Holiday (1938) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

An unhappy heiress falls in love with her stodgy sister's freethinking fiance.

Cast & Crew

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George Cukor

Katharine Hepburn

Cary Grant

Doris Nolan

Lew Ayres

Edward Everett Horton

Photos & Videos

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Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Your Nose Is Frozen

Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) What Do Most Girls Do?

Ben Mankiewicz Intro -- Holiday (1938)

Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Want A Bite?

Film Details

Also Known As

Unconventional Linda, Vacation Bound

Genre

Comedy

Adaptation

Romantic Comedy

Release Date

Jun 15, 1938

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Distribution Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the play Holiday by Philip Barry (New York, 26 Nov 1928).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 35m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

10 reels

Synopsis

Upon returning to New York from a December holiday in Lake Placid, Johnny Case drops by to see his dear friends, Nick and Susan Potter, and gleefully informs them that he has become engaged to a beautiful woman he met at the resort. When Susan questions Johnny about his bride-to-be, Julia Seton, Johnny confesses that he knows nothing about her background or family life. Later, when he shows up at Julia's Park Avenue address, he is stunned to discover that she is the daughter of Edward Seton, an extremely wealthy banker. While Julia goes to church to break the news of her engagement to her conservative widower father, Johnny spends time with Linda, Julia's unconventional, outspoken sister, and Ned, her alcoholic but charming brother. As he and Linda chat in the playroom, the only "human" room in the Seton mansion, Johnny proudly tells Linda about his dreams and aspirations. The thirty-year-old Johnny reveals that because he has worked hard ever since he was a child, he now feels that he should take a long-term holiday and discover the true meaning of life. In turn, Linda confesses that because of their father's domination over the years, both she and Ned have been unable to find their place in the world. Mr. Seton, meanwhile, is stunned by Julia's announcement and immediately questions her about Johnny's financial standing and background. However, after meeting Johnny and drilling his employer about his competency, Mr. Seton agrees to the marriage. Although Linda, who adores her sister, suggests that they hold a small, informal engagement party, Julia willingly bows to her father's desire to have an enormous New Year's Eve party. Deeply disappointed, Linda refuses to come down for the lavish affair and holes up in the playroom. The Potters arrive and, while wandering around the mansion, accidentally end up in the playroom with Linda. Embarrassed by Linda's obvious absence from the festivities, Julia sends Johnny to fetch her, and Johnny is delighted to be reunited with his wisecracking friends. At the same time, Julia's snobbish cousins, Seton and Laura Cram, track Linda to the playroom and interrupt the group's fun. Just as Linda and Johnny, who loves to do backflips, are about to demonstrate a tumbling trick they have just perfected, Julia and Mr. Seton burst into the room and insist that Linda join the party. Mr. Seton then offers Johnny a job at his bank, forcing Johnny to reveal his "early retirement" plans. Both Julia and her father are upset by Johnny's pronouncements, and a despondent Johnny sees the New Year in with Linda. Later, Linda tearfully confesses to Ned that she has fallen in love with Johnny but intends to hide her feelings. Immediately after the engagement is announced, Johnny leaves the celebration without saying goodbye. Days later, Linda, anxious to reunite the lovers, visits the Potters and learns that Johnny is planning to sail with them to Europe that night and has asked Julia to join him. When a telegram from Johnny arrives announcing that Julia has turned him down, Linda rushes back home to admonish Julia. After the sisters argue about the situation, Mr. Seton joins the discussion and decries Johnny as "un-American." Julia smugly predicts that Johnny will return to her, and moments later, a contrite Johnny shows up and tells Mr. Seton that he is willing to work at his bank on condition that he can quit after two years if he is unhappy there. When Mr. Seton begins to plan the honeymoon in detail, however, Johnny balks and, after revealing that he loves his freedom more than he loves Julia, leaves for the dock. Linda then senses that Julia is actually relieved by Johnny's departure and forces her to admit that she no longer loves him. Inspired by Johnny's defiance, Linda declares her own independence and rushes from the house. At dockside, the Potters are overjoyed when Johnny boards the ship without Julia, and Johnny is delighted when Linda takes her sister's place by his side.

