An Affair to Remember

AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER [1957] [Deluxe Limited Edition DigiBook] [Blu-ray] In Italy! On The Mediterranean! Across An Ocean! And All Over New York!In this poignant and humorous love story nominated for four Academy Awards® where Nickie [Cary Grant] and Terry [Deborah Kerr] meet on board an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Although each is engaged to someone else, they agree to rendezvous six months later at the top of the Empire State Building if they still feel the same way about each other. But tragedy strikes . . . and prevents their rendezvous, but their future takes an emotional and uncertain turn.FILM FACT: ‘An Affair to Remember’ was nominated at the Academy Awards® for four Oscars and they were Best Song, Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Costume Design. Contributing to the success of the 1957 film is its theme song, "An Affair to Remember (Our Love Affair)" sung by Vic Damone, and composed by Harry Warren and with lyrics by Leo McCarey and Harold Adamson, which has since become a jazz standard.Cast: Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Richard Denning, Neva Patterson, Cathleen Nesbitt, Robert Q. Lewis, Charles Watts, Fortunio Bonanova, Dorothy Adams (uncredited), Geneviève Aumont (uncredited), Richard Allen (uncredited) and Marni Nixon (Terry McKay singing voice)Director: Leo McCareyProducers: Jerry Wald and Leo McCareyScreenplay: Delmer Daves, Donald Ogden Stewart and Leo McCareyComposer: Hugo FriedhoferCinematography: Milton KrasnerVideo Resolution: 1080p [Color By DeLuxe]Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 [CinemaScope]Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo, Spanish: 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio and French: 2.0 Dolby Digital StereoSubtitles: English SDH and SpanishRunning Time: 115 minutesRegion: Region A/1Number of discs: 1Studio: 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentAndrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘An Affair to Remember’ is one of the most popular love stories ever made in Hollywood. Many fans would hail it as the most romantic film ever made. With its mix of sophistication and sentimentality, the film offers one of the most complete expressions of Leo McCarey's personality as a writer-director. In particular, auteur critics have hailed his ability to make the transition from comedy in the early scenes to the more deeply romantic mood of the film's ending, a characteristic of such other Leo McCarey films as ‘Going My Way’ [1944] and ‘The Bells of St. Mary's’ [1945].“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. . . We’ve already missed the spring,” laments Deborah Kerr’s Terry McKay of the 1957 classic ‘An Affair to Remember’ and an unforgettable romance that has managed to melt frost-bitten hearts everywhere for more than half a century. Though it is well-known for being the romantic film to end all romantic films, ‘An Affair to Remember’ is more than a mere cultural touchstone and it’s a great film in and of itself.Nickie [Cary Grant] a notorious playboy and Terry [Deborah Kerr], an heiress, meet on the SS Constitution ocean liner. Bonded by their shared love of the finer things in life (including but not limited to pink champagne and sailing around the Mediterranean), the two instantly hit it off. Exchanging witty banter and stolen glances, their chemistry is apparent. There’s only one problem, both parties are engaged to other people. Upon docking in New York City, the pair, unable to deny their mutual attraction, agrees to meet in six months’ time at the top of the Empire State Building. However, when an unfortunate accident hinders Terry from attending their reunion, it looks as though their seemingly-fated love affair is no longer on the cards. But, of course, the heart wants what the heart wants and as chance (or indeed, Hollywood) would have it, Terry and Nickie cross paths again in the most unexpected way.This is a film about the slow-burn of attraction, delighting in the small moments that form the prelude to a kiss (and one of the most memorable on-screen first kisses of all-time, at that). Sparks fly as the couple tease one another with a barrage of whip-smart quips, the on-screen sexual tension between stars Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant is smouldering, who brings the film alive, managing to capture the inexplicable magic of falling in love.In fact, it’s almost impossible