An Affair to Remember

This 1957 classic is one of the best romantic films I've seen yet... and as someone who has spent a lot of time (too much) searching for the perfect romantic comedy, I know what I'm talking about. My only complaints are that it may be overly dramatic that Kerr's character wouldn't want to tell Grant what happened to her; equally unreasonable is the motivation for Grant's character not looking for Kerr after she disappears. Love is likened to a perfect, spiritual state of being that is not a choice, and in Real Life, the whole drama could have easily been avoided... but then, why make a movie? From an ideological standpoint, the way disability is portrayed is problematic, what with the overcoming-all-the-odds bit, but it was the 50s. The children's musical interludes also drag a bit. However, the development of both the lead characters is phenomenal due to the exquisite acting and the delivery of intelligent, subtle dialogue. The tone is restrained and the dialogue is flippant and a little blasé, but this only serves to clearly convey the emotional truths of the characters - I'm a sucker for this one.

As a lover of classic films I find myself frustrated by the recent popularity of such a mediocre movie when there are so many much-better films out there. I think it may be its reference in "Sleepless in Seattle", another good but overrated film, that has made this one so popular today and even though the 1939 version, "Love Affair" (also directed by Leo McCarey)is considerably better, people, in this actor-obsessed age in which we live in, are drawn to this one because it has Cary Grant in it. Unfortunately this version has no soul to it and the two main actors have almost no chemistry between them. I would find myself nodding off from time to time if it weren't for the nice scenery and excellent story because the actors themselves seem to be sleepwalking through the story. In fact, even the 1994 version, "Love Affair" is better than this. I do like Cary Grant and I want to like this movie more but I cannot in good conscience rate it any higher than this. I wish people would try out the superior 1939 version instead, but I realize that that is unlikely to happen. I don't want to beat up on this version too much. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are still good actors and they do a fine job here. I just think that it is a mistake for so many to make a bee-line for this one film in the classics section of the video store and pass over so many other great movies. For many, this is one of the only classic movies that they ever see and it is a poor example to them of the quality of the films from that age.

C'est le film de fille par excellence !
Il sera à jamais intemporel,préparez vous mouchoirs!
Vous ne regretterai pas votre achat.