User reviews

The 1932 "Love Affair" is one of the most beautiful, charming and brokenhearted love stories of the cinema industry. Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer have the perfect chemistry and it is impossible not fall in love for her.

The 1957 "An Affair to Remember" is a remake frame by frame of the original movie and also more famous. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr also have perfect chemistry and had been my favorite romance after "Casablanca" until the day I saw the 1932 "Love Affair".

I was curious to see the 1994 version of "Love Affair" and I found it a weak remake maybe to satisfy the ego of Warren Beatty. The introduction is awful with annoying music score and edition. Mike Gambril is a detestable character and I do not see any reason for Terry falling in love with him. It is only good to see Ms. Katharine Hepburn in her last feature. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Segredos do Coração" ("Secrets of the Heart")

The movie started as a usual affair movie. Yet it went along straight in the middle and peaking up after it.

One thing to be noted is the affection made by the music. It dominate the movie and swing our mood back and forth. And the tune Katherine Hepburn 'played' on piano really works well, with an additional song 'I Will' from the Beatles which turns out to be the movie secondary theme.

The original movie has been remade before this, and many other movie uses the original 'Love Affair' as an additional magnet to it. It isn't too hard to guess where the storyline went.

But the ending still caught us in deep emotion. We strongly feel love in it.

Recommended for Saturday evening movie with your spouse alone.

It was very difficult to decide how to rate this movie. I'd not seen the Cary Grant / Deborah Kerr version (except for the little snippets that appear in "Sleepless in Seattle"), so my opinion was not colored by the inevitable comparisons... It's just that the first half of the movie struck me as being incredibly *bad* : it was poorly written in particular. Once Katherine Hepburn appeared on the scene, the film began to improve quite noticeably, and the last half was considerably better, with superb performances, especially from the two principals. I've never been a big Warren Beatty fan, but Annette Bening is WONDERFUL! (I think I've fallen in love!!!) -- To sum up, the first half of the movie rates a 3 in my book, the second half an 8 -- hence my overall grade of 5.

I didn't remember this film being so well made when I first viewed it back in 1994. I think it's aged well 30 years later. Some of that is due to a wonderful cast of actors, (some no longer with us); Many welcomed faces: Garry Shandling, Brenda Vaccaro, Paul Mazursky, Pierce Brosnan, Harold Ramis.

Also the cinematography is much better than I remembered; Katharine Hepburn's brief but key performance is excellent. Young Annette Bening's beauty and grace is matched with her engaging performance.

Warren Beatty is good, but I think he's too old for this role, sad to say. The Warren Beatty of Heaven Can Wait would have been more age appropriate for this character. He doesn't ruin the film--he just doesn't enhance it.

Do I believe this love story? Well yes, 30 years later: it's Bening and Beatty.

If you haven't seen the Beatty/Bening remake of An Affair to Remember - don't! This review is for readers who have seen the original and know the basic premise. I was drawn to the movie because of Bening - I enjoy her other films, but this one is a mockery of her talent! The on-screen chemistry between her and Warren just isn't there. The taboo of engaged couples "cheating" on one another is stale and the premise that Bening selflessly gets on with her life after her accident is implausible in today's world. The chance that Beatty would have a little auntie (even if that auntie is Katherine Hepburn) living on a tropical island that just happens to be close to where the plane he was flying in makes an emergency landing, is too much of a coincidence even for a fairy tale. This movie is beyond real! The jazz vocal narrative is annoying and out of place. As for the tear jerker ending, Warren can't even come close to replicating the look on Cary Grant's face when he realizes the devastating truth about Deborah Kerr. Oh what I'd give for a really good love story!

Why did Beatty and Bening decide to do a remake of one of the most romantic films of all time? They should have left it alone. There is little chemistry between them (despite the fact they are married in real life). No dramatic tension, no nothing. Katherine Hepburn, in a brief appearance, is the only bright spark in the whole thing.

