20 essential classic holiday films to watch this year

Holiday Affair (1949)

Holiday Affair is a film that doesn’t get talked about enough, and that really needs to change because it’s such a fascinating feature. The director isn’t a household name, but the cast and script turn this into a classic.

Isobel Lennart’s script lays out the story of Connie Ennis (played by Janet Leigh), a single mother who works as a comparison shopper. (Back in the day, companies would try to undermine each other by sending a comparison shopper to report back on the competition’s prices.) Connie ends up getting caught by sales clerk Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum), and while he doesn’t turn her in, he does lose his job. The two end up spending time together, only for Connie to have to decide between Steve and the stable, long-term boyfriend she’s had.

Janet Leigh may be the star, but when Holiday Affair came out in 1949, it was all about Robert Mitchum. The actor was more commonly known for making dark dramas and noirs, but a recent arrest for marijuana possession left many thinking Mitchum’s career was over. Holiday Affair was an attempt to rehabilitate his image, and it worked. He’s utterly charming as Steve Mason, the man who just needs a good woman to be happy. His character’s marriage proposal is pretty shocking (and somewhat rude), but you can’t help but melt for him.

Rent on YouTube, Google Play, and Vudu.