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"Love Affair", the fabulously romantic film of 1939, is the model in which two other remakes were fashioned, yet, this classic film stands out in our memory because the great chemistry between Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer.

The stars of "Love affair" exuded charm and sophistication, as well as good looks. It's easy to see why Michel falls for the beautiful Terry on board the luxury liner that is bringing them back to New York. The passengers' curiosity play well in the ship sequences. It's a great fun to watch Michel and Terry fall madly in love with one another, yet they must resolve their own entanglements with other people in order to be able to be together. Fate gets in their way.

Irene Dunne was an exquisite woman that played everything with enormous panache. Charles Boyer matches his co-star as the suave playboy who suddenly finds the love of his life. It's a joy to watch these two actors filling the screen. They made it so easy that their acting seems effortless.

In minor roles Maria Ouspenskaya, is seen as Michel's grandmother Janou, a lady who saw in Terry the perfect woman for her grandson. Lee Bowman is Kenneth, and Astrid Allwyn is the elegant Lois.

Thanks to Leo McCarey, this is a timeless film that will bring joy to audiences forever.

Directed by Leo McCarey, this 1939 romantic classic is the first and best version of the old warhorse of a fateful shipboard romance between an aimless playboy and a nightclub singer, both engaged but appearing to be destined to reunite on the top floor of the Empire State Building. The elaborate, shot-for-shot 1957 remake again directed by McCarey with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr is much better known, and Warren Beatty even saw fit to remake it yet again with his wife Annette Bening for a 1994 update featuring an 87-year old Katharine Hepburn in her last film role.

But it all started with this more modest film starring a smart, luminous Irene Dunne as Terry McKay and Charles Boyer all continental charm as Michel Marnet. The story is as contrived as ever, but the script co-written by McCarey, Mildred Cram, Delmer Daves and Donald Ogden Stewart is full of clever dialogue to go with the soap opera elements. It's too bad the print condition is so bad given that it has fallen into the public domain, but you can still get a strong sense of the craftsmanship behind the film, especially Rudolph Maté's soft-focus cinematography.

Even though Maria Ouspenskaya gives her most sympathetic performance as Grandmother Janou (she was wonderfully malevolent in "The Wolf Man"), it's really the chemistry between the two stars which keeps this afloat, especially Dunne who was so dexterous in comedy and drama in her prime that she is far superior to either Kerr or Bening. She even gets to sing two songs most winningly, one a Harold Arlen gem called "Sing My Heart". Even though you are likely to know every scene by heart from the 1957 remake, it's still quite worthwhile to enjoy the antiquated charms of the original.

This timeless classic movie and superior adaptation deals about the known story of a wealthy singles(Charles Boyer,Irenee Dunne) on an Ocean liner . They know themselves and falling spontaneously in love but they're both recently engaged. Boyer and Dunne promise their love on the Empire State Building where agree a meeting months later, to see if their love still holds . But the tragedy takes place and Boyer bounds for Island Madeira.

This magnificent tearjerker is a clever tale plenty of good feeling, love story and unforgettable scenes in which the spectators ever feel drawn into the protagonists lives . The perceptible script is brought to life by a perfectly cast ensemble, as the wonderful Irene Dunne, the attractive Charles Boyer and the veteran Maria Ouspenskaya in a small but touching role; plus interventions very secondaries by Gerald Mohr and Joan Leslie. The usual RKO's musician Roy Webb composes a lush romantic score makes it easy on the ears. Expert cameraman Rudolph Mate creates a superb camera work full of fine detail. The motion picture is stunningly directed by Leo McCarey who directed a good remake, though inferior version, titled ¨Love affair(1957)¨with Gary Grant, Deborah Kerr and Richard Denning . Another and lesser version about this weepie story in contemporary look are the following :¨Sleepless in Seattle(1993)¨ by Nora Ephron with Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan and ¨Love affair(1994)¨ by Glenn Gordon Caron with real life marriage , Warren Beatty and Anette Bening, and Katherine Hepburn.

I'd always been curious about this original version of the romantic 1957 hit, "An Affair to Remember" which was a bona fide box-office success, made so memorable by the classy pairing of Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. That CinemaScope remake in Color by DeLuxe, of this black-and-white original, was also co-written and directed by Leo McCarey, a man who wasn't afraid to regularly mix genuine sentiment with some fairly gloppy sentimentality in the same (admittedly tasty) cinematic dish.

I join those who prefer the original, thanks mostly to the restrained and very professional performances of a quite young-looking Charles Boyer and Miss Irene Dunne, who looks quite ravishing throughout (modelling some gowns that are as chic today as the first time this film was shown). And what a set of pearly whites she had... the better to charm the stuffing out of us with that glowing smile!

