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DVD Holiday
This absolutely charming, wholly engaging romantic comedy is the hidden gem of the four collaborations of Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Most everyone's seen The Philadelphia Story, but few know of this unorthodox, hilarious comedy of life among the rich and privileged, though both were Broadway hits by playwright Philip Barry. Grant plays the happy-go-lucky Johnny Case, a self-made man with a dream in his heart of making just enough money to retire on and then traveling around the world. Johnny proposes to the lovely Julia (Doris Nolan) in Lake Placid, but it isn't until he comes to pay her a visit in New York that he discovers she's the daughter of a wealthy industrialist. Although his nonconformity ruffles the feathers of Julia's stuffy father, he's soon won over the whole family--most notably, Julia's rebellious sister Linda (Hepburn), who in becoming Johnny's greatest advocate finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. There's more going on here than a spiffy, surface romance, with Johnny's free-spirit determination going up against rock-hard establishment values, and director George Cukor plays up the social politics of the story just as well as the wonderful, exquisite romance. Hepburn and Grant, as always, are perfectly paired, and given able support by Lew Ayres as the black sheep of Hepburn's family, and Edward Everett Horton and Jean Dixon as Grant's longtime pals. Filmed previously in 1930; Hepburn understudied the role of Linda on Broadway and used a scene from the play in her first screen test. --Mark Englehart
The Battle of The Banter--Hepburn and Grant Make This A "Holiday" Worth Taking
There was a big controversy earlier this year with "The Cary Grant Box Set" which is a great collection in its own right. Many people were upset that it included the first release of "Holiday" which was new to DVD (unlike the other films in the collection), but no stand alone disc was being offered. Well, good news. If all you wanted was "Holiday" and you held out, here it comes ten months later.
Now, I've always had a soft spot for "Holiday." It hasn't achieved quite the classic status as a couple of other Hepburn and Grant pairings--"The Philadelphia Story" and "Bringing Up Baby"--but I actually think that works to its advantage. I might get into trouble for this, but I somewhat prefer this to the more antic "Bringing Up Baby" (Don't shoot me, I know it's a great film too).
Cary Grant plays a carefree soul that becomes engaged to a millionaire's spoiled, socialite daughter. He is expected to take life more seriously and responsibly--but that's not necessarily in his master plan. Grant, as always, is charming--the quips and physicality that were his trademark are used to good effect here. Katherine Hepburn, as the girl's sister, is obviously a better match for him! Hepburn uses her rapid fire delivery and plays smart and wry better than anyone else in her era. Of course, Grant and Hepburn have great chemistry and it's a joy to see these two masters banter. There's plenty of slapstick, but part of "Holiday"'s charm is that it balances this with real romance. It's funny and sweet.
Any fan of Grant, Hepburn, director George Cukor, classics and/or screwball comedy needs to check this film out. It'll make you smile.
My All-Time Favorite Movie
Wish I had had the chance to have seen HOLIDAY at one of those huge and majestic cinematic palaces of yesteryear. As soon as I saw it for the first time about 23 years ago on the small screen it fast became my favorite movie of all time. Absolutely underrated, this gem is a joy to see time and again. You'll fall in love with Hepburn and be captivated by the dialogue. Every scene will have you glued to your seat and you'll soon fall under its spell. The theme is timeless and the movie rises above any romantic comedy of then or now. Pure Magic . . . . not to be missed!
Overlooked
Outstanding performances and script with Hepburn, Grant. Lew Ayres is superb as desperate, drunken, younger brother, and Edward Everett Horton is a hoot as Grant's buddy. Can't figure out why this is not recognized as a solid classic. (Really slams the upper class--that could be the reason.)
2006 marks the arrival of five Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films (Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee, Roberta, Carefree, and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle) on DVD after the first five were released in 2005. If you only want the five new films, pick up this Astaire & Rogers Collection, Vol. 2 as a bookend to your Astaire & Rogers Collection, Vol. 1. Or you can get the big package, Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition, which contains all 10 films plus a CD, a bonus DVD with the documentary Astaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythm, press-book replicas, and some other material. If you want the big package with the extra stuff but already bought the five films in 2005, you can get the Astaire & Rogers Partial... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 24 October 2006 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Here are three films that couldn't and wouldn't have been made at any other time. Contrary to popular belief, the history of Hollywood permissiveness, what filmmakers could "get away with" on screen, is not a steadily rising graph from puritanical early days to the party-hearty present. In the early 1930s, a national mood of shock over the stock market crash and impatience with Prohibition licensed a relaxation of the movie industry's self-censorship policies. Sexuality--always a driving force in movie plots and characterizations, even when repressed--became a more explicit presence, with costuming that sometimes pushed the envelope for exposure of epidermis and dialogue that could be shockingly blunt.
many thanks to paramount, the edition is very very good and the bonus interesting. finally one of the most important italian fims of all time has been edited. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Bernardo Bertolucci DVD Release Date: Released the 05 December 2006 Usually ships in 24 hours
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