barrymn1 There's no question that this was a modestly made movie and it wasn't much of a success, either. Totally forgotten, it was rediscovered by TCM and now is considered a Christmas Classic, which is clearly is.All of the acting is really quite good, other than Wendell Corey's typical one-dimensional style of acting. Since his part is of a rather conventional, dull lawyer, I guess he does what's required.What most other people seem to suggest that it's a rather thin story, it's well conceived and really quite well written. Janet Leigh's son Timmy in the movie is picture perfect too.What's really a revelation is to see Robert Mitchum play such a nice, light comedic part. Despite his usually off-the-cuff persona - on and off the screen - he was really a gifted and talented actor and this film really shows how charming he could be.This film is really a nice treat.

SnoopyStyle Connie Ennis (Janet Leigh) is a war widow with son Timmy. Carl Davis asks her to marry him. She's a corporate spy and comparative shopper. Store clerk Steve Mason (Robert Mitchum) catches her but he lets her finish her job anyways. That gets him fired and he joins her on a 'date'. He loses her and tracks her home. He meets Carl who gets jealous and the night ends badly.Robert Mitchum is too perfect. He's a full out Hollywood movie star and his character is even better. He's a saint. I wouldn't have been surprised if Mason turned out to be an angel or the return of her husband's spirit. At least, that would be more interesting. It's a romance without intensity. The only tension comes from wondering if Carl would beat the boy. This is not at the same level as other Christmas classics but the two legendary leads keep it interesting.

utgard14 Delightful Christmas romantic comedy about a widowed single mother (Janet Leigh) who gets a toy store clerk (Robert Mitchum) fired and thus begins their bumpy road to romance. It's a very special movie, underrated in many ways. The performances are all earnest and authentic. The script is smart, funny, and heartwarming without being cloying. Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh are both great and have a wonderful, believable chemistry together. Child actor Gordon Gebert is adorable. His performance feels very real, though I suspect some of that is accidental. What I mean is sometimes the actor seems to stumble over lines in such a way it doesn't seem like acting. Instead of being a flaw, however, it actually works. His infectious enthusiasm in the role certainly helps. So the question remains how much is intentional on his part and how much is just serendipity. Either way, the end result is an enjoyable performance that feels legit compared to most overly-precocious child actors. Wendell Corey is really good in a well-written role. The 'also-ran' guy in romantic comedies is usually pretty clichéd. This one is a genuinely nice, dependable guy who, like so many nice guys, just can't compete with handsome dreamers like Mitchum. It's a terrific film with a lot going for it. It never talks down to you or plays with your emotions in a cheap way. It's just a very genuine, mature romance story about characters who feel like real people not movie 'types.'

dimplet If you were flipping channels, you would never know these were great actors from glancing at this movie, but don't let that fool you. It's got a fine script: a plot with plenty of O. Henry curve balls and mature, romantic dialogue. The situations are realistic. Guys, if you are with your girlfriend, don't yell at her kids - discipline is the mother's job. The Mitchum character got it right: you need to be able to speak to kid man to man/boy to boy. Right there, Steve won her heart, and Carl nearly lost her. Speaking of Carl, Wendell Corey's little Dear Jane speech was very wisely written and delivered. Corey had the hardest job in the movie, and he delivered the nuances just right. The Steve and Connie roles almost seem like generic acting. It was Harry Morgan who stole the show in the police station. That said, any movie with Robert Mitchum in it is worth watching. He has 1,000 watt charisma, even if it is turned down here. I suppose if he were overly radiant, it wouldn't seem plausible for Connie to keep turning him down. This role is Mitchum the humble. The directing is surprisingly good, in light of the nondescript credits of Don Hartman. The movie could have been brightened up with someone with more of a Capra touch - or George Seaton, the director of Miracle on 34th Street, which came out two years earlier. I think this movie holds up remarkable well over time because of the mature, realistic writing. It would work well as a chick flick, a couples flick, or a family flick. There are life lessons for guys, gals and children.It's interesting to see that it wasn't a success at the time, though. Perhaps it was a bit too mature -- I was a surprised by the graphic smooching for the time. And perhaps it didn't work too well shown at Christmas, when a more fun, upbeat movie was called for. But now it would work any time of year, and is better appreciated as a dryer alternative to the overly saccharine fare sometimes shown around this time.Spoiler alert:I suspect people were hoping for something more like Miracle on 34th Street. There are echoes of of the earlier story here, including a child wishing for something impossible, a woman getting remarried, a lawyer courting her. And the child, Timmy, really wants his mother to marry Steve, so he gets his real wish - but the movie doesn't hit that note clearly at the end. We do, however, see a reversion to the toy train, which was clever. But the movie almost might have been better if Timmy had hugged Steve aboard the train, instead of the drunk. Or was that Timmy?