Anyway, Turner Classic Movies showed it the other evening and I couldn't believe the terrible condition of the print. Scratches, skips, muddiness, sound problems, every possible defect seemed to be in appalling evidence! Apparently the DVD now in circulation is every bit as bad. Hey! Come on guys! This film is considered one of the better ones during a year (1939) when Hollywood studios unleashed a cornucopia of goodies. How about giving us a version worth watching, for heaven's sake!

Leo McCarey directs the story of a French womanizing artist, Charles Boyer, and a former regular singer, Irene Dunne, who have a meeting and love affair on a cruise ship bound for the USA. Both with open relationships on the outside, they decide after the trip to meet again in 6 months to reciprocate their love.

It's a pretty short and straightforward love story. Both characters go through funny, loving and sad sides, making it look a little more intimate when seeing it. The cast is small in quantity but gigantic in talent, Charles Boyer gives a sensitive and mischievous performance at the same time giving a very pleasant bittersweet taste. Irene Dunne is just amazing as always, every role that I see her never ceases to amaze me. The grace that this woman had, all a very humorous first part with her comments, in the intermediate step towards something more internal that in her look changed and in the end showed the result of a woman totally in love. One of the best actresses of the 30s, a role that earned her fourth nod for 'Best Actress'. Maria Ouspenskaya with a brief role as Boyer's grandmother, which generates a certain warmth, nostalgia and something positive to the film (Nominated for 'Best Supporting Actress').

This is a film of two genuine moods. The first half or so is a romantic story in the fine 1930s comedic tradition. The dialogue is witty, the characters charming, and the developing romance a joy to watch. The second half is a drama which is deep and engaging. The dignity with which the characters act through trying circumstances is wonderful, and a marked contrast and relief to the hysterical characters found in contemporary movies. To have two such different moods both handled with such extreme skill in the same movie makes this a rare gem.

The acting is superb; both Dunne and Boyer play with believable subtlety and emotional power. They drew me in so I cared enormously. Maria Ouspenskaya is, as always, superb. Compare her performance here with her blistering performance in her similar-but-opposite role in Dodsworth. The direction is very straightforward in its service to the story, with only the occasional standout moments: look for the superb shots of the couple's first kiss, of the reflected empire state building, and of the double headline. With a story and acting as strong as this, that's exactly as it should be.

This movie was charming. It didn't make me want to try pink champagne or even fall in love, but I'm glad I watched.

The scenes of Irene Dunne meeting Boyer's mother are the most touching and interesting.

The film has very few comic scenes so it relies on the romance. Dunne is very appealing, and for once, Charles Boyer doesn't overplay the French thing.

Lets not forget Bess Flowers. She always leaves you wanting more, more, MORE!

Beautiful clothes and sets. I am sure the depression weary public loved seeing the glamour during this small pocket of time between the Great Depression and World War II.

Going my way? Enjoy!

I can't believe that this film is so forgotten by the film viewing public. This film is one of the better romances of the 1930s but, thanks to a mention of AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER in the movie SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER is now considered a "classic"--But how can this be...?! After all, LOVE AFFAIR is the original and AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER is a by-the-numbers and relatively boring remake. Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne are wonderful in this film. And, the direction and writing were excellent. However, doing NEARLY the exact same film two decades later seems pointless. I like Cary Grant and have nothing in particular against Deborah Kerr--but they just aren't as good as the originals.

Do yourself a favor. If you haven't seen either film, watch this one first. And, if you have seen only AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER, see this film and find out how beautiful and well-made this film is. Also, if you like LOVE AFFAIR, try seeing another great romance, SMILIN' THROUGH (1932). It has a lot in common with LOVE AFFAIR and you can even see that the writers of this later film "borrowed" one of the plot twists from SMILIN' THROUGH.

When a film gets done three times for three generations, I guess you have to concede it's definitely got something going for it.

Lovers Charles Boyer/Irene Dunne, Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr, and Warren Beatty/Annette Bening all have their different appeal, but I think the story is universal. What woman who's seen this film hasn't dreamed of an ocean voyage where she will meet the love of her life?

Earnest and hopeful Irene Dunne goes on an ocean voyage where she meets continental playboy Charles Boyer. He's definitely a love 'em and leave 'em type, but there's something about Irene that keeps drawing him back.

It doesn't help that both are involved with different people. But this is the movies and we all know how things work out on film.

