Movie 22 - "An Affair to Remember"

Alright...tissues to the lightweights!  This movie doesn't make me cry, but not many do.  However, lots of people seem to cry at the thought of this dramatic romance directed by Leo McCarey in 1957.  This was the second time Mr. McCarey made this story into a film, the first being "Love Affair" in 1939 starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer in the main roles.  The film did not do as well as he had hoped, so the director remade the film in 1957 with Cary Grant as Nicky and Deborah Kerr as Terry, knowing that the story was a good one.  This time, all the pieces fell into the perfect places.  Lesson for any director: you want your movie to do well, get Cary Grant!  Ha!  Anyway...Grant and Kerr are joined in this by Richard Denning as Ken, Neva Patterson as Lois, and Cathleen Nesbitt as Janou.

In this film, Nicky is a well known playboy, who is sailing to finally tie the knot with Lois, who also happens to be an heiress.  Terry is a lounge singer, who is sailing while her fiance finishes up a big business deal before they get married.  Her fiance is Ken, a wealthy businessman who takes care of Terry financially.  The common them, both characters are marrying people who can support them financially.  Nicky and Terry meet on the ship.  While chemistry is obvious, the pair keeps things cordial at first, due to their relationship situations.  Very quickly, the two find they feel much more than friendship for each other.  People on the ship take notice, but the couple does their best to keep under cover.  After spending the trip together, the two decide they have to be together.  Unfortunately, neither has much money and they have to break off engagements.  A plan is made...to meet in six months at the top of the Empire State Building and get married.  When they are getting off the boat, a funny scene of them reuniting with their significant others in front of each other gives some comic relief.  Rather quickly they both end their relationships and get to work, trying to earn some money.  Finally, the day comes.  They are to meet.  Terry gets out of her cab at the Empire State Building and tragedy strikes (bad choice of words).  She gets hit by another car and is rushed to the hospital where she finds she cannot walk.  Meanwhile, poor Nicky is up at the top of this building, waiting, and thinking only that she changed her mind and didn't want him after all.  Terry refuses to tell Nicky about the accident unless she walks again.  Ken returns as a faithful friend and helps Terry.  During a long period of recovery, Terry gets a job teaching music to children and Nicky paints to make ends meat.  After a while, the two meet again at the theater.  Nicky leaves not knowing about Terry and both thinking they are happy elsewhere.  One word...awkward!  On Christmas, Nicky is about to sail but decides to see Terry first.  He wants to give her a gift from Janou, his grandmother whom Terry met on the cruise.  He also wants to lay into her a little for not showing up...get answers.  In the final scene, Nicky finally connects the dots and realizes what has happened.  The two embrace, cry, and, it can only be assumed, live happily ever after. 

This movie was the classic "chick flick".  It even made a resurgence in the mid 1990's when it was referenced in "Sleepless in Seattle".  "An Affair to Remember" became new again and was introduced to a whole new generation.  The story was also somewhat remade again in a 1994 updated film starring Warren Beatty and Annette Benning called, what else, "Love Affair".  Of all the versions, though, I think this one stands the test of time and will be remembered most.  Like I said, Cary Grant!