not to feel one’s own knees buckle as the dizzying intensity with which the couple fall in love unfolds. In one particularly beautiful scene, they visit Nickie’s doting Grandma Janou [Cathleen Nesbitt] in her home on the French Riviera. Nickie’s relationship with the tender-hearted Grandma Janou is a window that allows Terry a rare glimpse into the charismatic bachelor’s childhood. Cary Grant balances Nickie’s artistic sensibilities with cheeky cocksure confidence, showing us and indeed, seducing us with Nickie’s vulnerable side. And yet, despite their debonair appearances, it is the unsaid feelings and heart-pounding what-ifs that have us rooting for Nickie and Terry and reaching for the tissues right until the very end. Beautifully shot in vivid Color By DeLuxe, and accompanied by Harry Warren’s rich, romantic score, this bittersweet romance is a nostalgic cinematic experience that has truly stood the test of time.The result was ‘An Affair to Remember’ [1957], one of the most popular love stories ever made in Hollywood. Many fans would hail it as the most romantic movie ever made. With its mix of sophistication and sentimentality, the film offers one of the most complete expressions of Leo McCarey's personality as a writer-director. In particular, auteur critics have hailed his ability to make the transition from comedy in the early scenes to the more deeply romantic mood of the film's ending, a characteristic of such other Leo McCarey films as ‘Going My Way’ [1944] and ‘The Bells of St. Mary's’ [1945]. The film was also Leo McCarey's last great success, capping a career that stretched back to the silent comedies he wrote and directed for Hal Roach.‘An Affair to Remember’ was one of three 1957 films that brought Cary Grant out of retirement after his performance in ‘To Catch a Thief’ two years earlier. With the critical and box-office failure of his other two 1957 films, ‘The Pride and the Passion’ and ‘Kiss Them for Me’ and it provided the success Cary Grant needed to keep him making films until his ultimate retirement in 1966. It remains one of his most popular films. The film also remains Deborah Kerr's most popular. Throughout her later years, she was always pleased when she met fans and they told her they had most recently seen her in ‘An Affair to Remember’ and was the most successful of the three films Cary Grant made with Deborah Kerr. Although the two seemed perfectly matched, their other vehicles, ‘Dream Wife’ [1953] and ‘The Grass Is Greener’ [1960], did not capture their chemistry as effectively. The film was producer Jerry Wald's first under contract to 20th Century Fox, where he would finish his career with such acclaimed features as ‘Peyton Place’ [1957], ‘The Long, Hot Summer’ [1958] and ‘Sons and Lovers’ [1960].Blu-ray Video Quality – The film’s stunning Cinemascope aspect ratio of 2.35:1 is replicated to perfection and so is the beautiful 1080p encoded image transfer. Colour is nicely saturated without being overblown (though stock photography and rear screen projection looks much less impressive). Flesh tones, from the nut brown tan that Cary Grant sports to the peaches ‘n cream complexion of Deborah Kerr, are spot on. Black levels aren’t very deep and are the weakest aspect of the transfer. It’s very clean, however, with no visible scratches or blemishes, and sharpness is nicely achieved.Blu-ray Audio Quality – The Blu-ray offers both English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo. The 2.0 Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack is somewhat loud and it is a bit harsher sounding than the with the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix, which is much more refined and smoother. There’s a tiny bit of hiss in some of the earlier quieter scenes of the film, but it’s never intrusive to the listening experience. Apart from the music score, there isn’t much surround activity here. Dialogue is always easily discernible in the centre channel though it is clear there was quite a bit of work with the film soundtrack.Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:Beautiful 24 pages Collectable DigiBook Packaging: That features text about the story, the stars and the director, and also stills in gorgeous Colour and some mostly in Black-and-White photographs.Audio Commentary: Audio Commentary by Singer Marnie Nixon and Film Historian Joseph McBride: The audio commentary is provided by American film historian Joseph McBride and singer Marni Nixon who talk lovingly about the Leo McArey remake of his original black-and-white ‘Love Affair.’ Marni Nixon wished she had sung the film song title, but heaps great praise on Vic Damone’s interpretation of the film’s title song. We get to hear Joseph McBride has great affection to this film and the director, as he has so many interesting facts about the process of making ‘An Affair to Remember.’ Another interesting information we hear is the fact that Marni Nixon had worked before with Deborah Kerr in dubbing her voice in the film ‘The King and I,’ but because Marni Nixon had a year’s contract with NBC, she wondered how she could work on this particular film, but Deborah Kerr assured Marni Nixon that she knew how to dub her singing voice for this film. But to show how professional Marni Nixon was, because the film was released in different in different languages; well Marni Nixon assured the studio executives that she could sing in all the different languages. But overall I can really recommend you give this brilliant Audi Commentary a good try out, as Joseph McBride is a real joy to listen to and it is one of the best audio commentaries I have heard in a very long time.Feature Documentary: Affairs to Remember: Deborah Kerr [2007] [1080p] [16:9] [5:34] Peter Viertel [Husband to Deborah Kerr] talks about he met Deborah Kerr, who was already married to Tony Bartley, who was extremely jealous of Ms. Deborah Kerr success and eventually they both got divorced. Sadly in her later years, Deborah Kerr suffered from a serious illness of Parkinson and eventually passed away in England on 16th October, 2007 at the age of 86.Feature Documentary: Affairs to Remember: Cary Grant [2007] [1080p] [16:9] [9:48] Barbara Grant James [Cary Grant’s Widow] talks very affectionately about how she met Cary Grant in the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Barbara Grant admitted that she never hardly saw any of Cary Grant’s films and how charming he was off screen. Despite Barbara Grant and Cary Grant were both in a relationship at the time, but eventually grew closer together and finally both got divorced, and were finally able to live together until Cary Grant passed away on the 29th November, 1986 in Davenport, Iowa.Feature Documentary: Directed by Leo McCarey [2007] [1080p] [16:9] [22:33] Scott McIsaac [Film Historian]; Paul Harrill [Author/Film Professor]; Peter Bogdanovich [Author/Film Maker]; and Rick Jewel [USC Professor Cinema-Television] talk glowingly about this giant among directors of his luminary work of his classic films. You hear about how Leo McCarey tried different career choices. First he tried to become a prize fighter, a miner, a sports writer for the LA Times. Then he went to the USC to study law and eventually became a lawyer, but this did not last long due to an unsuccessful court case that went badly wrong, and eventually got a job in Hollywood as a script girl for the director Todd Browning. When he finally got to direct films, he famously worked with Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Mae West, The Marx Brothers, Charles Laughton, Cary grant, Irene Dunne and many more famous actors. He directed the ‘Love Affair’ film and then went onto to do the remake ‘An Affair to Remember.’ He also made other classic films, which included his last film he made was ‘Satan never Sleeps’ which he hated directing, plus he hated all the actors and eventually sadly passed away suffering from emphysema in 1969.Feature Documentary: A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald [2007] [1080p] [16:9] [16:06] Malvin Wald [Brother to Screenwriter]; Robby Wald [Son]; Richard Baer [Writer]; Andrew Wald [Son] and Constance Wald [Widow of Jerry Wald] talk glowingly and affectionate about the life and times of this special Producer jerry Wald, who worked in different film companies from 1944 to 1962, who was also passionate about his work in films. The passion sort of started when Jerry Wald worked with his father, who to get any business, would tell them very elaborate stories, to the point he persuaded to get orders for the Company Jerry Wald’s father worked for. So this how Jerry Wald got into the film industry, as he could also weave a good story to the film executives to get certain stars into a particular film. But his greatest gift was working with top authors and turning their books into a working film script, and also appreciating the importance of the audience who went to see the films he worked on. He was totally motivated by the whole film