Dunne vs Kerr - Love Affair (1939) Discussion

[–] joes119 18 years ago

Well, it's not unusual for an actress attempting a remake of a Dunne role to be obliterated by Dunne's original efforts. Dunne was that good. But, even so, Kerr was the best actress McCarey could have used at that time. It was Grant who was miscast, IMO. David Niven would have been a better match for Kerr in the romance film AATR should have been.

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[–] robb_772 18 years ago

I thought that Grant was the best thing about the 1957 version - I felt he really put his heart into it. Kerr was acceptable, but wooden. Even though I love Charles Boyer, I can't help but wonder what the result would have been if Grant had starred with Dunne in this version.

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[–] billellis 18 years ago

"The great is the enemy of the good." Kerr was a good actress, very good sometimes; Dunne was a great actress.

It always struck me in AATR that the leading lady should be believably American, and Kerr wasn't. That's not her fault, and I agree with the poster who said she may have been McCarey's best candidate at the time. She did have excellent timing in the repartee early in the movie, and that's important to establish part of her character.

I wonder what Eleanor Parker would have done with the role.

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] Harold_Robbins 18 years ago

I love Dunne in the original, but have no problem with Kerr in the remake, either. It's a different film and different chemistry.

"I AM big - it's the pictures that got small!"

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[–] ophelia137 18 years ago

I love Deborah Kerr. She's a great actress. But Irene Dunne was made for the role of Terry McKay. What would have been perfect is if there was a way for Irene and Cary Grant to be in the same movie. Maybe someone should cut and paste them together :)

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[–] crispy_comments 17 years ago

Wasn't Irene Dunne considered for the remake? I might be wrong, but I thought I read that somewhere. It would've been great 'cause she and Cary Grant had proven chemistry together, having had big hits when they co-starred in "The Awful Truth" and "My Favorite Wife". Unfortunately, methinks the studio heads thought Irene was too old for the part in the 1950s - of course it didn't matter that Cary Grant was getting on in years himself - Hollywood has such a double standard - older men are still considered attractive, but they're usually paired with younger women!

Anyway, I completely agree that Deborah Kerr spoils the remake - I HATED "An Affair To Remember" because of her, and I can't for the life of me understand why it's the more famous version, while "Love Affair" is largely forgotten and languishes in public domain hell. Wouldn't it be nice if "Love Affair" received a proper restoration and a legitimate DVD release?

BTW, Deborah Kerr re-did another role of Irene Dunne's, when she made "The King & I" (remake of Irene's earlier "Anna & The King Of Siam") - I really don't know why Kerr was considered a suitable replacement for Dunne - Irene could really sing...Deborah had to have her voice dubbed. And Irene Dunne could act with a sense of humour, while Deborah's as boring as they come. Everything I've seen her in, she's annoyed me, coming across as prissy and saintlier-than-thou. Ugh.

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[–] martini-29 17 years ago

Kerr was awful, but so was Grant. It pains me to write this because he was so great in almost everything. When he delivers that horrid "why couldn't it have been me" line, I thought I'd puke in my lap. Dunne's wit and charm were genuine. She could go jab for jab with any leading man. Kerr was fine in The King and I, but I can only imagine how great Irene Dunne might have been.

Grant in Charade was another disaster.

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[–] d.doherty 17 years ago

.... so good in so many other films, were both curiously flat here. I am a Cary Grant fan, and not a Boyer fan, but Boyer was so much better than Cary in this role. Deborah Kerr,likewise, can't hold a candle to Irene Dunne as Terry.

"I can no longer keep my blinds drawn, and I can't keep myself from talking."

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[–] helicopterp 17 years ago

I love Cary Grant too much to be impartial, but when I think about the scene when he returns to his grandmother's house after her death - so nice. And Kerr in From Here to Eternity - she knew how to bring it. But I will admit that AATR is an imperfect movie, and part of that needs to be attributed to Leo McCarey. That scene with all the kids singing? Ick. But there should be NO doubt that Irene Dunne is a dream (5 time Oscar nominee - never won...boo). And any Dunne/Grant pairing is worth seeing (I have all three) - My Favorite Wife (great) - The Awful Truth (Amazing and Hilarious - won an Oscar for Direction for Leo McCarey actually) - and Penny Serenade (heartbraking and wonderful...a part that got an Oscar nod for Cary Grant).

