Holiday

Holiday

Year: 1930

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward H. Griffith

RomanceDrama

An astonishing drama of double life and double love! A young man is torn between his free-thinking lifestyle and the tradition of his wealthy fiancée’s family.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Holiday (1930)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Holiday (1930). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 1920s to early 1930s

The story is rooted in a late Jazz Age milieu, where wealth and social ritual define daily life. A lavish New Year’s Eve engagement party sits at the heart of the social calendar for the Setons. The era’s emphasis on appearances and propriety shapes the conflicts around love, work, and personal freedom.

Location

Lake Placid, New York, Park Avenue Mansion, New York, Transatlantic ship bound for Europe

The action moves from the holiday setting in Lake Placid to the opulent Park Avenue mansion that anchors the Seton family. The house represents old-money prestige and social rules that frame the characters’ choices. Later, the narrative shifts to a transatlantic ship bound for Europe, signaling a move from private interiors to a broader, freer horizon.

❄️ Lake Placid 🏛️ Park Avenue Mansion New York 🚢 Transatlantic voyage 💰 Wealth and class

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

Main Characters – Holiday (1930)

Meet the key characters of Holiday (1930), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Johnny Case (Robert Ames)

A self-made man who prizes freedom over conventional success. He plans a long holiday to search for the meaning of life rather than settle for a safe career. He is witty, earnest, and unafraid to challenge wealth-driven social norms.

💼 Ambition 🎭 Charisma 🕊️ Independence

Linda Seton (Ann Harding)

Julia’s vivacious elder sister who seeks autonomy within a rigid social world. She falls for Johnny but cares deeply about her sister’s happiness and family loyalties. She champions Johnny’s plan and ultimately chooses a path of independence from her father’s expectations.

💡 Independence 💞 Romance 🎭 Social satire

Julia Seton (Mary Astor)

A wealthy heiress torn between her love for Johnny and her father's expectations. She agrees to a highly controlled engagement but ultimately prioritizes social security and family duty over romantic vulnerability. Her actions illuminate the pull of duty in privileged circles.

💰 Wealth 🎭 Duty 💞 Romance

Edward Seton

The patriarch and banker whose wealth provides security but who struggles to balance affection with control. He orchestrates an elaborate New Year’s Eve engagement and evaluates Johnny’s history before offering terms. His stance embodies the expectations of upper-class authority.

💼 Patriarchy 💰 Wealth 🧭 Control

Nick Potter (Edward Everett Horton)

A quirky, liberal-spirited professor and Johnny’s friend who brings warmth and humor to the narrative. He and his wife Susan act as a foil to aristocratic life, illustrating alternative ways of living beyond mere social status. He helps illuminate the possibility of a life less bound by convention.

🎓 Academia 🧪 Eccentric 🗣️ Friend

Ned Seton (Monroe Owsley)

Julia’s younger brother, an alcoholic whose spirit has been crushed by paternal control. His fragile presence underscores the emotional costs of wealth-driven dominance and catalyzes Linda’s resolve to seek independence. He embodies the human consequences of a rigid social order.

🍷 Alcoholism 🎭 Vulnerability 👪 Family

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

Major Themes – Holiday (1930)

Explore the central themes of Holiday (1930), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Independence

Linda embodies a pursuit of personal autonomy within a restrictive social framework. She supports Johnny’s quest for meaning, even as she navigates loyalties to family and sister. Her stance highlights a quiet rebellion against wealth-driven expectations. The arc suggests that true happiness may require choosing a path of self-determination over conformity.

💰 Wealth vs Freedom

Johnny’s outsider status tests whether wealth is a safeguard or a constraint on living authentically. The Seton fortune offers comfort but enforces obligations that limit choice. Johnny’s two-year bank plan is a practical compromise that reveals how money can both enable and shackhe opportunities. The tension critiques a culture that equates security with happiness.

💞 Love vs Duty

Romantic feelings collide with family loyalty as Johnny loves Linda while Julia’s propriety complicates their choices. Linda’s affection is real, but she prioritizes her sister’s welfare and the family’s expectations. Julia’s struggle exposes how affection can be entangled with obligation to a wealthy, controlling lineage. The ending reframes love within the boundaries of personal freedom.

🧭 Paths and Choices

The central tension revolves around choosing between a conventional life and a freer, more uncertain future. New Year’s Eve plans and the voyage to Europe crystallize key turning points for the characters. The resolution emphasizes that personal values should guide decisions, even when they defy social expectations. The film hinges on decisive, values-driven choice rather than mere romance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:44

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Unlock the Full Story of Holiday

Don't stop at just watching — explore Holiday in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Holiday is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Holiday Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Holiday, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Holiday Summary

Holiday Timeline

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Holiday Timeline

More About Holiday

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More About Holiday

Explore More About Movie Holiday

Holiday (1930) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Holiday (1930) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Holiday (1930) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow