Friday, May 21, 2010

An Affair to Remember

Nickie Ferrante is such a world famous bachelor that even one of the Gondoliers in Venice tells his clients that Ferrante is getting married. As he makes his way to America to see his fiance by ship he meets Terry, also engaged. The two form an immediate bond and have a great time during their fling. When they arrive at port they decide to meet again in 6 months atop the Empire State where they will both be wed. Leo McCarey remade his own Love Affair from 1939 and the result is a very fine first half of a film and a second half that is a letdown. After a while, the comedic airs dissipate and the sap settles in leading up to what proves to be an unsatisfying conclusion. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are terrific in this film from 1957, but elements of the story are stale and the script could have used a little updating.
**1/2