An Affair to Remember (1957)

An Affair to Remember
Directed by Leo McCarey
Written by Delmer Daves, Leo McCarey Mildred Cram, and Donald Ogden Stewart
1957/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corportation/Jerry Wald Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental
#331 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Terry McKay: What makes life so difficult?

Nickie Ferrante: People?[/box]

This movie could have been improved with less singing and orphans.

Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant) is a celebrity playboy. The newspapers are full of his recent engagement to an heiress and he is sailing home to meet her.  Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) is a former singer who is being kept in a New York penthouse apartment and designer clothes by an indulgent boyfriend.  She is sailing home following a European vacation.  The two strike up a flirtatious friendship on board.  Terry in particular is careful to keep the relationship within strictly defined limits.

When Nickie introduces Terry to his grandmother during a port stop, Terry has a spiritual awakening.  After this, the two are madly in love though they stay even farther apart on board so as not to stir up gossip.  They agree to spend the next six months tying up loose ends and seeing if they can adjust to a less prosperous life style.  If all goes well, they will meet at the Empire State Building at the end of that time.  All my readers must know what happens next, but far be it from me to reveal it.

This is a remake of McCarey’s 1939 Love Affair, starring Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne, which I much prefer.  The earlier film, while still full of singing orphans, has a lighter touch. Much of this is due to the delightful performance of Irene Dunne.  Kerr is excellent of course but there is just a much less improvisational feel overall.  This film is staid enough that all the incongruities stand out, starting with the inspirational visit with grandma and continuing throughout the third act.  Sorry to be a party pooper.

An Affair to Remember was nominated for Academy Awards in the categories of: Best Cinematography; Best Costume Design; Best Music, Original Song; and Best Music, Scoring.

Trailer