HOLIDAY

US, 1938, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres, Edward Everett Horton, Binnie Barnes, Henry Daniell.
Directed by George Cukor.

Holiday is an interesting period comedy melodrama which seems very dated now but is of great historical interest. It was another of the teaming of Katherine Hophurn and Cary Grant in the thirties: Sylvia Scarlet, Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story. The Philadelphia Story and Sylvia Scarlet were directed by George Cukor who directed this film. Hepburn and Grant are an effective comedy team. This film, very stagey in its presentation, is quite a tract about the nature of wealth and poverty in American society reflecting some of the socialist issues and attitudes of the thirties and anticipating some of the later debates about wealth. It is a contrived piece but has a number of entertaining moments oven though the film is mainly of historical interest. To market the film in England it was called ‘Unconventional Linda’!

1. An enjoyable film of the '30s, the teaming of the stars? A picture of American society, comedy, romance, social critique?

2. The focus of the title and Johnny's holiday and what it symbolised about his attitude towards life? Linda's attitudes?

3. The picture of upper class American society of the 30s - the sense of class, the importance of wealth, materialism, the use of capital, standards and expectations, the clash and challenge to the presumptions of the wealthy? The strength of the critique in its time? Its relevance now?

4. Cary Grant as Johnny Case? The introduction to him, vitality, Susan and the professor and their response, his talking about his love for Julia? A precipitate romance? His somersaults and rush? Cary Grant style character?

5. How well did the audience get to know him - an ordinary young man of talent, 30 as an important age and his decisions about life and experience, the repercussions of the love for Julia? His visiting through the servants’ entrance, his response to the butler and the largeness of the Seaton house, his direct approach to people, his hopes, lack of regard for money? Love and idolising of Julia? Growing friendship with Ned, the finding of compatibility with Linda? The direct talking and challenging of Mr. Seaton? A credible hero of a 30s comedy romance? The social implications of this character and his attitude towards wealth and promotion?

6. The importance of his plans, his telling them to Mr. Seaton at the party, his telling the truth? The people who praised him to Mr. Seaton? His disappoint¬ment at Julia's response, the New Year coming in and dancing with Linda, the announcement of the engagement and his running?

7. Did the audience expect him to compromise? For love of Julia, his response then to Mr. Seaton's pressure and planning about the honeymoon and business? Was he right to break off the engagement? Did he see the truth in Julia? The Potters being on the boat and their being the criteria for the kind of life that he ought to lead? Linda and her support and going to him? Were his dreams and correct? The effect on his future life?

8. The portrait of the Seatons – their traditional wealth, house, servants, the father's rules e.g. in church, having interviews with Johnny, appointments,
arranging of parties? His presumptions about the way people are and the way that they should act? The jolt with Johnny’s challenge to him?

9. How attractive was Julia - seeing her through Johnny's eyes, wilful, seeing her father in the church, hoping to persuade Johnny against his plans, the party, her relationship with Linda and seeming to resent her? Her relief at the broken engagement - and the audience'e relief? Julia as the image of her father?

10. The contrast with Ned as the spoilt young boy, his drinking, musical talent, sardonic remarks, support of Linda, criticism of Julia and his father, friendship with Johnny? Enjoying the party with the Potters and Linda? His inability to move away from his father at the end?

11. Katharine Hepburn as Linda? How much a focus of the film? The contrast with Julia, the introduction to her, her vivacity, chatter, way of life, feeling as the last person in the chain gang? The importance of the room as home, the memories of childhood and happiness?

12. The importance of her room with its childhood memories, toys, Ned's music? Johnny introduced into the room? vivacity,love for Julia, criticism of her father? Her wanting to arrange the party and their thwarting her? Her behaviour on the party night and not going down, the enjoyment of the party and the singing with the Cotters, somersaults with Johnny? The reaction of the Seatons visiting her? The irony of her wanting to drink to escape? The search for Johnny after his disappearance? her integrity as regards wanting to hear Julia admit she was relieved at Johnny's going? Her rushing off to the boat, her dreams, living her own life, her father's fear reaction when she told him of all this? Was she right in going off and wanting to live her life?

13. The social critique in the presentation of the monied Seatons at the party and the Potters and their ordinariness?

14. How was the film a light parable of American values in the 30s?