Btexxamar I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

SincereFinest disgusting, overrated, pointless

Cleveronix A different way of telling a story

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

mark.waltz It is ironic that 1950, the year this very romantic movie came out, marked the passing of Walter Huston and the critical reception he received for his final film, "The Furies". Paramount, which released both "September Affair" and "The Furies", wisely integrated the song "September Song" in this Joan Fontaine/Joseph Cotten romance where two strangers meet in Italy while waiting for a plane back to New York City and spontaneously decide to take a few extra days to explore local islands and coastal cities they hadn't had the chance to visit. She's a single concert pianist, and he's a married businessman separated from his wife (Jessica Tandy). Their romance really begins when they visit an Italian eatery where the proprietor gives them a selection of American records to play. Their favorite of the group? Huston's "September Song", which he made famous years ago in the Kurt Weill Broadway musical "Knickerbocker Holiday".At first, these attractive people are just strangers sharing an experience, but when you're surrounded by the Isle of Capri, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, you're bound to fall in love, if not with the scenery, then with the companion you're sharing them with. Before even a few days go by, they learn that the plane they were on crashed and that they are presumed dead. Temptation wins, and the two decide to "play dead" for real, with Cotten putting money down on a house and Fontaine bringing in her "adopted aunt" Françoise Rosay for guidance, receiving advice that in reality she really doesn't want to hear.But this is a doomed affair to remember and once the wife discovers that Cotten wrote a check out to a woman she's never even heard of, the table is set for their discovery. Tandy, who played a lot of vindictive wives during the early part of her career on film, takes a different turn here. She's softer, wiser, and more accepting, even if their growing son (Robert Arthur) isn't. What will the confrontation bring? September is the exit of summer and entrance into fall, so changes are inevitable.With echoes of Kurt Weill's beautiful melody echoing in your ears, "September Affair" is an engrossing love story that certainly must rank amongst the top. You know there's no way in severe post-code Hollywood that adultery would be allowed or that the perpetrators could escape the consequences. In addition to Weill's classic showtune, there's also a Golden Globe winning score (by the equally legendary Victor Young) which enhances the romantic settings. The doomed affair is already foretold in Fontaine's eyes the moment she learns that the wife has arrived, and even if it continues for a while after, she still has that knowing look that a love like this is definitely not going to be long-term. Still, you can't help but root for these nice people, even if he has neglected a wife and son for a woman he just met. That's what makes this love story such a classic, every element of it (under the direction of William Dieterle) engrossing.

broomy22313 What can I say? This is a wonderful, gentle film, the kind, sadly, Hollywood no longer makes. I saw it first twenty years ago, and it haunted me ever since; I try to watch it once every couple of years. Fontaine and Cotten are in top form here, as are all the supporting actors (especially Tandy). The plot is absolute escapist romantic fare, which I'll leave others to describe. While on the surface the main catch may seem far-fetched, it's handled with surprising credibility; one cannot help but feel caught up in the lovers' dilemma. Given their once-in-a-million opportunity, would any of us have done anything different? Can we judge them? But, despite the outstanding acting and story, the real stars here are the music and the Italian settings. The haunting song "September Affair," played in the film, was recorded shortly before Walter Huston's death and released posthumously; the poignancy of this fact, and the skillful usage in the film, made both a huge sensation. The captivating black-and-white Italian scenery, especially in Rome and Capri (check out the awesome sequence in the cave at Capri) is worth watching just by itself - much of the same would be captured later in Technicolor (but not as effectively) in the film Rome Adventure. An unforgettable viewing experience; if you love escapism and romance, don't miss this one.

riomar I've been a Joan fan for a while now, so when I saw the laser disc for this movie I got it right away. I was definitely not disappointed.This movie has got a great story that could actually happen in real life. Joan gives a great performance as usual, of course Joseph is also perfect as the man she falls in love with at the same time saving her life. A great movie to watch if you like romance and a beautiful setting for a movie Italy.

Jonathan Doron Joseph Cotten doesn't seem to be the first name that comes to mind for a love story.This one, like many after it, starts with two people meeting on an airplane. The switch from small talk to "lets spend the next two hours together" is a bit hasty. As always, Italy looks beautiful (even in black & white). I couldn't imagine anybody wanting a "friend" who knocks down everything as Joan's Maria. Kinda too much like a tourist publicity at times, the titles of the cities not helping.SPOILER AHEAD: I don't know of they couldn't have stayed together, but I sure didn't like her stating the reasons at the airport gate. The name does hint it's not going to last.PS (non-spoiler) On the plane to New York he asks the man next to her if they could switch seats and he declines. How about she exchanging seats with the woman next to him?