An Affair to Remember

An Affair to Remember

Directed By: Leo McCarey

Starring: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr

Running Time: 119 minutes

Genre: Comedy/ drama/ romance

Rating: 5*

A famous cabaret singer, Terry (Deborah Kerr), seems to have it all when she meets a gorgeous womaniser, Nikolo, (Cary Grant) who has a cushy life. Terry has a glittering career, besotted boyfriend and a well-portioned apartment with an enviable view ‘of the closest thing to Heaven’ - the Empire State Building. Nikolo has a stunning fiancé from a wealthy aristocratic family who adores him and caters to his every whim. They meet in a series of chance encounters onboard a luxurious ocean-liner on a cruise to New York City and their passion flourishes, taking them, and us, through one of the most romantic, and heart-breaking, plots of cinema history.

The poise, cut and class of the lead characters, sophistication of word play, and visual innocence combined with linguistic innuendos and implied physical action encourages the audience to imagine the off-the-camera action and form their own opinions of the relationships between each of the characters. This requirement for cognitive surmising enables the audience to become more involved with the storyline and contrast the situations in the film with similar experiences from their own lives.

In an era where film-makers must be careful to produce a film which is both suited to the audience’s sensitivities and constructed to excite and engage the audience, the makers of this film have achieved tremendous success. The decade in which this film is set, and produced, was one of dynamic change with the breakdown of the family unit, marriage and promotion of promiscuous ideas. Whilst encouraging marriage and highlighting some of the negative consequences of affairs, this film examines the many complicated issues that arise in any romantic relationship, and observes several ways in which any relationship can break down.

Perhaps one of the reasons behind the longevity of this film’s appeal, and mention in subsequent mainstream films and books, is the care and attention it gives to issues central to life, love and passion, with which any audience can associate. The main thesis of the film is a conflict of heart and head. Two souls can be shaped for each other, two minds can think alike, two lives can be designed to intertwine, and yet, an external desire to please others, uphold a well-respected public image, avoid the appearance of neediness and attain the perfect career can prevent the realisation of hopes and dreams.

Exotic locations, tongue-in-cheek humour and exquisite costumes are used to highlight attitudes regarding the nature and role of affairs in the society of the time. The film begins with an assumption that an affair is a sordid bi-product of a life without morals, largely initiated by attractive, lazy womanisers, as exemplified by the language, physical expression and settings. It concludes with the view that an affair, although difficult, can be a necessary step in achieving truth at the deepest levels, a challenge to reveal the hidden self, and a release of relationships which can never be fully satisfying to anyone involved. The identifying features of a ‘good’ affair include decisions which honour the greater good, limit the hurt caused to jilted parties, and involve sensitive action, openness of discussion and careful timing.

As with most films of this era, limited special effects, cultural censorship and a style that requires actors to perform as if on stage, has created more raw emotion, audience engagement and an overall effect which has helped An Affair to Rememberto stand the test of time with its celebration of love, passion and the courage of conviction to make challenging lifestyle changes as life demands.