Director Henry Levin followed up this light romantic comedy with Where the Boys Are and started a beach trend going. This conventional story stars one of his favorite actors Clifton Webb as Robert Dean, the father of two lively teen-age daughters. He and his wife Mary (Jane Wyman) accompany their daughters on a South American junket. Meg (Jill St. John) and Betsy (Carol Lynley the 17-year-old model turned actress) are the teens. Since Robert is a psychiatrist, one would assume he has the inside scoop on the teen years, but as the family make stops in Lima, Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro it is clear that the daughters are winning the day. Handsome young men enter the picture, and it is not long before romance follows right behind. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

When Boston psychologist Clifton Webb and his wife, Jane Wyman, decide to send shapely starlet daughter Jill St. John (in her Tender Is the Night brunette period) off on a chaperoned tour of South America, both have their own parting words of parental wisdom. "You're going there to study the continent of the future," says Webb, "not to become a beachcomber." Wyman tells her, "Remember what I told you---keep your hair fluffed out in back." St. John presumably fluffs like crazy, for soon there's a telegram from Brazil that informs her folks, "Have left tour, and am staying on here six weeks to take special course under world's greatest human being." That one phrase---"under world's greatest human being"---freaks out Webb and Wyman, so, like any concerned parents would, they pack up their other starlet daughter, Carol Lynley, and fly to Brazil.

All too soon we learn why Webb believes South America is "the continent of the future." Right at the airport, someone asks Wyman if Webb is a "bullfight aficionado," to which she replies, "I'm married to the only man in the world who shouts 'Ole!' every time he passes a hamburger stand." She's not kidding. During each plot lull--every 10 minutes or so--Webb's off feasting his eyes at the goring of bulls. When St. John introduces the family to her mentor--Brazil's "greatest architect," Paul Henreid--they're alarmed that he's old enough to be her father (the movie makes no mention of the fact that Webb's old enough to be her grandfather). They're further shocked when they read an interview in which Henreid proclaims: "Nudity--perfection of form--modern design--all are related!" You'd think, then, that Webb would be relieved to discover that St. John's actually in love with Henreid's hunky, filthy rich son, Nico Minardos. He's not. Why? Because Minardos doesn't wear a necktie. As Webb puts it, in a voice dripping with disdain, "He's some sort of Brazilian beatnik."

To distract St. John from her romance, Webb whisks the family away to a carnival in Rio, which Lynley describes as "a gasser--real kooky!" We could hardly put it better ourselves, for where else but this movie could you ever hope to find "Chattanooga Choo Choo" performed in Portuguese? Hot-blooded extras eye St. John hungrily, causing her to remark, "Now I know how the Thanksgiving turkey feels!" (And acts, we might add.) Lynley attracts the attention of U.S. serviceman Gary Crosby, who soon proposes marriage. Lynley loves him but passes on his offer. She'd rather go to college. "I may turn you over my knee and spank you," Crosby threatens. Wise beyond her years, Lynley explains, "You can't go around spanking everybody just because they don't want to get married." However, in a Bad Movie first, when Crosby does spank Lynley, she decides she wants to marry him, pronto!

After getting drunk in Peru (while watching Jose Greco and his noisy flamenco troupe, which may give you a hangover), Webb at last realizes what Wyman has known all along; as he puts it, "No one can live anyone else's life." Thus, Webb says to St. John, "Live your life and be happy. Are you going to marry that sub-equatorial bohemian?" Her reply? "Not til he cleans his fingernails. You were right about that." Daddy-o knows best!

The most deranged plot point in Holiday for Lovers--a psychologist who's obsessed with the gory spectacle of bloody bullfights--remains, thankfully, unexplored. ~ Edward Margulies

Cast

Clifton Webb as Robert Dean

Jane Wyman as Mrs. Mary Dean

Jill St. John as Meg Dean

Carol Lynley as Betsy Dean

Paul Henreid as Eduardo Barroso

Gary Crosby as Tech Sgt. Paul Gattling

Nico Minardos as Carlos Barroso

Wally Brown as Joe McDougal

Henny Backus as Connie McDougal

Nora O'Mahoney as Mrs. Murphy

Buck Class as Staff Sergeant

Alan Austin as Technical Sergeant

Nestor Amaral as Himself, Orchestra Leader

José Greco as Himself, Dancer

David Ahdar as Brazilian Cab Driver

Linné Ahlstrand as Bit Role

Manuel Alba as Spanish Man in Cafe

Jan Arvan as Reception Clerk

Salvador Baguez as Man at Sao Paolo Airport

Elman Bahnimtewa as Boy Bullfighter

Marjorie Bennett as Elvira

Danny Bravo as Young Boy

Roberto Contreras as Policeman

Elvera Corona as Spanish Strewardess

Henry Darrow as Bus Driver

Michael Davis as Child Specialty Dancer

Henry Delgado as Station Wagon Driver

Angelo De Meo as Matador

Don Diamond as Airplane Steward

Paul Fierro as Sub-Inspector

Mary Foran as Tour Lady

Abel Franco as Chief Inspector

Ingrid Goude as Receptionist

Al Haskell as Spanish Man in Cafe

Peter Helm as Tragic Young Man

Tom Hernández as Portrait Painter

Anna Karen as Latin Stewardess

Stoddard W. Kerby as Airport Steward

Marco López as Bellboy

Gardner McKay as Airman First Class

Zelinda Mora as Spanish Dancer

Ruben Moreno as Taxi Driver

Eric Morris as Airforce Military Police

Neyle Morrow as Hotel Porter

Manuel París as Beaming Peruvian

Cosmo Sardo as Host

Rachel Stephens as Bit Role

Larry Thor as Captain

Ricky Torres as Airline Official

Harry J. Vejar as Spanish Man in Cafe

Wendy Wilde as American Stewardess