After accidentally discovering this film on one or another classic film network's graveyard shift holiday schedule, I've often wondered why it is not more prominently featured. The film blends some time honored themes of Christmas (the suspense and longing children feel at Christmastime, for example) with more complex undertones involving Janet Leigh's character, Connie. You see, Connie needs to decide whether she asked Santa for the safe and familiar toy (Wendell Corey) or the complicated model shipped without directions that may be a whole lot more interesting (Robert Mitchum). Leigh's wistful performance as a war widow struggling with needing to begin life again while trying to preserve the memory of her husband rings true. This is a great little holiday film and is now shown every Christmas at my house, just in case it gets relegated again to the no-show lists on air. Mitchum's performance is effortless and he seems to be enjoying himself-you will, too.
Review of Holiday Affair