Director

George Cukor

Cast

Katharine Hepburn

Cary Grant

Doris Nolan

Lew Ayres

Edward Everett Horton

Henry Kolker

Binnie Barnes

Jean Dixon

Susan [Elliott] Potter

Henry Daniell

Charles Trowbridge

George Pauncefort

Charles Richman

Mitchell Harris

Neil Fitzgerald

Marion Ballou

Howard Hickman

Hilda Plowright

Woman in church

Luke Cosgrove

Mabel Colcord

Bess Flowers

Countess, woman on staircase

Thomas A. Braidon

Raymond Lawrence

Beatrice Curtis

Beatrice Blinn

Harry Allen

Robert Hale

Frank Benson

Edward Cooper

Margaret Mcwade

Frank Shannon

Aileen Carlyle

Matt Mchugh

Maurice Brierre

Esther Peck

Lillian West

George Hickman

Crew

Lionel Banks

Art Director Associate

Clifford Broughton

Assistant Director

Sidney Buchman

Al Clark

Lodge Cunningham

Paul Flato

Steven Goosson

Babs Johnstone

Interior Decorator

Kalloch

Otto Meyer

Franz Planer

Everett Riskin

Donald Ogden Stewart

Morris Stoloff

Photo Collections

Videos

Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Your Nose Is Frozen Johnny (Cary Grant), having discovered that his newly betrothed Julia (Doris Nolan), whom he just met on vacation, is one of the super-rich Setons, meets her sister Linda (Katharine Hepburn, her first scene), in George Cukor's Holiday, 1938.

Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) Want A Bite? Arrived early for his big meeting with father, Johnny (Cary Grant), who's just learned he's marrying into a super-rich family, visits with Linda (Katharine Hepburn), sister of his betrothed, in George Cukor's Holiday, 1938.

Holiday (1938) -- (Movie Clip) What Do Most Girls Do? Opening scene, Johnny (Cary Grant) pops in on New York pals Nick and Susan (Edward Everett Horton, Jean Dixon) with big news, in George Cukor's Holiday, 1938, from the Philip Barry play.

Intro Aired: Jan 2019

Dave Karger Intro -- Holiday (1938) TCM’s Dave Karger introduces Holiday, 1938.

Intro Aired: Aug 2017

Ben Mankiewicz Intro -- Holiday (1938) Ben Mankiewicz introduces Holiday, 1938.

Intro Aired: Apr 2017

Ben Mankiewicz Intro -- Holiday (1938) Ben Mankiewicz introduces Holiday, 1938.

Film Details

Also Known As

Unconventional Linda, Vacation Bound

Genre

Comedy

Adaptation

Romantic Comedy

Release Date

Jun 15, 1938

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Distribution Company

Columbia Pictures Corp.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the play Holiday by Philip Barry (New York, 26 Nov 1928).

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 35m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

10 reels

Award Nominations

Best Art Direction

1938

Articles

Holiday

July 28, 2003

A "woman's director" known for his collaborations with a bevy of talented actresses, George Cukor's best known match-up was perhaps with Katherine Hepburn, an actress rarely understood by Hollywood executives but advantageously employed by the director. The vibrant star of his 1938 screwball comedy Holiday, Hepburn began her mutually beneficial collaboration with Cukor in 1932's A Bill of Divorcement and starred in eight of the director's sly, sophisticated film productions.

In Holiday Hepburn stars as the unconventional, idealistic daughter of a wealthy businessman who dreams of escaping the suffocating boredom of her home, but lacks the confidence to break away. When a brash, exciting man from the wrong side of the tracks, Johnny Case (Cary Grant), enters the Seton household to marry her beautiful sister Julia (Doris Nolan), things seem to be changing for the better. But propriety, routine and the temptation of great wealth threaten to derail Johnny's dreams too in this tale of non-conformists versus the establishment.

An actor who spent his career playing debonair, moneyed gentleman in films like The Philadelphia Story (1940) and North by Northwest (1959), Grant plays humorously against type in Holiday as an eccentric trying to impress Julia's rich father and win his daughter's hand in marriage.