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[–] dblmaven 17 years ago

Actually, Kerr didn't remake Anna & The King of Siam because what was made was a movie version of the Broadway show The King & I. The story was very different because it had to complement the musical score. And, let's face it, in reality, it was all about Yul Brynner. The show was originally written for Gertrude Lawrence but Yul Brynner made it his and became defined by the role of the King. How can anyone compete with that?

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[–] peacexlovexand_harmonyba 16 years ago

kerr was anything but saintlier-than thou in from here to eternity, as an adulterous military wife.

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[–] crispy_comments 14 years ago

Even when Kerr played adulterous characters, she played 'em like saintlier-than-thou martyrs.

Maybe it's that cold, stiff-upper-lip quality earlier posters mentioned.

Much prefer Irene Dunne's warmth and ability to play both comedy and drama equally well. She's just charming and loveable. Words I'd never use to describe Deborah Kerr.

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[–] csu16387 17 years ago

I prefer the original as well. The remake is good, but it loses its way during the latter half of the film. Irene's wonderful in Love Affair. Deborah isn't bad in An Affair to Remember. She has some great comedic moments with Cary Grant. However, she wouldn't have been my first choice either.

Supposedly, Ingrid Bergman was the first choice to star in An Affair to Remember. Unfortunately, she turned it down. Grant and Bergman were a terrific on-screen couple. Though I really love Deborah Kerr, Ingrid may have been the better choice for An Affair to Remember.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

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[–] titus25 17 years ago

I saw AATR first, like most everyone I suppose, and loved it, well, the first half anyway, while they're on the boat, after which the film gets a little too mushy for my tastes. I think Deborah Kerr was wonderful in it. However, I saw Love Affair for the first time a few days ago, and even though it's practically the same movie, almost word-for-word, I was surprised by how much more I enjoyed it, especially Irene Dunne's performance. Dunne's Terry is such a lovely, uncomplicated, and level-headed person that it's so easy to like her and fun to watch her. And I thought Boyer was better too. Grant always a seemed a bit stiff and affected to me, especially at the reunion scene at the end, while Boyer's emotions were more genuine to me. It is a shame that Love Affair has been so overlooked by its remake, because it really is the better of the two films, performances included.

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[–] tiffanymb 17 years ago

Deborah Kerr was great in An Affair to Remember, she was believable and had (at least I believe) a good chemistry with Cary Grant. Irene was also good in Love Affair but I did not like Charles Boyer's thick accent it was too much for the movie.

"If you can paint I can walk- anything can happen, right?" -Deborah Kerr in An Affair to Remember

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[–] Noirkiss_3 17 years ago

The original is by far superior. I agree Kerr isn't great in the role. I love Grant, but Boyer is heartbreaking in the original. Especially when asking about the wait at the top of the building.

Grant and Dunne were fantastic together in other films, and as far as a straight love story with them, try Penny Arcade.

I just feel the remake was more comedic, whereas the original was more endearing.

Just think, Dunne was almost 40 when it was filmed, and she was radiant. She is as underrated star from the past. to be sure.

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[–] mojo2004 17 years ago

Good lord after watching Annette Benning & Warren Beatty ruin the story with their flat lifeless remake you'll want to kill yourself.I guess that'll make Kerr fans feel better.

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[–] phowell1 17 years ago

Penny Arcade? LMAO!!

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[–] pierce_MN 17 years ago

I am rather fond of Kerr in The Chalk Garden, From Here to Eternity, Black Narcissus and Tea and Sympathy, but I loathe An Affair to Remember. If you watch Anna and the King of Siam and then watch The King and I, you realize that Kerr is actually copying Dunne's performance scene for scene, and almost line for line. Dunne is far better in the role. It's a pity that Gertrude Lawrence died and couldn't do the film, but there must have been someone who could have played Anna in the musical besides Kerr.

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[–] TimesSquareAngel 16 years ago

Love, love, love Deborah Kerr but what makes Irene Dunne so special as Terry is her refusal to give in to despair. She is constantly on top of her personal tragedy laughing at it almost. Just one moment where she looks away when she is lying in the hospital bed right after the accident do you see the depth of her pain. Everywhere else she is resolutely without self-pity even to the point of being almost insensitive to herself and a little cruel to Boyer as Michel. And she never loses her sense of humor. Kerr is more British stiff upper lip. Dunne has that almost self-deprecating yet stoic refusal to ask for pity or even to pity herself. Makes the soaper work on a different, deeper level.

