Holiday Affair (1949) Starring: Robert Mitchum, Janet
Leigh, Wendell Corey. Directed by Don Hartman. Screenplay by Isobel Lennart. Based
on the novelette The Man Who Played Santa Claus by John D. Weaver in McCall's
(Dec 1948). Produced by Don Hartman Run Time: 87 minutes. Black and White USA
Christmas, Romance
In 1948, after a string of hits for RKO studios, including
Crossfire (1947) and Out of the Past (1947), Robert Mitchum was arrested in a
sting operation for possession of Marijuana. While that might have spelled trouble for a lesser star, Mitchum’s films
afterward, including Rachel and the Stranger (1948), The Red Pony (1949) and
The Big Steal (1949) were box-office successes.
In a rush to capitalize on Mitchum’s recent successes, RKO
put The Man Who Played Santa Claus into production. So popular was Mitchum that
just before filming started, RKO paid $400,000 to acquire sole ownership of
Mitchum's contract from independent producer David O. Selznick, who had shared
the contract with RKO. The film, the title later changed to Holiday Affair, went
into production on July 11, 1949.