Hepburn was singled out with ample praise for her poignant, charismatic portrait of a repressed rich girl in Holiday though, ironically enough, she was rejected more than once for the part of Linda Seton. Hepburn had been an understudy for the role of Linda when Philip Barry's popular play appeared on Broadway, but the role in a 1930 Hollywood version went to Ann Harding. When Holiday was remade by Cukor in 1938, Columbia president Harry Cohn pressed for Irene Dunne, who had played opposite Grant in The Awful Truth the previous year. Hepburn had recently been named "box office poison" by the Independent Theater Owners Association and it seemed unlikely the idiosyncratic actress would beat out Irene Dunne for the part of Linda. But Cukor insisted on Hepburn, who bought herself out of her contract at RKO and went to Columbia to make Holiday.

Hepburn's persistence was rewarded with positive critical reviews, including the New York Herald Tribune which noted her "first-class screen acting." Grant, who worked on a number of productions with Hepburn including Sylvia Scarlett (1936), Bringing Up Baby (1938) and The Philadelphia Story, raved about his co-star in Holiday calling her "the most completely honest woman I've ever met."

Holiday was adapted to the screen by Algonquin humorist Donald Ogden Stewart, who also scripted The Philadelphia Story, Keeper of the Flame (1942) and Without Love (1945), all starring Hepburn. And Stewart's path had intersected with Hepburn's long before their Hollywood collaborations. Stewart had played Johnny Case's friend Nick Potter (a part Barry wrote with Stewart in mind) in the same Broadway stage version of Holiday in which Hepburn understudied Linda Seton.

Director: George Cukor
Producer: Everett Riskin
Screenplay: Donald Ogden Stewart, Sidney Buchman based on the play by Philip Barry
Cinematography: Franz Planer
Production Design: Stephen Goosson
Music: Sidney Cutner
Cast: Katharine Hepburn (Linda Seton), Cary Grant (Johnny Case), Doris Nolan (Julia Seton), Lew Ayres (Ned Seton), Edward Everett Horton (Nick Potter), Jean Dixon (Susan Potter).
BW-95m. Closed captioning.

by Felicia Feaster

Holiday

Holiday

A "woman's director" known for his collaborations with a bevy of talented actresses, George Cukor's best known match-up was perhaps with Katherine Hepburn, an actress rarely understood by Hollywood executives but advantageously employed by the director. The vibrant star of his 1938 screwball comedy Holiday, Hepburn began her mutually beneficial collaboration with Cukor in 1932's A Bill of Divorcement and starred in eight of the director's sly, sophisticated film productions. In Holiday Hepburn stars as the unconventional, idealistic daughter of a wealthy businessman who dreams of escaping the suffocating boredom of her home, but lacks the confidence to break away. When a brash, exciting man from the wrong side of the tracks, Johnny Case (Cary Grant), enters the Seton household to marry her beautiful sister Julia (Doris Nolan), things seem to be changing for the better. But propriety, routine and the temptation of great wealth threaten to derail Johnny's dreams too in this tale of non-conformists versus the establishment. An actor who spent his career playing debonair, moneyed gentleman in films like The Philadelphia Story (1940) and North by Northwest (1959), Grant plays humorously against type in Holiday as an eccentric trying to impress Julia's rich father and win his daughter's hand in marriage. Hepburn was singled out with ample praise for her poignant, charismatic portrait of a repressed rich girl in Holiday though, ironically enough, she was rejected more than once for the part of Linda Seton. Hepburn had been an understudy for the role of Linda when Philip Barry's popular play appeared on Broadway, but the role in a 1930 Hollywood version went to Ann Harding. When Holiday was remade by Cukor in 1938, Columbia president Harry Cohn pressed for Irene Dunne, who had played opposite Grant in The Awful Truth the previous year. Hepburn had recently been named "box office poison" by the Independent Theater Owners Association and it seemed unlikely the idiosyncratic actress would beat out Irene Dunne for the part of Linda. But Cukor insisted on Hepburn, who bought herself out of her contract at RKO and went to Columbia to make Holiday. Hepburn's persistence was rewarded with positive critical reviews, including the New York Herald Tribune which noted her "first-class screen acting." Grant, who worked on a number of productions with Hepburn including Sylvia Scarlett (1936), Bringing Up Baby (1938) and The Philadelphia Story, raved about his co-star in Holiday calling her "the most completely honest woman I've ever met." Holiday was adapted to the screen by Algonquin humorist Donald Ogden Stewart, who also scripted The Philadelphia Story, Keeper of the Flame (1942) and Without Love (1945), all starring Hepburn. And Stewart's path had intersected with Hepburn's long before their Hollywood collaborations. Stewart had played Johnny Case's friend Nick Potter (a part Barry wrote with Stewart in mind) in the same Broadway stage version of Holiday in which Hepburn understudied Linda Seton. Director: George Cukor Producer: Everett Riskin Screenplay: Donald Ogden Stewart, Sidney Buchman based on the play by Philip Barry Cinematography: Franz Planer Production Design: Stephen Goosson Music: Sidney Cutner Cast: Katharine Hepburn (Linda Seton), Cary Grant (Johnny Case), Doris Nolan (Julia Seton), Lew Ayres (Ned Seton), Edward Everett Horton (Nick Potter), Jean Dixon (Susan Potter). BW-95m. Closed captioning. by Felicia Feaster

Holiday (1938) - HOLIDAY - The 1938 Version by George Cukor on DVD

January 8, 2007

"So daring -- so tender -- so human -- so true -- that everyone in love will want to see it!"

So reads the poster art for George Cukor's 1938 romantic comedy Holiday, but the marketing guys could just as well have sold it with, "The rich are different." This is a romantic comedy for the Depression years, in which "meet cute" meets Marx. Heady arguments about the true role of money and the meaning of life bump up against playful slapstick, and at one point Cary Grant shows his true feelings for the snobbery-set by hailing them with a Nazi salute. Who says screwball wasn't political?

Grant plays Johnny Case, the very embodiment of America's work ethic. A poor boy orphaned at a young age, Johnny has been obliged to work for a living since he was 10 years old. Now, a modestly successful financier, he has fallen head over heels for Julia Seton (Doris Nolan), first daughter of the storied Seton family, one of the nation's most prominent and stuck-up bunch of richies.

The patriarch of the Seton clan (Henry Kolker) dislikes the idea of his daughter marrying so palpably beneath her station, but Johnny's unyielding determination and natural charm bring him around. If the Seton family grudgingly accepts Johnny into its fold, no such patience is offered Johnny's dearest ambition: to "retire young and work old." Having become a self-made man, he has no interest in the Seton money, but simply wishes to go on an extended holiday while he is still young enough to enjoy life. Later, when he is older and wiser, then he'll return to work.

This is a wholesale rejection of the Seton's values. To the Seton clan, Johnny's ideas are practically communist, a blasphemy against the god of money.

Only Linda (Katharine Hepburn), the self-professed "black sheep" of the Setons, sees things Johnny's way. Too bad he's already engaged to her sister...

Loosely based on the life of Gertrude Sanfred Lejean, a real-life "Linda Seton" whose free-thinking ways made her a proto-feminist, Holiday began life as a 1929 Broadway show by playwright Philip Barry. Two years later it was adapted into a feature film by director Edward Griffith-but in the interim, the stock market had crashed, radically changing the context of the story. By 1938, the story's obvious anti-rich attitudes resonated even deeper with audiences than before, and gave the material a sharper edge than the usual screwball romance offering.

Cukor was in waiting at the MGM lot while his next gig, Gone With the Wind, lumbered slowly into readiness-to bide the time he was loaned out to Columbia to helm a remake of Holiday. Borrowing talent from other studios was Columbia's standard operating procedure in those days-why pay people all the time when you could hire them out on a per-job basis, thought Columbia exec Harry Cohn?

