Holiday Inn

Customer Reviews:

An interesting alternative if you've seen "White Christmas" too often...
If your holiday film viewing includes the movie "White Christmas," then you may enjoy this classic where the song "White Christmas" actually made its debut. The plot is a flimsy excuse for showcasing numerous Irving Berlin songs (many of them very forgettable) and a few Fred Astaire numbers, including the famous drunk dance in which he was, in fact, none too sober.

There is a fair amount of racial stereotyping, including a perfectly horrible number with Bing Crosby in blackface. Some of the songs are atrociously poor, to the point of being laughable. But for pure historic interest as the predecessor of the much lovelier movie "White Christmas," this is an interesting film to watch occasionally.
--2005-12-09

A heartwarming Christmas classic - including 'Abraham'
Most of the reviewers for this movie do a fine job of giving an accurate description of the plot of the film - it's lightweight, enjoyable holiday fare and Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas' alone is worth the price of admission. The focus of my review is essentially on the 'Abraham' musical number where all of the white performers are in 'blackface.'

In spite of a cultural understanding of 1940's Hollywood, I think we've been culturally conditioned to be offended by the 'Abraham' sequence and interpret it as racially insensitive. As a person in his mid-forties, I, of course, didn't grow up with this kind of entertainment and, as expected, it made me uncomfortable the first time I saw it. After several viewings, however, I began to realize several things - first, the performers are singing about the black emancipation set forth by Abraham Lincoln (a positive and sympathetic portrayal); secondly, it was, in part, a 'disguise' to hide Marjorie Reynold's character from discovery by Fred Astaire, and, most importantly, the performance doesn't attempt to ridicule ANYONE with the number.

I find it interesting that because of political correctness with regards to racial issues, several films from this period have yet to see the light of day in 21st century America. Many television broadcasts of 'Holiday Inn' delete the 'Abraham' sequence. Disney has NEVER released 'Song of the South" via VHS/DVD in this country - although they are only too happy to have it commercially available in Great Britain and Japan.

With regards to racial sensitivities, I look at entertainment today (by all races) and it's amazing to me how much of it I find truly offensive. Stand-up comedy is almost all vulgarity, much of it coming at the expense of ethnicity. Rap music thrives on vulgarity and proudly markets itself as such - without shame. The 'N' word, along with similar epithets, is used profusely in this music. I'm embarrassed almost every time I turn on the television during major network prime-time or see the musical 'acts' on late night television. This entertainment truly does offend the major populace in this country - yet we're led to believe that 60-year old movies represent some of the most 'offensive' entertainment in our history.

Please tell me - is today's popular entertainment truly LESS offensive than Bing Crosby putting black make-up on his face?
--2005-12-05

Crosby's Voice + Astaire's Feet = Magic!
HOLIDAY INN captures Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire together and at their peaks, competing for the affections of one girl, Linda Mason (played by Marjorie Reynolds). Jim Hardy (Crosby) has grown tired of performing in New York nightclubs and decides to open Holiday Inn, a resort for dinner and dancing that is open on holidays only. Jim's friend and co-star Ted Hanover (Astaire), a regular ladies' man, pursues Linda to the inn after his own fiancýe and dancing partner, Lila (Virginia Dale), leaves him. The movie's very first number, "I'll Capture Her Heart with My Singing (Dancing)," sums up the contrasting charms of Jim (the crooner) and Ted (the dancer). Apart from this number (which is reprised at the end of the movie, after Jim has won Linda) and Ted and Lila's "You're Easy to Dance With," Irving Berlin's tuneful score is holiday-themed and includes "Be Careful, It's My Heart" (for Valentine's Day), "Easter Parade," and "I'm Singing a Song of Freedom" (for Independence Day). "Abraham" (for Lincoln's Birthday) is a good song somewhat disconcertingly performed in "blackface" - clearly a custom of another era (HOLIDAY INN premiered in 1942, but even then the "blackface" number must have been going out of style). But who could forget Crosby singing "White Christmas," or listening to his own recorded voice singing a Thanksgiving song, "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For"? Astaire dazzles in all of his dance numbers, especially the Fourth of July "firecracker" one and the stunningly costumed one for Washington's Birthday (which turns hilarious, thanks to Jim's machinations). And HOLIDAY INN's "movie-within-a-movie" sequence is very clever, anticipating SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. Appealingly filmed in black and white, HOLIDAY INN is a wonderful musical from the movie musical's Golden Age, perfect for enjoying on any holiday of the year.
--2005-03-24

Merry Christmas and Holidays in Between
Ah, the joys of the holidays. Holiday Inn is indeed one of those films that highlights the season and the seasons after. It is pure enjoyment at its best, and to top that off you've got Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as the headliners. Yes, the film appears somewhat outdated and politically incorrect (the scene with Crosby and one of his female cohorts singing and dancing with black painted faces) and campy at times, but at the time, it was all fun.

The film's scenes take place on a soudstage, but that's not so bad because we get to see fake snow falling around the inn to give that wintry feeling that all things end with happy endings. In addition, Crosby introduces "White Christmas" for the first time for the World War II crowd. It only goes to show that there is always hope during troubled times.

The plot is simple, and centers around rivalries between the male and female characters (Crosby, Astaire, little know female leads, Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale). Crosby decides to leave show business behind to a quieter mode. He ends up running a county inn that operates during the holidays, which includes Lincoln's Birthday as well as Easter!

This is a great holiday film that provides the song and dance numbers as well as the significance of commemoration. At the time the film was made, there was a need to provide moviegoers the opportunity to forget their worries and come to 'Holiday Inn.' So, I recommend this classic musical for its simplicity and musical numbers.
--2004-12-20

Smooth notes, and fancy taps.
Wow! Holiday inn is such a wonderful movie!! And so filled with the spirit of christmas. And I definetely agree with everyone here, this is not a film just for christmas. The tunes, and beats, and scores in this movie are really, top rate!

Fred is perfect for Ted Hannover. This movie begins with a wonderful song, and dance performed by Fred, Bing, and there girl dance partner. And this partner, Lila Dixon, is engaged to be married to Jim (Bing). Until, Ted, (Astaire)explains how much he loves her. So she promises to marry him, but is still figuring out a way to tell Jim. When the news is finally dumped on him, Jim leaves show business, to live on a farm where he plans on being ''Lazy,'' and celebrating holidays. And then one day, he gets a brainstorm. He decides to turn the farm into Holiday Inn!!

I hate to hive the whole plot, laughs, trials, and everything away to you. For if I told you everything, the movie would be dull, because you know what was going to happen next.

But, I will tell you this, this WAY TO GOOD to be watched only around christmas. This is a great movie with humor, songs, taps, and filled with the magical wonder of Christmas.
--2004-12-19

- Universal Studios