Holiday Affair

Holiday Affair is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by Don Hartman and starring Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey. It was based on the story Christmas Gift by John D. Weaver, which was also the film's working title. The film allowed Mitchum to briefly depart from his typical roles in film noir, Western films and war films, and his casting was intended to help rehabilitate his image following a notorious marijuana bust. A made-for-television remake, also titled Holiday Affair, was produced in 1996. Plot Steve Mason, a veteran seeking to go to Southern California to build sailboats, is employed as a salesman during the Christmas season at Crowley's, a New York department store. Connie Ennis is a comparative shopper for a rival store, and hurriedly buys an expensive toy train set from him without asking a single question about it. That night, her son Timmy becomes excited when he peeks at what he thinks is his present, only to be disappointed when his mother sets him straight. When Connie seeks a refund on the train set the next day, Steve reveals he had suspected her all along and says that he should see to it that her identity is posted everywhere, which would lose her her job. She explains that she is a war widow with a son to support. Steve apologizes and refunds her money, a gesture that costs him his job. In spite of this, the laid-back Steve invites Connie to lunch - which turns out to be hot dogs with the seals in Central Park. Afterward, Steve helps her complete her shopping. They become separated boarding a bus, but Steve manages to wheedle her home address out of her employer and shows up there, being introduced to the "man of the house" - her son - and her longtime steady suitor, lawyer Carl Davis. Timmy and Steve get acquainted. When Timmy gets belligerent with Carl, instead of disciplining Timmy, she instead insults Carl, who immediately leaves.