Had my mom not rented this from Netflix, I probably wouldn't have bothered to see this third version of a romance previously filmed twice before by Leo McCarey. Real-life married couple Warren Beatty and Annette Bening play two people engaged to others (Kate Capshaw, Pierce Brosnan) who chance meet on a plane and then fall for each other on a cruise ship. At a pit stop, they visit Beatty's aunt (Katherine Hepburn in her last feature role) who provides some views about love. After that, they make a pact to meet at the Empire State Building after a few months and...well, if you've seen the other two (which I haven't) you know what happens. I wasn't sure what to think of this movie with many of the quick-cutting of some scenes and many of the somewhat benign nature of some of the dialogue at the beginning but by the time of Hepburn's appearance, I was charmed by the way Beatty and, especially, Bening interacted with the veteran 4-time Oscar winner especially with the way Ms. Hepburn used a certain word in asking about ducks. Also with her appearance as well as a later one with Ray Charles singing "The Christmas Song", I wondered about what great losses we've had the last five or so years. Many of the supporting cast like Garry Shandling and Harold Ramis (neither of whom I thought had any funny scenes) I recognized but I didn't realize Wendie Jo Sperber and Lisa Edelstein were here until I read the end credits. I did like also some of the musical selections like the "M'm! M'm! Good!" spot with Ed McMahon, the children's chorus of The Beatles' "I Will", and that duet with Louis Jordan and Louis Armstrong on "Life Is So Peculiar" that scored some of the cruise scenes. And the concluding scene was quite touching (if not tear-inducing) that I'm willing to give this version of Love Affair a pass. Bottom line, this was worth seeing for any romantics still out there.

Mike Gambril (Warren Beatty) is a playboy former NFL quarterback. His agent Kip DeMay (Garry Shandling) is overjoyed that he's engaged to talk show host Lynn Weaver worth $100 million. He's on a flight sitting next to singer Terry McKay (Annette Bening) to Sydney. The plane is forced to land on Cook Island in a storm. They take a cruise ship to Tahiti where they visit his elderly aunt Ginny (Katharine Hepburn). They agree to meet on top of Empire State Building upon returning. She breaks up with her fiancé Ken Allen (Pierce Brosnan) and he breaks up with Lynn but the meeting does not go off as planned.

This is a remake of the 1939 classic. There is something odd about a remake of a classic that is ringing so many of the same bells. It feels like a checklist. As for the romance, that too feels familiar. Bugsy was three years prior. None of this movie feels fresh. It's a faded copy of an icon.

Beautiful film with great actors. Very moving, emotional and touching! Shows that everyone can change. Apparently, Beatty's life changed meeting Annette - in the film too. Katherine Hepburn is fantastic, a great actress and a great woman. Love Affair is not just about a love affair, it is a love story, a great love that changes your life, an unconditional unselfish love that puts the other first. It truly is a wonderful love story that has the moves, the light, the emotion, the music... "I love watching you move" - just one of the great lines that don't go away and become part of our own lines! I have watched it over and over and every single time I feel the same emotions. The scenery is also wonderful from the beautiful island shoots to central park in autumn. 10/10 easily...

As a big devotee of the original 'Love Affair' I recorded this one mainly out of morbid curiosity, with the intention of pulling it to pieces once I was done. I have *never* seen a good remake of a classic film (Sweet November anyone? *throws up*) but I must say, grudgingly, this one was good. Not great, not a patch on the original, but good nontheless, and worth seeing at least once. Possibly the best thing is that in remaking it, they simply re-cast the film, changed only a few minor details, managed to keep all of the good scenes intact, and did not need to throw in a lot of sex. For a change. And so, that rates it a few more points from me, because there's honestly nothing worse than remaking a classic and throwing in lots of sex, when the original did perfectly fine without it. This 'Love Affair' was in that respect definitely more mature than many recent films. It's a simple delight for everyone of all ages and in another fifty years I wouldn't mind calling this one a classic.

Well, that might be pushing it a little.

Katharine Hepburn was brilliant as always and although I've never seen Beatty or Bening before in any films, I can't find anything wrong in their casting (thank god it wasn't Adam Sandler or Keanu!). Beatty is of course no Boyer or Cary Grant but he handled the closing scene superbly, and I must say if anything of Bening's ever pops up on tv again, I might give it a look. She has to be a pretty good actress for me to stop glaring at her because she's not Irene Dunne! And I liked the scene where she was singing the Beatles' song as well, there should have been a full performance of that.

I'd give this a 7/10, because I can't help but compare it to the original. I would say to watch it because I liked it, but only if you watch the original first! And that's an order.

If anyone thinks that we've seen the last remake of Love Affair, think again. The Indian cinema has done a version of it a few years after this film came out. This story has a timeless appeal that Warren Beatty certainly recognized.

Anyone who has seen the original Love Affair and the remake An Affair To Remember will know the plot of this film exactly. Warren Beatty and Annette Bening fill the shoes of previous lovers Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne and Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. With very few deviations except those to update the story this film has the same plot.

