White Christmas

This semi-remake of Holiday Inn (the first movie in which Irving Berlin's perennial, Oscar-winning holiday anthem was featured) doesn't have much of a story, but what it does have is choice: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, an all-Irving Berlin song score, classy direction by Hollywood vet Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood), VistaVision (the very first feature ever shot in that widescreen format), and ultrafestive Technicolor! Crosby and Kaye are song-and-dance men who hook up, romantically and professionally, with a "sister" act (Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to put on a Big Show to benefit the struggling ski-resort lodge run by the beloved old retired general (Dean Jagger) of their WWII Army outfit. Crosby is cool, Clooney is warm, Kaye is goofy, and Vera-Ellen is leggy. Songs include: "Sisters" (Crosby and Kaye do their own drag version, too), "Snow," "We'll Follow the Old Man," "Mandy," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," and more. Christmas would be unthinkable without White Christmas. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

Bing Crosby in Drag...
I know it sounds scary, but it's just one of the many reasons why this is one of the greatest films ever. Don't be misled by comparisons to Bing's earlier "Holiday Inn." It's a great film too, but when they held a sprig of mistletoe over it, and gave is a big, warm, sloppy, loving Technicolor kiss -- they ended up with "White Christmas."

Rosemary Clooney is a star here. She's at her most gorgeous and in her best voice ever. Hearing her rich, beautiful alto renditions of "Count Your Blessings," or the mournful, haunting "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me," is like pulling a thick comforter up to your chin on a snowy night.

As much a star, but with a lot more twinkle, is the real stand-out, Vera-Ellen, who deserves extra accolades for being one of the first stars to be known only by her first name. She has the added distinction of being the sole reason for hearing someone at our house say every Christmas, "Look how TINY her WAIST is!"

She was a power-house dancer, but has never garnered the acclaim that she deserves. Her other best-known role was "Miss Turnstiles" in Gene Kelly's "On the Town," but her dancing skills are highlighted more in "White Christmas," being the only real dancer in the quartet. Director Michael Curtiz brings in John Brascia, an athletic and powerful dancer in his own right, just to keep up with her. He seems to, but, honestly, you can't take your eyes off Vera-Ellen long enough to know for sure.

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye bring all their star power to complete the quartet of principal characters. Crosby is smooth as usual, and a little understated, with his legendary pipe and even more legendary pipes, while Kaye's comic craziness is the spike in the eggnog. Their duet in drag (not full drag, mind you, like..say... Gene Hackman in "The Bird Cage") is a highlight of the film that still makes me smile after all these years.

Take these four superstars, dress them up in some of Edith Head's best designs, give them wonderful songs from Irving Berlin, add great supporting actors like Mary Wickes and Dean Jagger, a splash of Vista-Vision, a heapin' helpin' of Technicolor, march in a platoon of veterans, pour in a tanker-truck load of sentimentality, then tie it all up in some pretty Christmas wrapping, and you have yourself a classic.

--2006-12-05

The best things, happen while your watching this movie...
Absolute best Christmas movie. If you like watching movies from an era where life was simplier and you love musicals, you will love this movie. I have the soundtrack as well, although they have a replacement for Rosemary Clooney since she had a special contract and couldn't be on it. Its the xmas album I listen to the most. Again, definitely my favorite Christmas movie out of about 30 Christmas movies that I own.
--2006-11-28

Best movie around!
White Christmas is my all time FAVORITE movie. I've loved it since the first time my parents made my sister and I watch it twelve years ago (I was 9). I've watched it so many times that I can not only say/sing the entire film, but I think I could probably act out the entire thing, too. I feel that it is a movie that can be enjoyed year round, not just at Christmas. In fact, I don't really even consider it a Christmas film. I mean it only really has 1 Christmas song in it, and most of the movie doesn't take place at Christmas.

The cast does a wonderful job with the acting, singing, and dancing. They are all amazing, especially Vera Ellen in the dancing numbers...I didn't realize someone could move their foot that fast until I watched the coreography number.

My favorite two songs in the film are "Sisters" and "The Best Things...", but all the songs are fabulous.

If you like musicals, buy this film. You won't be disappointed.
--2006-11-28

I'll stick with HOLIDAY INN
Having seen HOLIDAY INN at least a dozen times, I realized that I'd
never seen its reworked version, WHITE Christmas until it showed up on
TCM the other day. Aside from some great musical numbers (esp. the
dance sequences) this was an overlong snore. The plot was so convoluted
for such little payoff -- all that secrecy/misunderstanding for the
General's surprise party. And nothing says "Christmas cheer and warmth"
better than a stage recreation of a bombed-out European landscape! By
contrast, HOLIDAY INN, had a nicely paced inherent structure in its
telling of an inn open only on holidays and some truly memorable tunes
and musical numbers. That film's atmosphere and warmth seemed genuine
and not wrapped up in the false sentimentality and schmaltz of the
remake. The only reason to buy a DVD of WHITE Christmas would be to
have the ability to skip to the dance scenes.
--2006-11-28

Awesome buy
This is the best buy I have made in a long time. This movie is a classic.
--2006-11-03

- Paramount