Can a devil-may-care guy find happiness with a conventional, upper crust woman? That's the dilemma Cary Grant faces in Holiday (1938). With Grant and Katharine  Hepburn billed as the stars and the strong chemistry between them, the ending is predictable even before the credits finish running. The fun in the film is watching the two reach the inevitable happy ending without even one passionate kiss.

Johnny Case (Grant) has fallen hard for the lovely Julia Seton (Doris Nolan). Upon learning that Julia lives in a Fifth Avenue mansion, Johnny assumes she's a servant and goes to the back door, only to learn his new love is a member of THE Seton family. Trying hard to remain true to himself while trying to please Julia and impress her father, Johnny finds an ally in her sister, Linda (Katharine Hepburn) and to a lesser extent her drunken brother Ned (Lew Ayres). Johnny doesn't have the lofty ambitions Julia and her father expect. His goal is to acquire enough money to retire young - to travel and enjoy life. He's actually surprised when Julia doesn't see herself skipping along the same path. But Linda, a free spirit imprisoned in a gilded cage, admires Johnny's attitude.

Crisp, clever dialog keeps Holiday moving briskly, and the sophisticated setting adds to its charm. Edward Everett Horton as Johnny's friend, Professor Nick Potter, is witty. However, his character exhibits reverse snobbery when he and his wife eschew the Seton's opulent New Year's Eve/engagement party in favor of visiting with Linda in the mansion's "play" room.    

The women wear beautiful dresses and gowns today's retro tastes should enjoy. But Julia wears a hat reminiscent of a Harry Potter sorcerer, and Linda looks like she plopped an old LP record on her head, but the women still look gorgeous. Watch for the politically incorrect furs - Linda's muff that she sports on one arm and Ned's overcoat with the fur collar, among others. Beyond the entertainment of watching a good movie, classic films reflect the customs, the clothing, the attitudes of times past - a wonderful peek into history.

Although Holiday isn't as funny as some of Grant's other films, it offers great entertainment which the whole family can enjoy.

Special Features

• Cary at Columbia - a documentary narrated by film historian Marc Wanamaker and Grant biographer Marc Eliot. In this special feature which discusses the days when Grant worked at Columbia Pictures, Eliot says, "The star quality of Cary Grant really flourishes at Columbia."

• Deleted scenes

• Photographs

• Previews

• Subtitles: English, French, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese

Director: George Cukor  

Writers: (play) Philip Barry, (screenplay) Donald Ogden Stewart  

Cast: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Lew Ayres, Henry Kolker, Linda Seton, Edward Everett Horton

Rating: Unrated - Suitable for the whole family    

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Run Time: 95 minutes  

Studio: Sony Home Entertainment

Format: Black & White