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Holiday (1938) Certificate U

Holiday

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Rated 3.0 stars
Average rating
(67%)
 
Starring: Cary Grant | Katharine Hepburn | Doris Nolan | Lew Ayres | Edward Everett Horton | Henry Kolker | Binnie Barnes | Jean Dixon | Henry Daniell | Charles Trowbridge
Director: George Cukor
Studio: UNIVERSAL COLUMBIA UCA
Run time: 91 mins
Genres: Drama | Romance
Languages: English
Dubbed: German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
Released: March 10, 2003
Also available on:

Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant team up in this classic George Cukor comedy about love that finally finds its mark. Johnny (Grant) has just met the girl of his dreams, so he proposes; she happily accepts. However, he soon discovers that his lovely bride-to-be, Julia (Doris Nolan), comes from a wealthy Park Avenue family, with a father who likes to make all the decisions and to whom she seems incapable of defying. Her unconventional sister, Linda (Hepburn), knows she wants something different from a mapped-out life; she also discovers she's falling in love with Johnny. Grant's effervescent performance is timeless, and his onscreen chemistry with Hepburn electric. Based on the 1928 play by Philip Barry, and the second time the story was adapted to the screen, this version established the rules for intelligent romantic comedies and provided a template from which the deft Cukor could further expand.

Rating of 5 stars out of 5
Radio Times

This absolutely magical entertainment — an expert brew of comedy, pathos, romance and social comment — comes courtesy of the team that, two years later, would reunite to make The Philadelphia Story: screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart, working from a play by Philip Barry; director George Cukor; and Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, he at his most thoughtful and charming, she never more beautiful or touching. Previously filmed in 1930, it's the tale of a man (Grant) who falls in love with a girl (Doris Nolan). When she turns out to be from the top drawer of mega-wealthy New York society, he finds himself enmeshed in more than he bargained for — especially after her sister (Hepburn) takes a shine to him. The stars sparkle in the midst of a superb supporting cast that notably includes Edward Everett Horton and Lew Ayres. Definitely a film out of the “they don't make them like that any more” stable.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Elegant, highly successful remake; still a stage play on film, but subtly devised to make the very most of the lines and performances. Horton played the same role in both versions.

Highest rated reviews

8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4 stars
For love or money?

A Customer from London, 13th July, 2004

As you would expect, this is another great performane from Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. When Cary gets engaged while on holiday, little does he realise what he is letting himself in for. Only on their return does he find out the extent of his fiancees fortune and what is now expected of him. Does he give up his own dreams and follow the family business in the name of love...? Of course, nothing in life is ever straight forward as Cary finds out when he meets his fiancee's sister. What follows is great entertainment. A sharp, witty script keeps this moving along quickly as we find out if love really does conquer all.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars
Diamonds never age

wolfie from Berkshire, 3rd December, 2004

What a super little film.

Hepburn was superb, Grant was surprisingly good, the plot was nicely played out. I really enjoyed it,and was surprised to see the "American Dream" challenged as early as 1938.

A must for a film buff. A little gem to take out now and then to look at with an appreciative eye

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5 out of 6 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4 stars
Great Movie

RosG from Argyll, 28th November, 2004

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie - a light-hearted fun escpade with Cary Grant trying to discover himself and finally ending up with quirky Katherine Hepburn (like we knew he would!)

There were no major surprises in the story - once we had all the characters established, it was obvious how it was going to end, but it made for very pleasant viewing.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars

sofatoad from BRENTFORD, 30th June, 2004

Holiday was a very watchable film with quality acting, but not so quality film effects (when Grant & Hepburn do a bit of a circus act) I enjoyed it and watched in English and Italian language options (latter for my wife's enjoyment).
Give the film a whirl on a rainy night or a Sunday afternoon.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 2 stars
Not up to much

charlieb from from London, 13th October, 2008

Rented this because I saw it in a list of screwball comedies. Unfortunately it is definitely more of a melodrama than a comedy and certainly nothing like a screwball comedy.

Hepburn acts her socks off but seems a bit miscast as the sister unable to throw off the yoke of her priveleged upbrininging - she just seems too fiesty to have put up with it for so long.

And Grant, well, I'm not sure I see what others do in him. Sure, he looks great throughout and is frequently charming, but his acting never really convinces you of his character's moral and emotional dilemma.

Not bad if you're looking for a love story with some sledgehammer social commentary.

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Rated 3 stars
Customer Review

A Customer from UK, 23rd June, 2008

I was a bit disappointed after my expectations were raised by the review in the Halliwell film guide where it gets a high rating and is described as "hilarious". It's a stylish film in appearance, the actors perform with great verve, but it's dated and the comedy depends on slap-stick rather than wit. Worth-seeing, but not a classic.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5 stars
Holiday

A Customer from Cambridge, 25th January, 2008

This is a magnificent film and the silly trailers reveal how the distribtors have failed to recognise its real place. Holiday looks at the rise of a self-made man into the riches of a New York family, only to throw away his job and his security in search of a more exciting answer to his questions. Acrobatic Carry Grant is excellent as Johnny Case, the man who falls for the wrong sister but manages to save herself for the right one, Linda played by Catharine Hepburn. The film is a detailed study of an individual's personal desires against the voice of the establishment. With an intense and witty script by Philip Barry and dynamic direction by George Cukor, Holiday will delight, challenge and leave you with a smile on your face. Unmissable.

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Rated 3 stars
NOT a screwball comedy

Jen from Norfolk, 27th August, 2007

I usually love the pairing of Grant and Hepburn, and I am particularly fond of 'The Philadelphia Story' which was also directed by George Cukor, so I was expecting a light romantic comedy. 'Holiday' does have some comedic moments, but it's really more of a melodrama. There are some great performances in this film, for example I really liked Lew Ayres as the tragically alcoholic younger brother, and both Grant and Hepburn are on form, despite a distinctly odd script. What is with all the back flips? In general though, 'Holiday' is nothing like 'Bringing Up Baby' or 'The Philiadelphia Story', which isn't to say it's bad at all, but don't expect a huge number of laughs.

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