industry and a total workaholic and sadly this was his undoing and eventually passed away at the age of 50 after three heart attacks. Despite this sad fact, his volume of work for the film industry, speaks for itself.Feature Documentary: The Look of An Affair to Remember [2007] [1080p] [16:9] [9:01] With any film, it has to have a look, and also how the director and the production designer wants the film image looks in the frame and to guide us through this homage to ‘An Affair to Remember’ we have contributions from John Cork [Film Historian]; Peter Bogdanovich [Author/Film Maker]; Wes Gehring [Author/Film Professor] and Rick Jewell [USC Professor Cinema-Television]. With all these contributors they give great praise on the director Leo McArey and his use of the CinemaScope aspect ratio, to make you fall in love with this particular film. One great surprise you hear is how Cary Grant insisted he wanted to shoot the film an actual liner, but Leo McArey insisted that he would only film most of the film on the backlot of the studio and that is why the director made ‘An Affair to Remember’ such a magical joyous classic romantic film, that has stood the test of time.Feature Documentary: AMC Backstory®: An Affair to Remember [2001] [480i] [4:3] [24:27] This made for TV documentary, tells in great detail about the backstage story about the main stars Cary grant and Deborah Kerr, which reflected their screen personalities, and their secret private lives. People contributing to this documentary are Peter Bogdanovich [Author/Film Maker]; A.E. Holchner [Sophia Loren’s Biographer]; Roy Mosley [Cary Grant’s Biographer]; Curtis Harrington [Former Assistant to jerry Wald]; Deborah Kerr [Actress]; Francesca Shrapnel [Deborah Kerr’s Daughter]; Rudy Behlmer [Film Historian]; Nancy Nelson [Cary Grant’s Biographer] and Anne Hutton [Deborah Kerr’s Manager/Friend]. We hear about when Cary Grant worked on the film ‘The Pride and The Passion’ where he fell madly in love with the leading female star Sophia Loren, who was seriously romantically involved with producer Carlo Ponti. We also get to see a short clip from a very rare promotional film the 20th Century Fox presents A Special CinemaScope Picture entitled “The Big Show” to promote the film ‘An Affair to Remember.’ Leo McCarey found two main stars got on very well together, that he allowed them to sometimes to improvise occasionally from the script. We also get lots of clips from the film, as well as certain outtakes. Although critics slated the film, but of course it was a massive big hit with audiences and also its deservedly Academy Awards Nominations. Narrated by Rino Romano.Fox Movietone News: An Affair to Remember Shipboard Premiere Attracts Celebrities [1957] [1080p] [4:3] [00:56] This short film packs in a lot and you see most of the stars, as well as the director and producer involved with the film. But you also get to see other celebrities attending the premiere, which includes Celeste Holm, Shelley Winters, Arlene Dahl, Fernando Lamas and Deborah Paget.Theatrical Trailer: [1957] [480i] [4:3] [2:53] Here we get to see the actual 20th Century Fox present a Special CinemaScope Picture ‘The Big Show.’Finally, keep the Kleenex nearby for this 10 hanky tearjerker; it’s a classic of romantic cinema that has influenced the genre for decades of other romantic films. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr make it easy to believe everything about this love story. Cary Grant is a certain kind of charming that can never be duplicated. He’s the kind of actor that makes you fall in love with him no matter what year it is. The transition from playboy to love fool is so effortless for Cary Grant. His sincerity and expression in certain scenes makes you feel the way he does, as if another love like this will never come again. Deborah Kerr is a timeless beauty, who plays the part of the woman with strength well. Bottom line is, for those true romantics out there; this is one you shouldn’t pass up. This is what a romantic film should be all about. A love like this goes hand and hand with class, something that many stars today can’t even get close to. ‘An Affair to Remember’ will always be one to remember. They don’t make them like this anymore, so this is one to purchase for certain. It makes an excellent, stay-at-home romantic date night film especially, as well for the whole family. Highly Recommended!Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film AficionadoLe Cinema ParadisoUnited Kingdom