Mention should also be made of Maria Ouspenskaya as Boyer's beloved grandmother. She's a grand old lady and you know when I guy takes a girl home to meet granny, it's a sign he's hooked.

Lee Bowman is Irene's involvement and he's such a good guy, I kind of feel sorry for him he's getting dumped.

Leo McCarey directs these romantic films with a sure hand. For lovers of romance of all ages.

An absolutely lovely film that hold up over 8 decades later. Leo McCarey's direction is takes a "do not force it" approach. The viewer is on the voyage with the characters. They are fellow travelers.

For me, one of the things that affect how I remember a film has much to do with my mood, the setting, and whomever I am with when I first see the film. Mr. McCarey's remake years later is my favorite of the three remakes of which I am familiar. I do not know if a non-English version has been produced. If so, oh how I would love to see that film. So, an Affair to Remember is easily my favorite. When I watch the film I am transported to a living room where my parents watched the it with us older kids present. We always spoke about the films we watched as soon as they ended. Emotionally, An Affair to Remember has my heart.

All of that said, this is a brilliant film. Watch and enjoy how McCarey's uses the lighting to assist in setting the moods. Watch how Dunne and Boyer are playing their characters is a full 3-D world. Better yet, just sit back and let the story into your heart.

Love Affair is one of my favorite movies. Irene Dunne is a lovely lady, who sings beautifully. Charles Boyer is a subtle, elegant actor who wins my heart every time. Maria Ouspenskaya is lovely as Boyer's grandmother. I understand from Boyer's biography, that he suggested the scene with her as a method of making his character more sympathetic. What an addition to the film! I prefer this version of the story to the later one. Watch the scene near the end when Boyer realizes that his painting was given to Dunne and understands what happened the night he waited at the Empire State Building. What acting!

"Love Affair" is probably most famous for being the film that resulted in the more well known remake "An Affair to Remember," but I enjoyed this version more, if only because it's much shorter and crisper. Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer have tremendous chemistry together, though I will acknowledge that the conflict at the middle of the film doesn't make a whole lot of sense as played by Dunne, mostly because she takes her injury and subsequent disability so much in stride that one wonders what the hang up is about letting Boyer know about it. Deborah Kerr, who played the Dunne role in the remake, does a better job with the character, and the latter version gets the BIG scene more right than this one. But "Love Affair" is the one I'd rather watch again if I had to choose.

Maria Ouspenskaya gives a lovely, aching performance as Boyer's elderly grandmother who knows her time is limited and plans to make the most of it.

"Love Affair" was nominated for six Oscars in 1939, that golden year for Hollywood, but won none of them in the year that juggernaut "Gone with the Wind" dominated the awards. Its nominations included Best Picture, Best Actress (Dunne), Best Supporting Actress (Ouspenskaya), Best Original Story, Best Art Direction (B&W), and Best Original Song for "Wishing," a tune played ad nauseum throughout the movie.

Grade: B+

I didn't really intend to watch this whole movie--it was on the channel my satellite dish was tuned to, when i turned off my DVD player after watching another movie, late at night. But after only a couple scenes, i was glued to it! I was so impressed with the characterization and the witty humor (unlike other films of its era, the humor was not corny at all, and was genuinely funny), and I just HAD to keep watching, even though I wasn't looking forward to the tears that this film (and its later version, An Affair to Remember), is reputed to bring to all who watch it.

The humor centering around the nosiness and gossip among the other cruise patrons, was especially funny and timeless.

I found Irene Dunn's character (Terry) to be extremely appealing and likable, with a very expressive and beautiful face (and, as someone else mentioned, those pearly whites are stunning!). Boyer (Michael), was quite believable as a playboy experiencing true love for the first time. You could see the love in his eyes when he looked at Terry, and when he listened to her sing. And all of his other emotions throughout the movie, whether happy or sad, were readable via his expressive eyes alone--no need for any other expression!

Of course, the children at the orphanage were too good to be true (typical for old movies), but they were so adorable and likable, and I could just feel the love and pride that Terry felt while working with them. It really seemed genuine.

I had always thought of these old movies as corny, but this one changed my perspective! Highly recommended for all ages!

A classy feature from Leo McCarey, this one. Charles Boyer is a playboy crossing the Atlantic on a luxury liner; he meets and falls in love with Irene Dunne, a talented chanteuse heading to New York. They agree to meet six months later once he has become less of a rake and is able to support them both. On that fateful day, she arrives at the Empire State Building only to be involved in a paralysing car accident of which he - already at the top of the tower - is and remains unaware. It's a gentle, well acted melodrama with a simple, engaging plot and two charismatic leads. The writing is a touch on the sentimental side at times, but it's still a lovely film to watch 80 years after it was made.