One of those deviations has our star crossed lovers Warren Beatty and Annette Bening meeting on a transoceanic flight to Sydney, Australia which is certainly a lot of time to get acquainted. They get even better acquainted when they are forced to land on a Pacific island where Beatty's grandmother Katharine Hepburn has a nice tropical place. The kind of setting where romance has to bloom.

This was Katharine Hepburn's last big screen appearance, she did one more television film and then her Parkinson's Disease and other ailments that beset people of the age she lived to forced her retirement. I'll bet she never thought she would in 1939 wind up in a remake of a film doing a part Maria Ouspenskaya created. She does it grand style though and only Kate can make an old Anglo-Saxon expletive sound elegant.

That Warren Beatty got nominated for a Razzie award for remaking Love Affair is a disgrace. This is old fashioned romantic entertainment, the kind that old Hollywood used to do. I think Beatty and everyone connected with this Love Affair should be proud.

I notice that Leo McCarey who wrote and directed Love Affair and An Affair To Remember is prominently listed on the screen credits. He'd be proud of this remake himself, I'm sure.

1st watched 2/17/2002 - 7 out of 10(Dir-Glenn Gordon Caron): Sweet & touching love story with wonderfully giddy performances from the main stars(Beatty & Bening). Despite obvious checkered pasts in the romance department this "love affair" is played out with a sense of purity and warmth that neither of them seemed to have in their prior relationships. I think this bonded them together(in their hearts) till the inevitable reuniting. Wonderful movie for Valentines day with a sweetheart with nice open-ended finally.

Except for those who may be starved for anything that might seem romantic in modern times, this film will mostly be a turn-off. Even for movie fans who haven't seen the original "Love Affair" of 1939, or the smashing 1957 remake, "An Affair to Remember," this 1994 "Love Affair" will seem just too improbable and contrived. And poorly acted. Of course, the love-starved may still eke some enjoyment or pleasure out of it.

The love story in each of the first two films was based on a story by Leo McCarey that he also directed. It had a wonderful mix of light humor and romance. In both films, the affairs developed gradually from romance into deep love. And, both films had the casts that could carry it off wonderfully. This film lacks that spontaneous humor. And, even stretching it out with the longest flight possible - to Australia, it still is too far beyond belief for a real love to develop in such a short time. While Beatty, Bening and others of the cast are good actors, they don't mesh here as a real love.

As for Katherine Hepburn's role as the grandmother, her character may be okay with the rest of this film and its roles. But it can't hold a candle to the warm, wise and lovely gentle characters played in the first two films by Maria Ouspenskaya and Cathleen Nesbitt. Finally, the music in this remake is way off target. It not only can't compare to the quality of the first two films, but it seems harsh at times, and a poor background for a love story. Then, again, it matches this plot and screenplay.

This film bombed at the box office - with just $18 million in ticket sales against a budget of $60 million. It really "deserves" its Razzie award as the worst remake. And, it surely is that bad as a love story.

The beginning of this movie misleads the viewer to take the production as a light hearted semi-comedy.Gary SHANDLING,Harold RAMIS et.al that give this film a comedic appearance are miscast.This film is a study

of the life changing affect that true love can produce.The character

evolvement of BEATTY was not properly developed early.A different supporting cast{besides HEPBURN} & plot tone could have possibly produced a classic!The movie takes a 180 degree turn when BENNING meets HEPBURN & the Old style meets new breed.HEPBURN elevates this movie from an ordinary run to a second half that is breathtaking.She could have been an oscar winner had this been a completely serious movie from beginning to end.Hepburn's personality & delivery of her thought provoking lines were a masterpiece.To their credit Benning & Beatty were able to carry on the profound level of acting & purpose established by HEPBURN...This movie has a beautiful ending,conclusion.This should have,could have been a movie for the ages!

Love at First Sight--in Designer Sunglasses. Real-life couple Warren Beatty and Annette Bening are the star-crossed lovers in this remake of 1939's "Love Affair", which in turn was remade as "An Affair to Remember" in 1957. It's a gauzy, soft-focus, soft-headed confection about a playboy who becomes smitten with an attractive woman while on his way to marry somebody else; she's also otherwise engaged, and their on-again/off-again relationship has the same old-fashioned complications as the other versions of this highly-concocted plot. The material is really only as good as the actors selling it, and Beatty and Bening are certainly a striking twosome. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have noticed that 37 years have passed since this tale had some merit, and the results are distinctly musty. Overall, there's not enough energy in the direction nor heart in the general handling to make this a memorable 'Affair'. *1/2 from ****

this movie has many of the shortcomings of the 1957 remake...the script is weak and the acting is lacking...but unlike 'an affair to remember', there is much to redeem this movie...

first, the music gives it a definite shot in the arm...second, there is the scenery which appears to be shot on location and is strikingly beautiful in some cases..third, there is Katherine Hepburn who is masterful in a very brief appearance...fourth, the comedy works...Shandling and Ramis are great additions, and Beatty plays the his role with humorous undertones throughout the movie...finally, Benning is cute, beautiful, and elegant...

for me, there is no comparison between this and other versions..this is head and shoulders about the rest...

