Terry McKay (Irene Dunne), a nightclub singer from the States, goes on a sea voyage to Europe. At this time, the Thirties, Atlantic crossings take at least a couple of weeks. One day, a love letter falls at her feet, through a porthole. But, its not for her! It was written for a gentleman, Michel (Charles Boyer) who accidentally let it fall. Terry begins to tease the man, who is rather famous for being both rich and a playboy. Newly engaged, this letter turns out not even to be from his own fiancé. Seeming bored with life in general, despite his approaching nuptials, he is struck by Terry's forthright and independent nature. Before long, he introduces her to his grandmother on Madeira and finds out that Terry has excellent musical abilities. Indeed, the grandmother likes Terry so much she vows to leave her a beautiful shawl upon her own death. So, its complicated. Terry has a steady boyfriend and Michel has his lady, What do they do with the budding feelings of love that are arriving, unbidden? Keeping boundaries, they nevertheless declare their passion for one another but agreed to wait six months. If, at the end of that time, they both show up on top of the Empire State Building near Christmas, they will marry. If one doesn't show, it will mean that it was never meant to be and they will never meet again. For six months, Terry moves to Philadelphia and scores it big as the headliner at a swanky nightclub. As the all important day approaches, she goes shopping for a new dress. But, just as she is crossing the street to see her beloved Michel, she is hit by a car and ends up in the hospital. Michel, stung, doesn't know about this, only believes that she really didn't love him after all. Will they really live separate lives from this point on? Before the enchanting An Affair to Remember, with Grant and Kerr, there was this lovely version of nearly the same story. Dunne is wonderful as the spunky Terry and, sister, she can sing! Boyer, too, is charming, elegant and romantic as Michel. The rest of the cast is nice, as is the scenery, costumes, storyline and vivid direction. Go back in time, why don't you, and choose this wonderful romance some enchanted evening!

This is a good movie, but compared to its remake -- "An Affair To Remember" -- it runs second. The difference? 18 years and Cary Grant.In terms of plot, both films are virtually the same. In fact, much of the dialog is the same. After all, it was the same director -- Leo McCarey. More often than not, I prefer the original over remakes, but in this case, I do feel "An Affair To Remember" is the better film. Cary Grant could clearly out Boyer Charles Boyer, but that's not to say that Boyer's performance here is not good. It is. And, although I really like Deborah Kerr and her "snappier" attitude in "An Affair To Remember", I think that Irene Dunne is better suited for the role, so in that sense, Dunne shines more brightly than Kerr. I could have also seen Claudette Colbert in the lead role.In terms of supporting cast, Cathleen Nesbitt in the remake was a better grandmother than Maria Ouspenskaya in the original, though the latter has certainly played a great many memorable roles in her career, and the former I was not familiar with at all until the remake. Ouspenskaya is very good here.Perhaps it may seem unfair to simply compare the two films, but after all, the director remade his original almost scene by scene, with close to the same dialog. How can one not make comparisons? Watching all three versions of this film is interesting, but the Grant-Kerr version is undoubtedly the classiest...and in color!Both this and the Grant-Kerr version are excellent films, but only the Grant-Kerr version is on my DVD shelf.

Irene Dunne is kind of forgotten which is a real sadness for me because if you are a fan of classic Hollywood movies you're really missing out on a wonderful actor who is adept at comedy, drama and musicals. She's also sweet to look at and makes other actresses of her time and ours pale in all manners of comparisons.Charles Boyer is charming and witty - and I feel although his name may be more remembered than Dunne's - extremely underrated. I hope that those who view this film will be compelled to watch his other movies, especially Gaslight and a later movie where I love him most, Barefoot in the Park. I feel it's in this later film his talent shines most.This film is, as several others have pointed out, is the original, the remakes are An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and then the most recent Love Affair starring Warren Beatty, Annette Benning and Katherine Hepburn (in her last screen role). I've never seen the latter but have viewed the former many time and while it's enjoyable much prefer Dunne and Boyer in the original which must have to do a lot with the wonderful director Leo McCarey.Leo McCarey is an extremely interesting directer because he was versatile and successful at directing popular award winning comedies as well as award nominated dramas (which have now achieved great appreciation).I would urge anyone who has an interest in classic Hollywood to view this fine film, or anyone who would like to see Dunne at her finest and of course Boyer too. Although as I previously mentioned I'm of the opinion that when Boyer was free of the studio system his talents brilliantly shine through in ways which his earlier roles could never allow. And for anyone curious (and I hope there are many) in the talents of Dunne and director McCarey.Even if the print is off (which others have noted) it does not inhibit the fabulous talent of director and stars. It's a wonderful film and worthy of loving attention and adulation. My wishes and hopes are that more film lovers will open their hearts to a forgotten film like the original Love Affair. After all, there's a good reason why Hollywood wanted to remake not once but twice - it's a gem.

An American woman and a French playboy fall in love on a ship and plan to meet in six months at the Empire State Building. McCarey remade the film in 1957, a version that is much more popular, but the original is as good if not better. Dunne is fabulous as the woman, bringing more warmth and a different sensibility to the role than Deborah Kerr did in the remake. Being French and being 40 years old at the time, Boyer is better suited to the role of the playboy than a 54-year old Cary Grant in the later film. Ironically, McCarey's film previous to this, "The Awful Truth," starred Dunne and Grant. Sadly, no good prints of this film have survived, making it difficult to fully appreciate its charms.