Review of Love Affair (1939) by Paul Z — 03 Mar 2009

This modest, undemanding film stars the magnificent and radiant Irene Dunne and the disappointingly but quite suitably cast Charles Boyer. The story is as contrived as ever, but Maria Ouspenskaya gives a perfectly sympathetic performance as Boyer's grandmother. 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. My real problem with the film is a very shallow one, which is that Charles Boyer isn't Cary Grant, and if Cary Grant could do the Boyer role in the remake, then why couldn't he have done it in this one, with Irene? They are the greatest on-screen romantic pair in cinematic history. But thankfully Irene is still here: As always, she gets to sing, and actually gets to sing two songs most winningly, which I suppose is intended to compensate for Cary's absence.

This is a classically light, escapist silver screen romance of two distinct tempers. The first act is a traditional 1930s romantic comedy. The dialogue is amusing, the two leads pleasant, and the situation of their encounters is very funny. The second half is a sad and absorbing drama.