia a vague similarity between the truer to genre Christmas themed 1947 Miracle on 34th Street, the Holiday Affair (1949) storyline involves a young and very attractive recently widowed single mother named Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh) who is being wooed simultaneously by two (2) men who both would like to marry her and take over the role of stepfather to Connie's adorable six (6) year old son Timmy (Gordon Gebert).
What makes Connie's decision to choose a husband more difficult is both men are completely different chaarcters and difference in the core values. Carl Davis (Wendell Corey) a succesful business man, and his rival for Connie's affection Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) who is unemployed but wants to follow his dream of becoming a small ship builder, not to make a fortune, but simply to enjoy what he spends the rest of his life making a living are both good men.
As the story unfolds it is evident that we learn that the unemployed Steve Mason believes in fate and although Steve gets arrested for a purported robbery that took place in one of his favorite places, the zoo, eventually it is Connie who skuttles the false arrest and in so doing it's the court judge (Henry Morgan) who make sit clear to all parties that maybe, just maybe Connie Ennis actions over the past 48 hours lay bare which of her two suitors she truly has the stronger feelings for.
The young actor Gordon Gebert who plays Connie's six (6) year old son Timmy steals may of the films scenes and he definitely reminded me of the young actress Natalie Wood's performance in the 1947 Christmas Classic "Miracle on 34th Street". Although not nearly as wonderful as the Christmas Classic Miracle on 34th street is, Holiday Affair is also worth watching for the fine performances by all actors/actresses involved.
I give the film a decent 6 out of 10 rating
What makes Connie's decision to choose a husband more difficult is both men are completely different chaarcters and difference in the core values. Carl Davis (Wendell Corey) a succesful business man, and his rival for Connie's affection Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) who is unemployed but wants to follow his dream of becoming a small ship builder, not to make a fortune, but simply to enjoy what he spends the rest of his life making a living are both good men.
As the story unfolds it is evident that we learn that the unemployed Steve Mason believes in fate and although Steve gets arrested for a purported robbery that took place in one of his favorite places, the zoo, eventually it is Connie who skuttles the false arrest and in so doing it's the court judge (Henry Morgan) who make sit clear to all parties that maybe, just maybe Connie Ennis actions over the past 48 hours lay bare which of her two suitors she truly has the stronger feelings for.
The young actor Gordon Gebert who plays Connie's six (6) year old son Timmy steals may of the films scenes and he definitely reminded me of the young actress Natalie Wood's performance in the 1947 Christmas Classic "Miracle on 34th Street". Although not nearly as wonderful as the Christmas Classic Miracle on 34th street is, Holiday Affair is also worth watching for the fine performances by all actors/actresses involved.
I give the film a decent 6 out of 10 rating