I'm a sucker for romantic films (full disclosure), and this one is so beautiful. The story is pretty well known, having been re-made several times (and heavily referenced in 'Sleepless in Seattle'), so I won't summarize it. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are absolutely charming, with their natural sophistication and class combined with little moments of humor, sadness, and dialog that is very natural. Their time on the ship and then with his grandmother (Cathleen Nesbitt) in her hilltop home on the French Riviera is magical. The film has a couple of artificial plot devices and is unrestrained in going for the emotional jugular at the end, which will have cynics howling. On the other hand, there is a lovely element of restraint in the pair's passion for one another. The two don't "do anything" despite their feelings, and director Leo McCarey even films one of their few kisses by showing their legs only on one of the ship's staircases. At the same time, everyone knows that Grant's character is a womanizer, he clearly tries to seduce Kerr in the beginning, and there is a sexual subtext to it all.There are many very nice little moments along the way to the ones people remember most. Grant getting flustered early on when rebuffed. Kerr saying "well that's the only page" with steely eyes, after Grant tells her that her life story is "only one page." The entire scene with Nesbitt, with her sweet old face and knowing eyes. As Nesbitt plays piano, Grant looking intently at Kerr singing (actually lip-synching Marni Nixon). Kerr saying "while we miss each other" as she pushes Grant out of her room, and then him poking his head back in to say "oh that was very sweet", lightly kissing her hand, and then "what you just said." What a great little bit of acting that was.The bigger moments are pretty special too. Grant's expression as he waits at the top of the Empire State Building, with the elevator operator noticing him again and again. That moment when they meet after the ballet, in the company of others. Does he fly into a rage or make an angry remark? No, he simply helps her with something she's dropped, though his eyes speak volumes. And of course, the final scene, when he finally does meet her alone, still not knowing her condition, and pretending he was the one who didn't show up that night. Yes, it's contrived, but her sacrifice and his regret for saying things without knowing the whole truth strike a chord. Who hasn't done something foolish in their love life at one point or another?I truly wish the last line had been changed ("If you can paint, I can walk..."), and the film is also a little heavy-handed in its Catholic references. The biggest issue, however, is in the scenes when the couple is separated in the second half of the film. The two songs from the children's chorus are excessively long, not particularly charming, and in one (of course) the African-American boy and girl pop out to do a dance. Kerr's singing performances are uninspired and also just get in the way. The back half of the film should have been tightened up, and Kerr's condition made permanent, to keep this already sweet film balanced. For that I lowered my review score a teeny bit, but it's still a classic romance in my book.

Available on Blu-ray Disc (Region B)USA 1957 English (Colour); Comedy/Drama/Romance (Twentieth Century Fox/Jerry Wald); 115 minutes (PG certificate)Crew includes: Leo McCarey (Director); Delmer Daves, Leo McCarey (Screenwriters, adapting Screenplay LOVE AFFAIR by Delmer Daves, Donald Ogden Stewart (uncredited) *** [6/10]); Jerry Wald (Producer); Milton Krasner (Cinematographer); Lyle R. Wheeler, Jack Martin Smith (Art Directors); James B. Clark (Editor); Hugo Friedhofer (Composer)Cast includes: Cary Grant (Nickie Ferrante), Deborah Kerr (Terry McKay), Richard Denning (Kenneth Bradley), Neva Patterson (Lois Clark), Cathleen Nesbitt (Grandmother Janou), Robert Q. Lewis (Announcer), Charles Watts (Ned Hathaway), Fortunio Bonanova (Courbet)Academy Award nominations (4): Cinematography, Original Score, Original Song ("An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair)"), Costume Design (Charles LeMaire)"In Italy... on the Mediterranean... across an ocean... and all over New York!"Despite knowing his reputation and both being engaged to others, a nightclub singer (Kerr) embarks on a romance with a womanising playboy (Grant) on board an ocean liner bound for New York, and determined to prove their love, they agree to rendezvous in six months, on top of the Empire State Building.McCarey's scene-for-scene (sometimes shot-for-shot) colour remake of his own LOVE AFFAIR (1939) soared in popularity following its significant, plot-propelling appearance in 1993's SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE.Remade again (under its original title) one year later, this is the most sophisticated and appealing version, except for the too-numerous moments that involve children, which are supposed to be cute but aren't.Blu-ray Extras: Commentary, Featurettes, Newsreel, Trailer. ***½ (7/10)

It is a rare instance when I share this "Perfect 10" honor with another Hollywood tear-jerker supreme, "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," with a luminous Jennifer Jones in perhaps her greatest film role, and a superb William Holden. But I think the biggest difference between them is that "Affair" has many more laughs than tears, due in large part to the largely underrated comic genius of Cary Grant. Grant, who gets my vote as the single most handsome leading man in all of filmdom, was also one of the most adept at using self-deprecating humor to give his films a rare accessibility, combined with a degree pure male charisma to be admired. In terms of casting, writing, and score, "Affair" should have at least garnered an Oscar for it's enduring theme song, "An Affair to Remember" (sung by just about everyone, but none as good as Vic Damone), which continues to shine in the movie music firmament. In spite of Grant's spoken admiration of the original film as " better" ("Love Affair," with Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer), alas, this one will remain the better known and most beloved version for the ages. It's a though Kerr and Grant watched the movie together and said, "How can we make it better?," then actually did. After dozens of viewings, I never tire of it's endless romance, tireless entertainment, and spectacularly heart rending ending, so touching that it even made Cary Grant cry. Catch it, and you will too.

An Affair to Remember (1957): Dir: Leo McCarey / Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson, Cathleen Nesbitt: Overrated yet entertaining romantic comedy about connection. It stars Cary Grant as playboy Nicolo Ferrante, and Deborah Kerr as nightclub singer Terry McKay. They are both engaged to other people but viewers are jerked around for much of the film as these two struggle to avoid each other. They are aboard an ocean liner going from Europe to New York but they have one pit stop where he takes her to visit his grandmother. When they get to New York they go with their fiancés, however they promise to reconnect in six months atop the Empire State Building. Tragedy strikes leading to an ending where one of the leads uses tactful methods to withdraw information that leads to the revelation. Formula but charming film directed by two time Oscar winner Leo McCarey who previously made The Awful Truth and Going My Way. Grant is charming as a guy who struggled to settle down until now. This is just the inspiration to bring him back to his previous passion of painting. Kerr is effective as a conductor for a corny youth choir. Other roles are not quite up to par. Richard Denning and Neva Patterson are absolute bores as the cardboard fiancés. Theme regards connection and relationships that shape up to last. Score: 7 / 10