Despite all the great talent corralled together for this film, it is a resounding dud. Warren Beatty tries to be another Cary Grant but he just doesn't have the latter's charm, elegance, and class. Annette Benning is affecting, but together the two don't put much passion or urgency in their supposedly torrid affair. About the only reason to watch this movie is to catch a brief glimpse of 86 year-old Katharine Hepburn, and this is hardly her best work. Aficionados of this genre would be better of tracking down the film on which it was based, "An Affair to Remember" (1957), with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, itself a Technicolor remake of the black-and-white "Love Affair" (1939).

If you know the story, and have seen the earlier versions, this is still worth a viewing. The current drama/romance genre is something I am not often fond of, yet this film had a resonance, especially for the holiday season.

No, it is not the same as the Deborah Kerr, Cary Grant version, but that is a bit dated. There is a cameo scene with Katharine Hepburn, she as Beatty's great- aunt, he as someone at a crossroads in his life; wondering if there will be a turning point. Bening is a singer/actress, they agree to meet in NY, a year after if neither is attached to their current significant other. Beatty and Bening actually make a nice couple, for me to have enjoyed this film at Christmas, points to the fact that it is not another romantic comedy we can toss out ( a rare thing) probably because Beatty and Bening have a believable chemistry together.

The final scene, sad as it is Christmas, and the children singing a version of the Beatles' "I will" is atmospheric. It was (for me anyway ) a more moving scene than the older version, perhaps because the children singing in the 1950's version- were singing a song from that 1950's time period....

Highly recommended. 8/10

Too often, movies are remade by Hollywood and the result is terribly predictable and offers nothing over the original. That being said, sometimes a remake is different enough or corrects flaws in the original film...and perhaps "Love Affair" is one of these remakes....perhaps. It's based on the famous 1937 film with Charles Boyer as well as its 1957 remake with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr ("An Affair to Remember"). Oddly, the 50s film is more popular...mostly, I assume, because it was talked about so much in "Sleepless in Seattle". But, despite this, the '37 film is clearly the better version. But what about this 1994 film?

The plot is pretty much the same as other versions, though the setting is quite different. In this version, Mike and Terry (Warren Beatty and Annette Benning) are on a flight across the Pacific when the plane crash lands on a VERY isolated island in the Cook Islands. The pair are engaged to others but soon fall for each other. The plan is, if they STILL want to make a go of it, is to meet weeks later at the Empire State Building. And, if either doesn't show, it means they've decided to marry their respective fiancés and go on with their lives. Of course, complications arise when Terry is hit by a car on the way to their rendezvous.

To me, the main way this film differs from other version is the energy level. It just seems slower and the acting more restrained than other versions. This doesn't mean it's bad...just different in this way. But the basic story is the same and for me, it's very good BUT pretty much unnecessary to watch if you've seen the other films. Not bad at all...just nothing special. I do think it's a bit better than the 1957 film (which was glossy but a bit dull) but simply lacks the originality and wonderfulness of the first film.

Indeed people should generally not wait for the same thing if it comes, say, from Hollywood or Europe. In the case of "Love Affair" people should watch opera rather than this genre -- I highly recommend "Carmen" with Julia Miguenes-Johnson and Placido Domingo (1984) -- the epitome of a love affair as immortal as always! Titles chosen by the movie industry have -- alas! -- transcended good taste, and with it, semantic borders: maybe simply by following the pattern of our modern lives where the element of surprise has been discarded and replaced by circadian and pecuniary worries. Comparing Cary Grant to Warren Beatty (in terms of this being a remake) is like putting Berlioz next to Madonna!

They did it both on and off the screen and it was as exciting to watch these two great actors fall in love both on and off the screen. Also, a great performance by one of the leading ladies of our time, Kate Hepburn. Loved this movie!

This third version of the 1939 classic 'Love Affair' should be titled' An Affair To Forget'. Bening and Beatty might have great chemistry in the real world, but that's not the case on screen in this sickeningly California remake. I watched the first half hour and my love affair with this film was over.