Cary Grant
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Film Study · 1957 · Romantic Drama • Romance

An Affair to Remember

A timeless romance where love is tested by fate, sacrifice, and the enduring hope of second chances.

LoveSacrificeDestinyHopeForgiveness
Archival photograph associated with An Affair to Remember

Editorial ratings

Cary Grant
Story
Direction
Cinematography
Entertainment
Historical importance
The Story

A couple falls in love and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building - but will it happen?

Cary Grant plays Nickie Ferrante, under the direction of Leo McCarey, released in 1957.

Featured quote

“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories.”

Introduction

One of cinema's defining romances, anchored by Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr.

The Story

A transatlantic romance transformed by sacrifice, destiny, and hope.

Production & Behind the Scenes

Leo McCarey's refined remake became the definitive version of his own story.

Cary Grant's Performance

Among the finest and most emotionally restrained performances of his career.

Direction & Themes

Transformation, sacrifice, forgiveness, and enduring love.

Historical Context

A CinemaScope classic released during Hollywood's widescreen era.

Legacy & Influence

Inspired generations of filmmakers and romantic dramas.

Production & release

  1. 1939

    Love Affair released

    Leo McCarey's original version of the story.

  2. 1956

    Production begins

    Filming starts at 20th Century-Fox.

  3. July 11, 1957

    Premiere

    An Affair to Remember opens in theaters.

  4. 1958

    Four Oscar nominations

    Recognized by the Academy.

  5. 1993

    Sleepless in Seattle homage

    Nora Ephron pays loving tribute.

  6. Today

    A romantic classic

    Enshrined as one of the greatest love stories on film.

In the Room

Collaborators.

Director
Leo McCarey
1898–1969

Leo McCarey was born in 1898 in Los Angeles and began his film career in the silent era, working as a gag writer and director for Hal Roach Studios in the 1920s, where he is widely credited with pairing Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as a comedy team. His directing method, carried into features, favored improvisation: he preferred to arrive on set with a situation rather than a finished script and let his actors discover the scene in the moment. That approach produced two of Cary Grant's most acclaimed comedic performances. The Awful Truth (1937), starring Grant and Irene Dunne, won McCarey the Academy Award for Best Director and is considered a founding text of the screwball genre, its dialogue and physical comedy substantially improvised on set. Twenty years later, McCarey directed Grant again in An Affair to Remember (1957), a lush romantic drama opposite Deborah Kerr that was itself a remake of McCarey's own 1939 film Love Affair, starring Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer. McCarey's other major works include the Marx Brothers' Duck Soup (1933) and Going My Way (1944), for which he won two additional Academy Awards, for directing and for writing the original story, along with a Best Picture win as producer. His body of work spans nearly every major American comic register of the 1930s and 1940s. He died in 1969 in Santa Monica, California. McCarey is remembered as one of the defining architects of American screen comedy's tonal range, and his two very different films with Cary Grant — one a brittle marital farce, the other an unabashed tearjerking romance — demonstrate the breadth of Grant's range under a director he trusted to improvise.

On Screen

Cast.

  • Cary Grant as Nickie Ferrante

    Cary Grant as Nickie Ferrante

  • Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay

    Deborah Kerr as Terry McKay

  • Richard Denning as Kenneth Bradley

    Richard Denning as Kenneth Bradley

  • Neva Patterson as Lois Clark

    Neva Patterson as Lois Clark

  • Cathleen Nesbitt as Grandmother Janou

    Cathleen Nesbitt as Grandmother Janou

  • Robert Q. Lewis as Robert Q. Lewis

    Robert Q. Lewis as Robert Q. Lewis

  • Charles Watts as Ned Hathaway

    Charles Watts as Ned Hathaway

The Record

Full billed cast of An Affair to Remember (1957).

Players in billing order, with the characters they play.

  • Cary Grantas Nickie Ferrante
  • Deborah Kerras Terry McKay
  • Richard Denningas Kenneth Bradley
  • Neva Pattersonas Lois Clark
  • Cathleen Nesbittas Grandmother Janou
  • Robert Q. Lewisas Robert Q. Lewis
  • Charles Wattsas Ned Hathaway
  • Fortunio Bonanovaas Courbet
  • Dorothy Adamsas Mother at Rehearsal (uncredited)
  • Al Bainas Man (uncredited)
  • Frank Bakeras Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Mary Baylessas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Dino Bologneseas Italian TV Commentator (uncredited)
  • Paul Bradleyas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • George Calligaas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Mary Carrollas Teacher (uncredited)
  • Steve Carruthersas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Brian Corcoranas Boy (uncredited)
  • Walt Davisas Elevator Passenger (uncredited)
  • Anthony De Marioas Waiter (uncredited)
  • Ken DuMainas Audience Member (uncredited)
  • Minta Durfeeas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Michka Eganas Ship Waiter (uncredited)
  • Suzanne Ellersas Teacher (uncredited)
  • Juney Ellisas Teacher (uncredited)
  • Franklyn Farnumas Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)
  • Jesslyn Faxas Terry's Landlady (uncredited)
  • Adolph Faylaueras Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Raoul Freemanas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Priscilla Garciaas Marie (uncredited)
  • Rudy Germaneas Police Officer (uncredited)
  • Kenneth Gibsonas Ballet Audience Member (uncredited)
  • Herschel Grahamas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Stuart Hallas Audience Member (uncredited)
  • Sam Harrisas Audience Member (uncredited)
  • Lars Hensenas Man at Gangway (uncredited)
  • Bill Hickmanas Ship Passenger (uncredited)
  • Ken Kaneas Elevator Operator (uncredited)
  • Terry Kelmanas Orphan (uncredited)
  • Walter Woolf Kingas Hospital Doctor (uncredited)

Crew.

  • Art DirectionJack Martin Smith
  • Art DirectionLyle R. Wheeler
  • Art DirectionJohn DeCuir
  • Costume DesignCharles LeMaire
  • DirectorLeo McCarey
  • Director of PhotographyMilton Krasner
  • EditorJames B. Clark
  • Original Music ComposerHugo Friedhofer
  • ProducerJerry Wald
  • ScreenplayLeo McCarey
  • ScreenplayDelmer Daves
  • StoryLeo McCarey
  • StoryMildred Cram
Shared Company

Players in common.

1941 · George Stevens
Penny Serenade

Also featuring Dorothy Adams.

1953 · Sidney Sheldon
Dream Wife

Also featuring Deborah Kerr.

1960 · Stanley Donen
The Grass Is Greener

Also featuring Deborah Kerr.

Quotations from An Affair to Remember

The Quotebook →
The Correspondence

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