Holiday (1930 film)

Holiday is an American comedy film from 1930 with Ann Harding and Mary Astor under the direction of Edward H. Griffith. The film is based on the eponymous Broadway play by Philip Barry and Ann Harding brought the only nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress in. The plot was remade in 1938 under the direction of George Cukor.

Action

The wealthy Julia Seton falls in love with the lawyer Johnny Case who has bright prospects, but currently is rather short of money. Julia sees her future husband Johnny and the Seton family takes her future member on benevolent. Quickly develops between Harry and Linda, the more musically interested, politically liberal elder sister of Julia, a deep friendship. Both agree that money can not buy happiness light and every person should strive to follow his dreams. It comes to a rift between Johnny and Julia, this manifests as to abandon his profession despite shining prospects to find as an artist his destiny. Johnny plans to go with his friends Nick and Susan Potter for some time to Europe. Shortly before the departure he changes his mind and decides to be initially for three years in his profession before he wants to take a final decision. But the constant attempts of the Seton to determine his life and to push in a direction that he does not think is right, in the end lead to the final break with Julia. Together with Linda breaks on Johnny, a life far removed from the conventions and etiquette guide.

Background

Ann Harding in 1928 came in the play The Trial of Mary Dugan on Broadway fame, but lost the role in the film adaptation of Norma Shearer. 1929 Harding finally signed a lucrative contract with the Pathé Studios, which guaranteed her $ 2000 weeks Gage and say in the scripts. Already with their debut, the film adaptation of the comedy Paris Bound by Philip Barry, directed by Edward H. Griffith Harding managed to become one of the top stars of the talkies. With the filming of Holiday, a piece also from the pen of Philip Barry, which brought it in time from November 1928 to June 1929 to 229 performances, Harding returned to some highly dramatic roles back into the world of salon comedy. First, Ina Claire was cast in the role of the Free Spirit Linda Seton, but the filming of The Awful Truth was delayed, so in the end Harding took the part, directed by Edward H. Griffith. For Mary Astor, the shooting was very difficult because her husband had previously been only a short time in an airplane crash. Ann Harding and Edward H. Griffith should work together more times: in 1932 The Animal Kingdom, the new film adaptation of Philip Barry comedy and in 1935 Biography of a Bachelor Girl.

The original was remade in 1938 with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, directed by George Cukor. For the female lead Irene Dunne was initially provided before Cukor was able to prevail with his choice for Hepburn. Irene Dunne, who wanted to play the role of Linda Seton, later admitted the cancellation was the biggest professional disappointment of her career.

Awards

Holiday received at the Academy Awards 1931 nominations in the categories

  • Best Actress ( Ann Harding ) and
  • Best Adapted Screenplay

Moreover, the film both from the movie Daily as well as the New York Times was elected under the selection of the ten best films of 1930. The National Board of Review has named Holiday even the best film of the year.

Criticism

The reviews for the film were excellent, especially the game of Ann Harding was unanimously praised. The New York Times was:

References and further reading

Scott O'Brien: Ann Harding: Cinema 's Gallant Lady, Bear Manor Media, New York 2010, ISBN 1-593-93535-8

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