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[–] jaddeo 16 years ago

I agree with previous postings that there is no comparison between the performances of Dunne vs. Kerr. Irene Dunne is that rare acting genius that can do comedy, drama & musical with equal aplomb and dexterity. She never misses a beat. I cry when I'm supposed to, laugh at all the right places and am enchanted by her charm 100% of the time. She is so modern! What a treasure. By comparison Deborah Kerr is cold, especially in this role. While Kerr can be good especially in the movie THE INNOCENTS in AATR she drains all the good emotion out of the picture and is not very effective with Cary Grant. God, how I wish Joan Crawford had done FROM HERE TO ETERNITY as originally cast. That would have been hot! While I generally adore Grant, Charles Boyer is better in LOVE AFFAIR. His performance in the last scene is heartbreaking and while Grant is a great actor, in this scene, by comparison, which one has to make since this is a scene by scene remake he falls short. One great acting bit by Dunne that hasn't yet been mentioned is the opening scene when Charles Boyer's letter has flown though a porthole and Irene picks it up. Her take when she first looks at Boyer is priceless. The subtlety and change in her facial expressions upon seeing this hunk in just 5 seconds is an acting lesson for any age. Even the incomparable Ms. Streep could not do it better. What a shame she never won an Oscar. And I agree, she should have done the movie version of THE KING AND I. She could sing and that character would have been fine being a little older. It would have worked fine there.

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[–] scooterberwyn 11 years ago

Regarding "The King and I" film, Maureen O'Hara, who had a lovely singing voice, wanted the role of Anna Leonowens, but she was vetoed by Richard Rodgers because of a recent pirate film she had made. Supposedly he said something to the effect that, "I'm not going to have Anna played by the Pirate queen!" I think Maureen would have been excellent in the role.

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[–] we2 16 years ago

Why like one at the expense of the other. Both Kerr and Dunn were marvelous. Boyer or Grant???? Both were sensitive and held this womans story together.

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[–] jaddeo 16 years ago

"Why like one at the expense of the other. Both Kerr and Dunn were marvelous. Boyer or Grant???? Both were sensitive and held this womans story together."

I don't think I like one at the expense of the other. One can have an opinion about whom one prefers without attacking the less favored actor, which is what I think I did. In my opinion, Dunne is a warmer actress and that warmth adds immeasurably to the story whereas I find Kerr, accomplished as she is, cooler and her qualities don't suit this sort of material as well. Also, I'm curious why you consider this a "woman's story"? It is a human story where the male protagonist is just as important as the female.

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[–] jane_bront 16 years ago

I am definitely in the minority here in more ways than one. I've seen AATR several times and it's one of my favorite romantic films. I finally saw LA earlier this week and did not like it. Charles Boyer looks good but the deep French accent was a turn off and I didn't particularly care for his acting. He seemed kind of stiff and slow. I like Cary Grant in general and thought he was good in AATR.

I don't see much of a difference between Irene and Deborah; they were both equally good.

So for me Charles Boyer was the weak link. I thought Boyer and Dunne had zero chemistry while Grant and Kerr had loads of it.

Also, it didn't help that the dvd I borrowed obviously wasn't remastered well - if at all. I like a lot of black and white films but when the sound or picture wavers and flickers, it's time to repair them.

To err is human; to forgive is divine...and human.

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[–] mjr1114 11 years ago

Plot: French playboy Michel Marnet and American Terry McKay fall in love aboard ship.
Being the character is french, it would make perfect sense for the actor to have a french accent, would it not? It's not like Boyer had to fake the accent, either.
I had more trouble with the remake's character not having any hint of the accent.

As to the original post, before I continue, I want to point out that I love, love, love Cary Grant. He was the first actor I was consciously aware of, from the golden era, that made me 'cry' when I heard of his passing.
Originally, I loved An Affair to Remember. However, after a few more viewings, I found Deborah Kerr to be less enjoyable in this film. I was less moved.
I, then, discovered this version, and fell in love with the story, all over again. However, the difference being, I haven't stopped loving this version. I've found the reasons for this are Boyer and Dunne. Now, this could be that I tend to lean towards 'originals', almost always. I will find myself liking a movie, finding out it is a remake, finding the original, watching it, and liking it better, somehow. I.E. I prefer the original, British version of 'Gaslight' to the American remake with Charles Boyer.
Don't get me wrong, of course there are remakes I have preferred, one I can think of, off the top of my head, is the Fredric March version of 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde'.
It could be, overall, I prefer silent versions and early 30 movies over the later years, especially when the originals could get away with pre-code themes, etc. I.E The Letter (1929) vs The Letter (1940), Stella Dallas (1925) vs Stella Dallas (1937).

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