One of the problems with watching An Affair to Remember (1957) is that I am almost out of Cary Grant movies.  I was aware of this fact before I watched it, and that is partly responsible for why I avoided it for any amount of time.  When I am scrolling through streaming services looking for something to view, my main hope is that I pick something enjoyable. As I have liked everything in which I have seen Grant, I figured this one would be a safe choice.  Not only was this assumption correct, but it also had some great, specifically Catholic moments for me to discuss.  At the same time, I will now have one less sure bet when it comes to film selections.  In any case, no matter how many you have seen in his filmography, this one is worth your time.

According to the press, Nicolas “Nickie” Ferrante (Cary Grant) has not had anything one could call An Affair to Remember, and they think it is about time the famous bachelor is wed.  His sailing across the Atlantic from Europe to New York to rendezvous with his fiancée, rich heiress Lois Clark (Neva Patterson), is headline news.  To drive home his devil-may-care attitude about his engagement, we see him speaking onboard the ship with Lois’ sister over the phone, who is furious about his decision.  While taking the air on deck, Nickie notices Terry McKay (Deborah Kerr).  He believes she has his cigarette case, though she plays coy.  Their conversation brings them towards her cabin where the item is returned.  During the exchange he notices a picture of Texas oil giant Kenneth “Ken” Bradley (Richard Denning).  Being the debonair guy he is, Nickie guesses that this is Terry’s fiancé.  Regardless of their affiliations, Nickie and Terry decide they have too long of a voyage ahead of them to not spend time with one another.  The downside of this is that they realize they are developing attachments.  Terry is the more cautious one, but she does agree to Nickie’s invitation to come with him as he visits his grandmother, Janou (Cathleen Nesbitt), in their next port of call.  To this Catholic’s joy, they find Janou in her private chapel, in which they later pray in front of a Marian statue.  Janou assumes that Terry is Nickie’s expected bride.  Despite their denial, Janou exchanges knowing looks with the two.  She even offers to write Terry and to eventually send the younger woman a lace shawl.  Back on the boat, they realize that not only are they falling in love, but that people are beginning to talk.  Due to their status, they are worried that rumors will cross the ocean before they do, and they attempt to avoid each other for the rest of voyage.  On the last day, another passenger reveals a number of photographs taken by the onboard camera man that show the two of them in various poses suggestive of them being a couple.  Unable to hide anything, they decide to be together for the remainder of their cruise.  As the vessel is coming to dock in New York, they are no longer able to contain their love.  There are a few obstacles, however.  The obvious issue is the fact that they have significant others whom they must let down gently.  The other is their relative lack of employment.  Nickie is a talented artist and pianist, but it appears that his only profession to this point in his life has been to be an eligible bachelor.  Terry is in a similar predicament, being a former lounge singer and little else.  With these roadblocks in mind, he proposes that he will take six months to establish an income.  Upon the passing of that period of time, they will meet at the top of the Empire State Building and be married.  Their respective partners are waiting for Nickie and Terry as they disembark.  When Lois and Nickie get home, she has arranged for them to appear on a television program to talk about their relationship.  The interviewer, Robert Q. Lewis (as himself), asks when the ceremony will happen.  To Lois’ surprise, Nickie says six months.  For Terry watching at home, it is a clear sign that he is serious.  With Ken sitting next to her, she admits to what had happened with Nickie during the crossing.  Six months pass and the appointed July day has come.  Having gone back to Boston after the end of her relationship, Terry returns to New York and goes to purchase a new dress for her upcoming wedding.  Ken is waiting for this, having the department store employees alert him when she arrives.  His last attempt to win her hand ends in the same result, but it is enough to fluster her as she runs towards the New York landmark and into traffic.  Being struck by a car prevents her from meeting Nickie, who waits until midnight at their predetermined spot.  In the hospital, Ken asks Terry if she wants him to alert Nickie, but she refuses.  I am not sure why she does this, but it happens.  Heartbroken, Nickie books a ticket on another transatlantic voyage, only to get to Janou’s home and learn that she has passed.  He retrieves the lace shawl before departing.  Upon coming home, he gets a call from Lois asking if he would like see a show with her.  He accepts, but it is clear that his heart is not where she would like.  Further complicating the situation is spotting Ken and Terry on the way out.  Thus, come Christmas, following the departure of Terry’s music students, she gets a knock on her door.  It is Nickie, who found her address in the phonebook.  He first confirms that she is still single, and with some persistence, the time apart melts away and they kiss as the film comes to a close.

There is a swell of music at the conclusion as Nickie and Terry recall that they have had An Affair to Remember.  My Catholic tendencies would normally have me shy away from the word “Affair.”  In a romantic context, that usually means two people engaging in extramarital activities.  Then again, that is nearly what happens between the two.  I know I have already spoiled the movie, but the scene that gives away the ending is when they are praying in the chapel.  This might only be obvious to a practicing Catholic, or someone who has been to a Catholic wedding.  A feature of such ceremonies is the bride and groom placing a candle next to a Marian statue and pausing for a moment to ask for Our Lady’s intercession.  Please note the word “intercession.”  For the umpteenth time, Catholics do not worship Mary.  We ask for her to pray for us, which has a Biblical foundation with the wedding feast ts Cana in John 2:1-12.  During the joyous event, Mary hears they have run out of wine and entreats Jesus on behalf of the guests.  After conversing with Her Son, she tells the waiters to do whatever He instructs.  We hope for a similar outcome, specific to our own needs, when we entreat Mary.  Given this context, you can imagine what Nickie and Terry were asking for as they kneeled before the altar.  Still, I was briefly misled by the presence of Father McGrath (Matt Moore) in Terry’s hospital room.  Because Ken is there, I feared she might break down and give in to his desire to marry her.  In another welcome Catholic twist, Father McGrath is actually there to offer Terry a job teaching music at the local parish school.  One can chalk up these developments to Nickie and Terry’s prayers, although we do not know their content.  No matter what they said, giving thanks for a Mother like Her is a blessing for any occasion.

And any occasion is a good one to watch An Affair to Remember.  Some of what takes place between the two is sometimes hard to understand because they could save a lot of trouble by being open about their feelings.  This is more egregious with Terry than Nickie, though he seemingly does not make much of an effort to find her after their failed rendezvous.  Still, if you are a cinema fan, I do not think you will fail to enjoy this one.