,
Cary Grant and
Katharine Hepburn in
Holiday Jonathan "Johnny" Case is an investment banker and
self-made man. He has worked all his life and is about to marry Julia Seton, whom he met while on holiday in Lake Placid, New York. He knows very little about his bride-to-be and is surprised to learn that she is from an extremely wealthy family, the older daughter of banker Edward Seton. Johnny meets Julia's vivacious younger sister, Linda, to whom he confides his plan to take a long holiday from work to find the meaning of life. Johnny wants to retire at the age of 30. He told Linda he has worked since the age of 10. He also meets the sisters' brother, Ned Jr., an alcoholic whose spirit has been broken by subservience to their father. At first, Julia's father is stunned when she tells him her plan to marry Johnny, but he is appeased after meeting Johnny and looking into his work history. Edward Sr. plans an elaborate New Year's Eve engagement party, even though Julia had promised Linda that she, Linda, could throw a smaller party for Johnny and herself, one that would include only close friends. On New Year's Eve, Linda is upset that she did not get to throw the engagement party she was promised and refuses to come downstairs. Julia sends Johnny to get her, and he finds her and Ned in "the playroom," the one truly human room in the enormous and over-built Park Avenue mansion. They are with Johnny's off-beat friends, Professor Nick Potter and his wife, Susan, who had gotten lost in the house and serendipitously ended up there. The group spends a joyful time together, and Julia and Edward Sr. find them just as Johnny and Linda are completing a
tumbling trick. Mr. Seton asks Linda to come downstairs to the engagement party, and she says no and that she would prefer her own holiday somewhere else. Mr. Seton is embarrassed. Mr. Seton later offers Johnny a job at his bank, and Johnny reveals his plans for a holiday from work. Julia is appalled that her boyfriend said no to her father. Julia tells Johnny that it is simply a thrill to work. After bringing in the New Year with Linda, Johnny proceeds with the announcement of his engagement to Julia. Meanwhile, Linda confides her true feelings for Johnny to a drunken Ned, though she insists she will never act on them out of loyalty to her sister. Johnny soon slips out of the mansion alone, pausing only to wish the kitchen staff a happy New Year. Hoping to patch things up between Johnny and Julia, Linda visits the Potters and finds them packing for a voyage to Europe. They tell her that Johnny is planning to go as well and that he has asked Julia to go with them. A telegram arrives, informing them that Julia has turned him down. Linda returns home, hoping to change her sister's mind, but they argue instead. Julia is certain that Johnny will give up his plans and return to her. Just then, Johnny arrives with a proposed compromise: he will work at the bank for two years but will quit then if he is unhappy. Mr. Seton accepts this, and Julia and he begin planning the couple's honeymoon in minute detail, mixing together stops at the homes of relatives with business-related matters. They discuss hiring servants to work at Julia and Johnny's new home without consulting Johnny. He realizes that marrying Julia on those terms will be more of an encumbrance on his freedom than he can abide. He begs Julia to marry him that evening and travel to Europe with him. She says no. He leaves to meet the Potters and set sail. Linda sees from Julia's reaction that she is relieved by Johnny's decision. Linda makes Julia admit that she does not really love Johnny after all. With the way now clear and inspired by Johnny, Linda renounces her father's stifling influence and declares her independence. She asks Ned to go with her, and when he cannot, she promises to come back for him. Linda rushes off to meet Johnny and the Potters to go on holiday. Meanwhile, the Potters arrive at the ship, saddened that Johnny had decided to take the bank job. Johnny arrives, surprising them and explains that he could not go through with it. They cheerfully celebrate. In the middle of doing a
back flip in the ship's hallway, Johnny sees Linda arrive. He falls on his stomach rather than finishing. As she greets the three of them, Johnny takes her hand, pulls her to the floor, and they kiss. ==Cast==