Holiday

Holiday
1938 - Columbia Pictures
Directed By George Cukor



SYNOPSIS

Johnny Case (Cary Grant) is head over heels in love with Julia (Doris Nolan.) In order to win her hand in marriage, he must impress her father (Henry Kolker) and show he has drive and ambition. But Johnny wants to retire young and live his life to the fullest and the father objects and Julia is not too happy about that revelation either. But this does intrigue Julia's free-thinking sister Linda (Katherine Hepburn.) Johnny must decide whether to compromise his dreams and live the dull life of a banker... or spend his life on holiday.



MY THOUGHTS

One of the most delightful romantic comedies from Hollywood's golden age.

If you've ever wondered why Katherine Hepburn was a big star, you must see Holiday. Hepburn often played fiercely independent, quick talking, quick acting, feisty women. This is one of the best examples of her screen image. She rules every scene she's in without overpowering her costars

Hepburn and Grant have electric chemistry, also on display in much better known Bringing Up Baby (which came out just months before Holiday) and The Philadelphia Story.



Cary Grant is great as usual. He's more blue-collar than his usual debonair screen image, which is a great contrast to the wealthy family he's trying to marry into. He's as funny as ever.

George Cukor's direction makes the most of the comedy and the drama contained in the superb script.

The film's script adds depth and substance to many of the roles which could have been just throwaway stereotypes, like Julia and Linda's perpetually drunk brother Ned played by Lew Ayers. He is depressed and sympathetic and offers wise advice and support for Hepburn and Grant's characters, instead of a wise-cracking drinker.
Even the father who could have come across as a stupid aristocrat, but the part is written more realistically than that. A typical screwball comedy of the era would go that route, but Holiday is so different from them, I wouldn't even classify it as one.

The message of the script is 'life is what you make it so make the most of it' but we're not hit over the head with it, which is always a good thing. The script also takes so well deserved jabs at capitalism taken to the extreme.

The sole weakness of the script (and the film) is that you can see the ending from a mile away. Hepburn is the top-billed star... and when she's not introduced as Johnny's girl, you know she will have him by the end. The film is still a sheer delight to watch. The journey is more fun than the destination... which isn't typical of your average 'Holiday," but here it is.