Donald Ogden Stewart (1894–1980)

The depth and charm of Leo McCarey’s 1939 film, Love Affair places it a notch above most love stories. It is easy to understand why he himself felt this version had the edge over his own remake, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Irene Dunne really shines in this film, giving one of her finest performances. A fine script by Delmer Daves and Donald Ogden Stewart takes us from sparkling wit to bittersweet love with ease, thanks to McCarey’s fine direction and the performances of Dunne and Charles Boyer.

Terry McKay (Dunne) and Michel Marnet (Boyer) are on an ocean cruise aboard the S.S. Napoli, both contemplating their impending marriages; she to a decent fellow who is more a friend than anything, and he to a very wealthy industrial heiress who doesn't excite him much but can afford his playboy lifestyle. They meet by chance — or fate — and soon must avoid prying eyes when a charming romance begins taking shape. His engagement, in fact, has been touted profusely in all the society papers.

Dunne is a witty hoot as the very American girl from New York and Boyer gives a very charming performance as Michel Marnet, a man squandering his talents by living in the moment. Terry gets a glimpse of what Michael might be when she meets his charming elderly grandmother in a beautiful rose-covered villa in Porto Santo, Madeira. The chapel there moves her deeply and she connects with his grandmother, who fears there will soon be a price to pay for her grandson's way of life.

The couple promise to meet in six months on top of the Empire State building at 5:00 to see if Michel can earn a living through his painting and be worthy to ask her hand in marriage. If you’ve seen the remake, which nearly everyone has, you know one of them doesn’t show up, but only due to tragic circumstances. An unexpected sighting, and a chain of events involving a painting will lead Michael to the truth, and perhaps a second chance at romantic heaven.

A love story of rare beauty, the original version of this film is a neglected treasure in American cinema. The lovely Irene Dunne gets to sing “Spring in My Heart” in this film, and the Oscar nominated “Wishing” is sung by her group of orphans. A nice score by the always reliable — and very underrated — Roy Webb enhances the mood of another RKO classic. A truly memorable romance with great charm.… (mehr)

The idea behind this 1921 work was clever. As a sequel to HG Wells' venerable "Outline of History", it presented satirical accounts of important events in US history, each written in the style of a famous contemporary author of the day. Thus, we are provided with amusing accounts of such events as Columbus' voyage, Custer's Last Stand, the courtship of Miles Standish, the Whiskey Rebellion, and satires of the writing styles of such authors as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, Sinclair Lewis, Eugene O'Neill, among others. Unfortunately, this book will hold little attraction to most current readers. As for me, having read works of most of the authors satirized, I didn't find the styles sufficiently recognizable -- most likely an indication of my own insufficient perceptions.

Readers can find a free version at Gutenberg,
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1478/1478-h/1478-h.htm

and a free audio version at Librivox
https://librivox.org/a-parody-outline-of-history-by-donald-ogden-stewart/

Below are the chapters included:

I INTRODUCTION: A Critical Survey of American History In the Manner of
William Lyon Phelps

II CRISTOFER COLOMBO: A Comedy of Discovery In the Manner of James
Branch Cabell

III MAIN STREET: Plymouth, Mass In the Manner of Sinclair Lewis

IV THE COURTSHIP OF, MILES STANDISH In the Manner of F. Scott Fitzgerald

V THE SPIRIT OF '75: Letters of a Minute Man In the Manner of Ring
Lardner

VI THE WHISKY REBELLION In the Bedtime Story Manner of Thornton W.
Burgess

VII HOW LOVE CAME TO GENERAL GRANT In the Manner of Harold Bell Wright

VIII CUSTER'S LAST STAND In the Manner of Edith Wharton

IX FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD: A Drama of the Great War Act I—In the
Manner of Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews Act 2—In the Manner of Eugene
O'Neill… (mehr)

Comédie irrésistible sur un coup de foudre qui donnera lieu à une autre histoire d'amour, la différence de caractère entre l'homme insouciant et la femme richissime et ambitieuse prenant nécessairement l'eau.
On prend un réel plaisir à retrouver le formidable duo Cary Grant - Katharine Hepburn qui explose littéralement - la même année, en 1938 ! - dans l'excellent Bringing up baby de Howard Hawks.
S'il n'a pas le génie et la folie incomparable du film de Hawks, Holiday n'en demeure pas moins un délice de légèreté, de malice et de liberté.… (mehr)