One Special Night

I have always admired a film based on a story with steadily ascending human values. Like "An Affair to Remember", the story in "One Special Night" begins with a negative relationship between Garner and Andrews but, as they become better acquainted, their antagonism goes into neutral. When they are finally forced to take refuge in a deserted house to shelter from the heavy snowstorm and they eventually discover that they both possess that sublime quality of positive human values, their affection for one another gradually develops into a beautiful kind of love superbly suited to their advanced age. The dialogue between Andrews and Garner is admirably sober, witty, and often deeply touching. One feels compelled to offer congratulations also to writers Hartman and Silvers, and director Roger Young for a truly heart-warming story. One would wish to be witnessing a reversal of the sleazy trend so frequently adopted by the movie makers of the last quarter of the twentieth century. I gave this story a score of 9, and I added another point for the fact that the film was produced well after what I've always considered to be the golden age of Hollywood movies (1930-70) in this age when films are being made in abundance but rarely with any depth of meaning.

Call me sappy. Call me nostalgic. Call me silly. But I loved it. 2 great actors, one Oscar winner one who should be and an old fashioned relatively moral love story. It evokes a feeling I will never forget and I re-watch it every year. BTW I've never seen any of the supporting cast again and that is disappointing. I also hope James and Julie don't make us wait another 18 years to another film together; they have previously co-starred in The Americanization of Emily and Victor Victoria. Husbands take note about what James Garner remembered the most of his late wife and Julie Andrews' reaction. and after seeing the film have some chocolate chip pancakes in the stars honor.

"One Special Night" is the classic story of two people meeting each other and taking an instant dislike to the other, then slowly but surely warming up to each other. What makes this movie stand out above the rest in the genre, is that after they spend their 'one special night' together, it's not all smiles and roses. Messages get mixed up, white lies are told and things happen that seem to drive the two further apart and make any chance at romance seemingly impossible.

This is Julie Andrews & James Garner's third movie together and in 35 years, since the filming of "The Americanization of Emily" & "Victor/Victoria", neither of them have lost their glow or spunk and can still create the spark between that makes them so adorable.

The two stars of "One Special Night" are far from the average Hollywood tartlets that seem to dominate the genre. Instead they're mature, well established people that give the movie that little bit more credibility and realism.

It's nice to see that Hollywood is still willing to make romance movies with actors and actresses that are no longer considered "young" as personally I think people only get better with age.

This move is definitely one that proves that theory correct beyond a doubt!

Watched this again this weekend. I have seen it every year since it's premiere in 1999. Andrews and Garner (in their third film together) still have chemistry together--and then some. This is truly a classic, and a sterling example of what a Holiday movie should be. The entire cast performs beautifully, the wintry atmosphere is completely captivating and the musical score is perfect. Add to these a script which is believable and touching without becoming trite. Everyone gets an "A" for their work in this, but in the end, it's truly the perfect performances of Andrews and Garner that make this such a memorable experience.

Sick and tired of watching It's A Wonderful Life? try this then as a v v suitable replacement! Julie Andrews and James Garner are very well matched in this delightful and sometimes bittersweet film about two people who become stranded in a snowbound cottage for"One Special Night" as they themselves put it.

Julie Andrews gives an Oscar worthy performance as Catherine and same with James Garner as Robert, two people who find love, without really looking for it as two recently widowers....

Not wanting to spoil this film for those who have not seen it, I can just say in closing that if you do not cry at least once during this film, you do not deserve to call yourself a human being...