Bridging the production to past incarnations of the story, character actor Edward Everett Horton joined the cast playing the same supporting role he had originated in the 1930 film. That role, of Johnny's friend Nick Potter, had in turn been played onstage by Donald Ogden Stewart, who was hired by the producers as the screenwriter for the 1938 remake.

For the male lead, Columbia tapped freelance actor Cary Grant, already on a fast trajectory to stardom despite lacking a studio to call home. For his costar, Columbia turned to Katharine Hepburn, whose unconventional behavior at RKO had given her a reputation as box office poison. Indeed, Hepburn was as willful and independent as the character of Linda Seton, whom she had understudied during its Broadway run. Hepburn had even used one of her scenes from the stage version of Holiday in her very first screen test. If anyone was to do this right, it was her, and Columbia's quick-thinking publicity mavens promoted her appearance with such slogans as "Is It True What They Say About Katharine Hepburn?" They proved their point, and Hepburn successfully shed her old reputation in favor of a new stardom.

Following Holiday, Hepburn bought the rights to another Philip Barry play, The Philadelphia Story, so that she could control her next film and negotiate her own terms: these involved reuniting with director George Cukor, costar Cary Grant, and screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart all over again.

To order Holiday, click here. Explore more Cary Grant titles here.

by David Kalat

Holiday (1938) - HOLIDAY - The 1938 Version by George Cukor on DVD

"So daring -- so tender -- so human -- so true -- that everyone in love will want to see it!" So reads the poster art for George Cukor's 1938 romantic comedy Holiday, but the marketing guys could just as well have sold it with, "The rich are different." This is a romantic comedy for the Depression years, in which "meet cute" meets Marx. Heady arguments about the true role of money and the meaning of life bump up against playful slapstick, and at one point Cary Grant shows his true feelings for the snobbery-set by hailing them with a Nazi salute. Who says screwball wasn't political? Grant plays Johnny Case, the very embodiment of America's work ethic. A poor boy orphaned at a young age, Johnny has been obliged to work for a living since he was 10 years old. Now, a modestly successful financier, he has fallen head over heels for Julia Seton (Doris Nolan), first daughter of the storied Seton family, one of the nation's most prominent and stuck-up bunch of richies. The patriarch of the Seton clan (Henry Kolker) dislikes the idea of his daughter marrying so palpably beneath her station, but Johnny's unyielding determination and natural charm bring him around. If the Seton family grudgingly accepts Johnny into its fold, no such patience is offered Johnny's dearest ambition: to "retire young and work old." Having become a self-made man, he has no interest in the Seton money, but simply wishes to go on an extended holiday while he is still young enough to enjoy life. Later, when he is older and wiser, then he'll return to work. This is a wholesale rejection of the Seton's values. To the Seton clan, Johnny's ideas are practically communist, a blasphemy against the god of money. Only Linda (Katharine Hepburn), the self-professed "black sheep" of the Setons, sees things Johnny's way. Too bad he's already engaged to her sister... Loosely based on the life of Gertrude Sanfred Lejean, a real-life "Linda Seton" whose free-thinking ways made her a proto-feminist, Holiday began life as a 1929 Broadway show by playwright Philip Barry. Two years later it was adapted into a feature film by director Edward Griffith-but in the interim, the stock market had crashed, radically changing the context of the story. By 1938, the story's obvious anti-rich attitudes resonated even deeper with audiences than before, and gave the material a sharper edge than the usual screwball romance offering. Cukor was in waiting at the MGM lot while his next gig, Gone With the Wind, lumbered slowly into readiness-to bide the time he was loaned out to Columbia to helm a remake of Holiday. Borrowing talent from other studios was Columbia's standard operating procedure in those days-why pay people all the time when you could hire them out on a per-job basis, thought Columbia exec Harry Cohn? Bridging the production to past incarnations of the story, character actor Edward Everett Horton joined the cast playing the same supporting role he had originated in the 1930 film. That role, of Johnny's friend Nick Potter, had in turn been played onstage by Donald Ogden Stewart, who was hired by the producers as the screenwriter for the 1938 remake. For the male lead, Columbia tapped freelance actor Cary Grant, already on a fast trajectory to stardom despite lacking a studio to call home. For his costar, Columbia turned to Katharine Hepburn, whose unconventional behavior at RKO had given her a reputation as box office poison. Indeed, Hepburn was as willful and independent as the character of Linda Seton, whom she had understudied during its Broadway run. Hepburn had even used one of her scenes from the stage version of Holiday in her very first screen test. If anyone was to do this right, it was her, and Columbia's quick-thinking publicity mavens promoted her appearance with such slogans as "Is It True What They Say About Katharine Hepburn?" They proved their point, and Hepburn successfully shed her old reputation in favor of a new stardom. Following Holiday, Hepburn bought the rights to another Philip Barry play, The Philadelphia Story, so that she could control her next film and negotiate her own terms: these involved reuniting with director George Cukor, costar Cary Grant, and screenwriter Donald Ogden Stewart all over again. To order Holiday, click here. Explore more Cary Grant titles here. by David Kalat

