HOLIDAY FOR LOVERS
US, 1959, 103 minutes, Colour.
Clifton Webb, Jane Wyman, Paul Henreid, Carol Lynley, Jill St. John, Gary Crosby, Jose Greco.
Directed by Henry Levin.
Holiday for Lovers is a pleasant concoction of the late '50s - 20th. Century Fox, colour, South American locations, Cinemascope. it is the perennial story of parents and teenagers and the generation gap.
Clifton Webb continues his acidic roles as the father - who finally gets drunk, finds he is not infallible, gives in. Jane Wyman is at her most relaxed and charming. The daughters are played by a rather demure Jill St. John and a boisterous Carol Lynley. Paul Henreid is as suave as ever. There is plenty of beautiful location photography, an interlude with Jose Greco and his flamenco dancers.
A piece of '50s fluff.
1. Entertaining family comedy? Family questions? 1950s style?
2. Cinemascope colour photography, Boston, Brazil, Peru? The use of South American locations and atmosphere? Music? The musical interludes? Flamenco dancing?
3. The title - and the reference?
4. The Dean family: Boston, Robert and his being a consulting psychologist, his client and her interfering in people's lives - and his? Mary as the charming mother? Meg as the college student going on vacation? Betsy the 18-year-old - resenting all the attention to Meg? Typical American family? Carlos' criticisms of the American family? Their behaviour, attitudes towards South America, towards quick marriages? The place of the father - and his infallibility? The mother and her charm?
5. Robert Dean: father, concerned, acting rationally, going to South America, suspicions of Eduardo? His pretentious style, not speaking-Portuguese? The pursuit of Eduardo? Confrontation with Carlos and his dismissing him? The pressure on Meg? His hurt leaving her? His attitudes towards Betsy? her suitor? His going to Peru, the bullfight, getting sick? His getting drunk? His being on the wrong plane? The phone call and his relenting?
6. Mary and her love for her children, support of her husband, patience?
7. Meg and college, South America, the postcards, the possibility of the scholarship? Audiences thinking she was in love with Eduardo? Her going to Carlos? The dilemma about his rebellious attitudes? Her parents' strictness? Her decisions, the visit to Peru, the phone calls, the happy ending?
8. Betsy and her not getting attention, her being sent away, her encounter with the Air Force, Gatling and his pursuit, her decisions?
9. Eduardo and his South American charm, architect? Attitudes towards Carlos? Intervention? Appreciation of talent? Carlos and his rebellion, talent, relenting? The contrast with Gatling and the Georgia attitudes?
10. Perennial family themes and resolution?
