Holiday (1938 film)
Encyclopedia
Holiday is a 1938
is a film directed by George Cukor
, a remake
of the 1930 film of the same name
. The film is a romantic comedy
which tells the story of a man who has risen from humble beginnings only to be torn between his free-thinking lifestyle and the tradition of his wealthy fiancée's family. The movie was adapted by Donald Ogden Stewart
and Sidney Buchman
from the play by Philip Barry
. The movie stars Katharine Hepburn
, Cary Grant
and features Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres
, and Edward Everett Horton
, who played the same role he had played in the 1930 version.
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction
by Stephen Goosson
and Lionel Banks
.
Although Hepburn had been Hope Williams' understudy in the original play, she only had the chance to replace Williams for one performance. Screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart had also appeared in the original stage version as Nick Potter.
), a self-made man, is about to marry Julia Seton (Doris Nolan), but then learns that she is rich. He proceeds to meet her sister Linda (Katharine Hepburn
), father (Henry Kolker
), and dissolute brother Ned (Lew Ayres
). Johnny discusses his possibilities with his more humble friends, Professor (Edward Everett Horton
) and Mrs. Potter (Jean Dixon
), as he struggles to decide whether to quit work to finally have some fun and whether he should marry the "great woman behind every successful man" Julia, or be with his more free spirited "soul-mate" Linda.
Cast notes
The character of Linda Seton played by Hepburn was loosely based on a socialite named Gertrude Sanford Legendre
.
co-stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne
, George Cukor decided to cast Hepburn instead.
audiences who were struggling to find jobs.
1938 in film
The year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
is a film directed by George Cukor
George Cukor
George Dewey Cukor was an American film director. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO and later MGM, where he directed What Price Hollywood? , A Bill of Divorcement , Dinner at Eight , Little Women , David Copperfield , Romeo and Juliet and...
, a remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the 1930 film of the same name
Holiday (1930 film)
Holiday is a 1930 romantic comedy film which tells the story of a young man who is torn between his free-thinking lifestyle and the tradition of his wealthy fiancée's family. It stars Ann Harding, Mary Astor, Edward Everett Horton, Robert Ames and Hedda Hopper...
. The film is a romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
which tells the story of a man who has risen from humble beginnings only to be torn between his free-thinking lifestyle and the tradition of his wealthy fiancée's family. The movie was adapted by Donald Ogden Stewart
Donald Ogden Stewart
Donald Ogden Stewart was an American author and screenwriter.-Life:His hometown was Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Yale University, where he became a brother to the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity , in 1916 and was in the Naval Reserves in World War I.After the war he started to write and found...
and Sidney Buchman
Sidney Buchman
Sidney Robert Buchman was a screenwriter and producer who worked on 38 films from the late 1920s to the early 1970s. He is also sometimes credited as Sydney Buchman.-Career:...
from the play by Philip Barry
Philip Barry
Philip James Quinn Barry was an American playwright born in Rochester, New York.-Early life:Philip Barry was born on June 18, 1896 in Rochester, New York to James Corbett Barry and Mary Agnes Quinn Barry. James would die from appendicitis a year after Philip's birth, and his father's marble and...
. The movie stars Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
, Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
and features Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
, and Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
, who played the same role he had played in the 1930 version.
The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction
Academy Award for Best Art Direction
The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
by Stephen Goosson
Stephen Goosson
Stephen Goosson was an Academy Award-winning American film set designer.Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Goosson was an architect in Detroit before starting his film career as art director for producer Lewis J. Selznick, and films for Fox Film Corporation such as New Movietone Follies of 1930...
and Lionel Banks
Lionel Banks
With over 200 films to his credit, Lionel Banks was a hard-working art director from 1935 to 1949...
.
Although Hepburn had been Hope Williams' understudy in the original play, she only had the chance to replace Williams for one performance. Screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart had also appeared in the original stage version as Nick Potter.
Plot
Johnny Case (Cary GrantCary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
), a self-made man, is about to marry Julia Seton (Doris Nolan), but then learns that she is rich. He proceeds to meet her sister Linda (Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
), father (Henry Kolker
Henry Kolker
Henry Kolker was an American stage and film actor and director...
), and dissolute brother Ned (Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
). Johnny discusses his possibilities with his more humble friends, Professor (Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
) and Mrs. Potter (Jean Dixon
Jean Dixon
Jean Dixon was an American actress.-Career:Born Jean Jacques, she was educated in France. While there, she studied dramatics under Sarah Bernhardt. She was on the Broadway stage a number of years before making her screen debut. Her style of "brittle comedy" was seen in plays like June Moon by...
), as he struggles to decide whether to quit work to finally have some fun and whether he should marry the "great woman behind every successful man" Julia, or be with his more free spirited "soul-mate" Linda.
Cast
- Cary GrantCary GrantArchibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
as Johnny Case - Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnKatharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
as Linda Seton - Doris Nolan as Julia Seton
- Lew AyresLew AyresLew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
as Ned Seton - Henry KolkerHenry KolkerHenry Kolker was an American stage and film actor and director...
as Edward Seton - Edward Everett HortonEdward Everett HortonEdward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
as Professor Nick Potter - Jean DixonJean DixonJean Dixon was an American actress.-Career:Born Jean Jacques, she was educated in France. While there, she studied dramatics under Sarah Bernhardt. She was on the Broadway stage a number of years before making her screen debut. Her style of "brittle comedy" was seen in plays like June Moon by...
as Susan Potter
Cast notes
The character of Linda Seton played by Hepburn was loosely based on a socialite named Gertrude Sanford Legendre
Gertrude Sanford Legendre
Gertrude Sanford Legendre was an American socialite who served as a spy during World War II. She was also a noted explorer, big-game hunter, environmentalist, and owner of Medway plantation in South Carolina.-Early life:...
.
Production
In 1936, Columbia Pictures purchased a group of scripts, including the script for Holiday, from RKO for $80,000. Although the film was originally intended to reunite The Awful TruthThe Awful Truth
The Awful Truth is a 1937 screwball comedy film starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. The plot concerns the machinations of a soon-to-be-divorced couple, played by Dunne and Grant, who go to great lengths to try to ruin each other's romantic escapades...
co-stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
, George Cukor decided to cast Hepburn instead.
Reception
Although the film was not a financial success, it was well-received by critics. Hepburn biographers have speculated that Johnny Case's plans to give up working did not appeal to Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
audiences who were struggling to find jobs.
External links
- Classic Film Guide
- Steven D. Greydanus review at Decent Films Guide
- Reel.com
- Rotten Tomatoes
- Nick Davis review at Nick's Flick Picks
- Dennis Schwartz review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews
- Time Out Magazine