High-quality tear-jerker, part written and solely directed by Leo McCarey and one he revisited twenty years or so later with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in "An Affair To Remember", a film I've not seen, but which like a number of later remakes seems to be better remembered than the original. One day I'll watch the latter but would say from what I've seen here, it will be hard-pushed to beat this first version.

A film like this stands or falls on the chemistry between the two leads and rest assured we're on solid foundations here. Irene Dunne is charming with just enough independence and savvy to prevent her character caving into a simpering caricature, likewise Charles Boyer as the dashing, handsome playboy she encounters on a cruise ship taking each of them back to their respective engaged partners back in New York.

Boyer's French Lothario's reputation obviously precedes him on the boat as women throw themselves at him and then when he rebuffs them, seem to stalk his every move on board. When he accidentally encounters Dunne's initially uninterested fellow-passenger, you won't be surprised to learn that cinematic coincidence brings them together enough times for sparks to finally fly between them, the deal being sealed over a visit to Boyer's aged piano-playing grandmother who seems to live in what seems like a fairy grotto and who gives them her fairy-godmother-type blessing to marry.

Naturally there are a couple of affianced complications to get over first so they make a plan to meet atop the Empire State Building six months hence when they will be free to wed, all of which goes awry when Dunne looks up at the wrong time. At this point, the film almost teeters over into over-sentimentality as Dunne recuperates while taking on a job teaching music to young children with Christmas fast approaching and the question arises as to whether true love will conquer all, suffice it to say in a New York Minute things change...

Boyer and Dunne turn in mature, assured performances and are skilfully directed by McCarey in yet another quality production from Hollywood's golden year of 1939.

LoveAffair (1939) : Brief Review -

An ordinary love turns into an affair to beat all the crisis.. Love Affair is a story of endless love to beat all the physical and mental challenges one can face in the normal life to make it problematic. A playboy and a night singer meet on a ship and generate quite an honest romance despite the fact that both of them have loveless commitment to somebody else. They decide to meet after 6 months to make this relationship licenced until an accidental crisis ruin thier dream romance. We all know this story because the same story have been remade again and again in Hollywood and in Indian cinema as well. The main credit of all those loveable films should go to Love Affair (1939) because it all started here and if you're remaking the same story after serveral decades then i don't need to tell you about it's goodwill. Irene Dunne as Terry is charming and i loved the way her character is written and portrayed. Charles Boyer was quite a disappointing Playboy but very satisfying as real lover. I didn't really find anything as Playboy in him, he was quite a man any lady can fall for. Irene and Charles make a sweet pair with thier chemistry. Leo McCarey gets all the tricks don in short runtime leaving no chances to find any loo breaks in this affair. I wish it would have been more tear-jerking for me if i look at it as a neutral guy rather than a lover boy. Overall, Love Affair is a film to watch for all couples who really love each other. This is a small story dedicated to all Love-birds. I can't understand why Leo McCarey remade his own film to make comparisons take place while he could have easily enjoyed acclaim over this First attempt forever.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

Unarguably one of the all-time greatest romantic "weepies," director/co-writer Leo McCarey's ten-hankie classic has been overshadowed somewhat in the last few decades by the phenomenal success of it's popular remake, 1957's AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (which McCarey also directed). The 1957 is the version that is most seen on television and on video (perhaps because it is in color and stars Cary Grant), but the original is the real winner in terms of quality. Very few movies can successfully make the transition form shipboard romantic comedy to tearjerking sentiment, but LOVE AFFAIR really nails the formula without missing a beat. The film side-steps saccharine mawkishness by keeping the reactions and emotions of it's character's believable and simple, and thankfully never descends in to soap opera-level histrionics.

The always-terrific Irene Dunne earned yet another Oscar nomination for her delightful and sincere performance in what is unarguably one of her best-loved roles. Charles Boyer proves himself to a more than apt leading man, and his transformation from English rouge to broken-hearted soul is astonishing. There is significantly more chemistry between Boyer and Dunne there would be between Grant and Deborah Kerr or Warren Beatty and Annette Bening in the 1957 and 1994 versions, respectively, which lends the film a greater emotional wallop. Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, LOVE AFFAIR is one of the best film romances from Hollywood's golden era and should be as widely seen as the later remakes.

The movie Love Affair is a 1939 American romantic film, directed by Leo McCarey 🛳

Controversial on concept, the official screenplay was re-tooled and rewritten to appease Hollywood censorship and relied on actor input and improvisation, causing long delays and budget extensions.

Meh, it passed the time.

Sort of. 😕