Why a 1938 screwball comedy about quitting work failed to capture Depression-era audiences
In short: George Cukor’s Holiday is a critical darling today, boasting a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet, when it premiered in 1938, the film was a financial disappointment. Biographers suggest that the protagonist’s desire to retire at age 30 simply did not resonate with audiences struggling during the Great Depression.
Directed by George Cukor, the 1938 film Holiday is a romantic screwball comedy adapted from Philip Barry’s 1928 play. The story follows Johnny Case, a self-made investment banker who intends to take a long sabbatical to discover the meaning of life. His plans clash with the rigid traditions of his wealthy fiancée’s family, the Setons. While the film was praised by critics for its literate adaptation and the performances of stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, it struggled to find a commercial audience.
The film’s failure at the box office is often attributed to the economic climate of the late 1930s. At a time when many Americans were desperate for employment, the narrative of a man choosing to abandon his career was viewed as out of touch. Despite the positive reception from publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, which compared it to hits like It Happened One Night, the film was not a financial success. Hepburn, who had been labeled box-office poison by theater owners, faced further scrutiny, though some critics viewed her performance as a triumphant comeback.
Beyond its reception, the film is noted for its production history. Columbia Pictures purchased the script from RKO for $80,000 in 1936. Director George Cukor originally considered other actresses for the role of Linda Seton, including Joan Bennett and Ginger Rogers, before casting Hepburn. A planned opening sequence set in Lake Placid was filmed in Bishop, California, but Cukor ultimately cut the scene, leaving only still photographs as evidence of its existence. Today, the film is recognized as one of Cukor’s best, representing the third of four collaborations between Grant and Hepburn.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Holiday (1938 film)
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