I do love the movie as I have seen it on television. I was wondering however, if something was different with this version. In one scene, the couple is at the top of some stairs and they stop near the top. There is a big board or something covering up their faces so I couldn't see if they were kissing or what. In the last scene, when she is sitting of the sofa and he goes into the other room, I remember on the TV version, he sees a wheelchair and knows then that she is disabled. In the DVD version he opens the door to the room, goes in, and the scene quickly goes back to her on the sofa and no seeing the wheelchair or mention of it. They do talk about her being crippled, however. I just feel there are some differences in the dvd.

It was a pretty good movie, but I don’t understand why we have to pay for old movies

I have read a previous review on here bemoaning the quality of the image on this Blu-ray; guaging the period in which this film was released and the instability of the film stock (3 strip Technicolor was long gone), the High-Def version on this disc is probably the best this movie is going to look. There is also quite a bit of process photography going on in this film, which also does very little for a high-quality detailed image. Mixed all together, it is somewhat unfair to expect a movie from 1957 to look as good as a current movie or even an older movie that hails its source from a Technicolor negative. That being said...I am personally very happy with the way the movie appeared on my home theater system. The sound is not extremely dynamic or jarring, but the lush orchestration and witty dialogue is clean and crisp and makes for a more than pleasant experience.The story will tear at your heart strings; although not necessarily the most innovative premise, it succeeds because of the perfect chemistry between Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Their subtle comedic timing and ways with a line keep the movie from getting overly sentimental or trite. There is the perfect mix of comedy and pathos. Their characters meet aboard a luxury liner, and both are in loveless relationships that have allowed them to live a complacent (you could substitute the word "kept") lifestyle. Reawakening their passions not only about each other but their lives and artistic talents, the two part from their cruise vowing to make it possible to be reunited in 6 months once they sort their lives out. That is as far as I'll go on the plot line.The highlights of the film include a visit to Grant's character's grandmother's home. She is a wise woman nearing the end of her life, and expertly played by Cathleen Nesbitt. It is her wisdom and desire for Grant and Kerr to be together that helps the two see what a vibrant life they could have together. The low points are few, but they do exist, particularly in the musical numbers towards the end where Kerr's character is a music teacher for children. These scenes are really dated and somewhat stereotypical. They slow the pace of the movie down somewhat.This blu-ray set comes in a Digibook case with a beautifully illustrated 26 page book with background info on the movie and the stars. The extras are wonderful, too:* Commentary by Singer Marni Nixon and Film Historian Joseph McBride: The commentary is mainly from McBride, but there are a number of times where Nixon jumps in to discuss her relationship with Deborah Kerr and how she prepared herself to dub Kerr's singing voice for the movie, as well as dubbing Kerr for the foreign versions. McBride's comments are very informative and interesting as well. Worth listening to.* Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Deborah Kerr (5:32 480i): Details Kerr's unhappy marriage that she was suffering through while making this movie and the love she found with her next husband.* Featurette: Affairs to Remember - Cary Grant (9:47 480i): This one discusses Grant's love for Sophia Loren after they had an affair during the previous movie they made together. Grant was already married, but that didn't deter him from pursuing Loren, even though she went back to Carlo Ponti after they completed the movie.Both star's unfulfilled romances most likely added to the poignancy of the story they were playing out for the cameras.* Featurette: Directed by Leo McCarey (22:33 480i): Not necessarily a name remembered today, the man was responsible for some of the most beloved comedies by Laurel & Hardy and the Marx Brothers. This is a short look back at his career and how important it was for him to make a comeback with this particular movie.* Featurette: A Producer to Remember: Jerry Wald (15:59 480i): One of the hardest working men in the biz, his family fondly remembers how would alternate between making "money" movies and "arty" (or more redeeming) pictures. A master of publicity, he knew how to pick movies with great stories and scripts.* Featurette: The Look of Affair to Remember (8:53 480i): Discussing the colors (such as the orange palette of Kerr's clothing), settings, and processes used to make this film to give it the dreamy and artificial look that it has.* AMC Backstory Episode: "An Affair to Remember" ( 24:27 480i ): A look back at the production of the movie, with some duplication of info from the other featurettes shown here. Still very enjoyable. Interesting that Cary Grant was initially upset about 2 things on this movie: the New York Empire State Building being swapped out for San Francisco for the climactic ending and also the fact that the movie was being filmed on a soundstage and not overseas on location. Grant won out on 1 out of the two gripes!* Movietone Newsreel (Shipboard Premiere) ( :56 480i )* Trailer (2:53 480i)You'd have to be a total Scrooge not to enjoy this film today. The extras enhance the experience, making this a must-have set for film buffs!

My daughter and I love this movie! It's timeless :)

Elegant, mature, Timeless

Great packaging of the DVDs at a great price.