Quotes

What's the use of having all this jack around if it can't get us a superior kind of man?
- Linda

Someone stop me; O someone please, just try and stop me!
- Linda Seton

When I find myself in a position like this, I ask myself what would General Motors do? and then I do the opposite!
- Johnny Case

For the love of Pete... it's the Wicked Witch and Dopey!
- Linda Seton

You've got no faith in Johnny, have you, Julia. His little dream may fall flat, you think. Well, so it may, what if it should? there'll be another. Oh, I've got all the faith in the world in Johnny. Whatever he does is alright with me. If he wants to dream for a while, he can dream for a while, and if he wants to come back and sell peanuts, oh! How I'll believe in those peanuts!
- Linda Seton

Trivia

Edward Everett Horton repeats the role of Nick Potter, which he also played in the previous version of the film, Holiday (1930).

The screenwriter of this version of "Holiday", Donald Ogden Stewart, played the role of Nick Potter in the original Broadway production of the play.

The play originally opened in New York City On 26 November 1928 and ran 229 performances.

Notes

The film's working titles were Unconventional Linda and Vacation Bound. News items in Hollywood Reporter note that Joan Bennett was at one time cast as "Julia Seton" and Ginger Rogers was initially cast as "Linda Seton." Katharine Hepburn states in her autobiography that Columbia borrowed her from RKO for this production after she refused to play the lead in RKO's Mother Carey's Chickens . Hepburn, who had just been labeled "box office poison" by independent theater owners following a series of RKO flops, including her previous picture, Bringing Up Baby, left the studio shortly after this production. Modern sources add the following information about the production: Hepburn, who had been the understudy for the role of "Linda" in the Broadway play, had hoped to star in the earlier version of the film, and it was she who convinced studio head Harry Cohn to produce it for Columbia. She also requested George Cukor as director and Cary Grant for the role of "Johnny." Although both Donald Ogden Stewart and Sidney Buchman are credited with the screenplay, Cukor claimed that it was entirely Stewart's work. Stewart was one of playwright Philip Barry's best friends and had acted in the stage production of the play. Jean Dixon retired from the screen after this performance. Cukor tested Rita Hayworth for the role of the youngest sister. Art directors Steven Goosson and Lionel Banks were nominated for an Academy Award for their work on the picture.
Holiday was first filmed by Pathé in 1930, and starred Ann Harding and Mary Astor (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.2550). Edward Everett Horton was also featured as "Nick Potter" in that film. On June 15, 1978, a musical version of the play, titled Happy New Year, opened in New York, featuring sixteen Cole Porter songs.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1938

Released in United States March 1987

Released in United States May 2001

Shown at Cannes International Film Festival (Retrospective) May 9-20, 2001.

Released in USA on video.

Released in United States 1938

Released in United States March 1987 (Shown at AFI/Los Angeles International Film Festival (UCLA Movie Marathon: A Tribute to Cary Grant) March 11-26, 1987.)

Released in United States May 2001 (Shown at Cannes International Film Festival (Retrospective) May 9-20, 2001.)

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