Figure 1.--'Love Affair' has an important placev in film history and a few children appear in some of the scenes. These films shot with contemprary clothing are helpful in fashion history. A romantic Frenchman, Michel Marnet (Charles Boyer). and an American woman, Terry McKay (Irene Dunne), have a shipboard romance. Here Terry meets a boy onboard played by Scotty Beckett. Notice Scotty does not wear knee socks. They were still commin Europe, but declining in popularity for american boys at the time.

'Love Affair' is one of the best romantic comedies made during the 1930s. It has an important placev in film history and a few children appear in some of the scenes. These films shot with contemprary clothing are helpful in fashion history. A romantic Frenchman, Michel Marnet (Charles Boyer). and an American woman, Terry McKay (Irene Dunne), have a shipboard romance. A shipboard rommance show how out of touch America was in 1939. Hiotler launched World War II by invading Poland (September 1939). Admiral Dönitz had his U-boats in place and within days they sank the liner Athenia. We doubt if very many shipboard romances followed. The two lovers are disuaded from an immediate marriage. They decide to separate for 6 months to give Michel a chance to earn a decent living. They arrange to meet in New York at the Empire State Building. An accident leads to a tragic misunderstanding. It proved to be Dunne's favorite film. It was a huge hit in a year with so many great films. She was again nominated for an Academy Award, but the competition was too much in 1939. The film was was written, directed, and produced by Leo McCarey in his first major drama. Scott Beckett had an aboard ship scene seen here (figure 1). Terry meets a boy onboard played by Scotty Beckett. Scotty who was about 10-years old at the time wears a short pants Eton suit. Notice that he has a tie, but it is wirn under his jacket. Scotty does not wear knee socks. They were still commin Europe, but declining in popularity for american boys at the time. Children also come into the film near the end and Dunne organizes a choir. We note one black child among the children. Some directors were beginning to make modest efforts to present blacks as part of the American landcape. McCarey remade Love Affair in what has become known as a Hollywood classic--'An Affair to Remember' with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr plaing the star-crossed lovers. A later semi-remake was the film that featured in 'Sleepless in Seattle', a charming movie about an 8-year old who uses a radio talk show to find a new wife of his widower father.

Created: 6:36 AM 2/26/2005
Last updated: 8:30 PM 3/8/2005