Great movie when settling in for evening…

I'm huge fan of Cary Grant and this has to be one of my favourites. No sex, no violence, no nudity and no bad language and yet still it is a firm favourite.You have to enjoy old films to put into perspective some of the scenes and if there was one thing I really could not stand it was the awful squawking singing from the children. But thankfully there was not very much of that.Elegant, interesting and divinely pleasant I wish there were a few films like today.

I loved every moment of this great movie. It must be one of the most romantic things I ever saw on the screen and the two main actors are simply unbelievably perfect. Below, more of my impressions, with some LIMITED SPOILERS.Nickie Ferrante (Cary Grant), is a man in his late 40s and a well-known playboy who until the beginning of the film had a pleasant but rather futile life. Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr) is a gal in her late 30s, who until the beginning of this film had a relatively comfortable but rather unsatisfying life. They are both involved with someone else. They meet aboard the Transatlantic ocean liner SS Constitution en route from Europe to New York and their first meeting doesn't go all that well. And then the film really begins and I will say nothing more about the story.This film is a remake of 1939 "Love Affair", starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. I didn't see the 1939 film, but it seems that this remake is very faithful to the original - which is understandable, as both films had the same director, Leo McCarey."An affair to remember" is a charming movie, with a great scenario and excellent dialogs. Both main actors were talented and experienced and director Leo McCarey led them with the skill of a great master. I don't think there is one scene or one dialog line which can be faulted here. Watching this film was pure pleasure from the first to the last second and at the end I had tears in my eyes - even if I am really NOT a young girl...Parts of this film inspired "Sleepless in Seattle", but the story here is very, very different - and I like this film much more. A remake was also made in 1994, with the title switching again to "Love affair" and Warren Beatty and Annette Bening starring. I didn't see it but it bombed totally at the box office, was savaged by critics and was named for Razzie of worst remake or sequel - and honestly, once you saw this film you will probably understand why any idea of making a remake was probably a bad one. "An affair to remember" still didn't age one bit and I think it never will and remaking it is simply useless...I will keep this review deliberately short because I really don't want to provide any spoilers. It is a GREAT MASTERPIECE, deservedly loved and considered as one of the BEST LOVE STORIES ever shown on the screen. Buy it, watch it, love it and keep it for your children. ENJOY!

I first saw this film when I was fifteen and at the end, you could hear the sound of weeping throughout the cinema. I absolutely loved it, for its glamour, gentle romance and bitter-sweet ending. I also developed a lifelong enthusiasm for heart-throb Cary Grant. I still think he was the most gorgeous creature on two legs. (All my heart-throbs are now dead - Frankie Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck and, above all, the incomparably witty and sophisticated Cary Grant! I, of course, am still 27...)Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr play two people on an ocean liner who, although involved with other people, fall in love. The romance is depicted with gentle sophistication; it comes from an age where there was no premature rolling in the hay and relationships had time to develop naturally and with restraint. Both characters have a past and Nicki, Grant's character, has never had to earn a living or take responsibility. At the end of the cruise, they agree to part for six months in order to sort out their previous relationships and Nicki promises to learn to work for a living,True to the romanticism of the story, he does no do any ordinary job, but becomes a painter and begins to experience success. However, though he waits at their agreed meeting place until midnight (the top of the Empire State Building), Kerr's character, Terry, does not show up. The rest of the film unravels the reason for this until the inevitable happens and they find each other. In the meantime, both grow up, rather belatedly. When the reason for their not meeting is revealed, we all cry.The film is a taste of a gentler, more innocent era, where romantic tension was still possible because of the greater sexual restraint. It is quite charming and, all these years later, I still enjoy watching it.

Old permatan doing his smoothie routine polished and insincere and Deborah Kerr doing her noble best to resist him then falling for Mr Slicky. I enjoyed the onboard manoeuvres but the latter half was spoiled by saccharine scenes with cute kids and an unconvincing story of poor me by Kerr after an accident which blew their planned rencontre . Not my cuppa tea . Love Kerr though .

this movie was mentioned in Tom Hanks Meg Ryans Sleepless in Seattle, For a movie of the time with the restrictions of what could been shown on big screen, found it rather good, but did not weep at the end more taken with the beauty of the grandma.Alas ordered another Cary Grant, North by North west