ironhorse_iv
Don't get me wrong, this musical romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz certainly is a lovely classical movie, however, it's not much of a 'holiday' masterpiece. For a movie call 'White Christmas', it's barely has any themes to do, with the seasonal event. It felt more like a generic Broadway movie than a Christmas flick with all the theatrical stage song and dance numbers. Filmed in VistaVision and Technicolor, the movie tells the story of male performers duo, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) & Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) having to team up with sister singers act, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) & Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) in order to save a failing Vermont Hotel from going out of business. Without spoiling the movie, too much, I really didn't like, how the plot & sets is mostly a rethread from the 1942's film, 'Holiday Inn'. Originally, the plan was to reunite Crosby with his co-star from that movie, Fred Astaire, but Astaire turned it down, as he had temporarily "retired" at the time. Donald O'Connor was cast as Crosby's co-star, in what was hoped to be a reprise of his successful dance partnership with Vera-Ellen from 1953's 'Call Me Madam'. However, that fell through, as O'Connor contracted a severe bout of Q-Fever from his co-star, Francis the Talking Mule, and had to pull out. Danny Kaye was cast as a last minute replacement and he was mixed bag for me. I felt that Kayne was indeed funny, but also his character was a bit annoying. I also felt, a bit weird to see him, fight over the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer, when the character seem a bit 'gay'. It made little sense. If that isn't worst, that romantically subplot is nearly a beat to beat to 'Holiday Inn' subplot as well. Even the songs from songwriter/composer, Irving Berlin felt nothing new. After all, this is the third films to feature Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" with the other two being 'Holiday Inn' and 1946's 'Blue Skies'. Don't get me wrong, Bing Crosby is one of the best Christmas themes singers out there, but his songs did get tiresome, after a little while. It felt a bit recycled. Old songs like 'Happy Holidays' also felt, repurposed as new songs. I really don't like, how it became 'Counting Your Blessing'. The same goes with the 'Free' song being rewritten as 'Snow' & "Heatwave' along others. It really made the film's music seem secondhand and lazy. Plus, it made the film seem like it was a sequel to "Holiday Inn' when it's not. It was a bit confusing. Yet, there were some moments in this film that didn't seem recycled. According to the accounts of the cast, the "Sisters" performance was not originally in the script. They were clowning around on the set, and director Michael Curtiz thought it was so funny, so he decided to keep it. I also like the "midnight snack" scene in which Bob Wallace expounds on his theory of what foods cause what dreams. It also was almost entirely improvised. It really did help this movie, a bit. Yet, there were a lot of scenes that didn't, such as the ones featuring Vera Ellen. It was a bit disturbing to see Ellen in a frighteningly thin waist. She looks so weak, due to the illness with Anorexia. You can practically see her gasping through her smile in some scenes. It was clearly shown that she was being dubbed, while singing, because of that. Numerous sources mistakenly assume Rosemary Clooney sang Vera-Ellen's part in "Sisters" thus dueling with herself, but in truth, actress, Trudy Stevens was Vera-Ellen's voice double in all of her songs. Despite that, Vera Ellen was given outfits in the numbers "Choreography" and "Mandy" just to show off her dancing figure, similar to how Rosemary was given more songs to show off her voice. Both actresses were alright in their roles, however, I just felt Vera Ellen should had recast, as she was truly, going through issues at the time. The film would better off, without her. Despite that, the film looks beautiful. The colors are shining, the images are clear, and the rapid movements of scenes, moves without much blurriness. However, the movie was just not as fun, as it could had. Overall: 'White Christmas' was just not that funny, nor the non-Christmas songs, feature in it, memorable. While, a lot of critics might disagree with me. After all, a popular Screen-to-Stage Adaptation hit Broadway, just recently. I just think the movie is highly dated, and a bit overrated. Nothing personal, but 'White Christmas' is purely not as good as it could had. Watch it if you're classic film nut, but clearly watch 'Holiday Inn', during the holiday season if you can. It's the more superior film. Now that's a film, worthy to bring home, during the holidays.
calvinnme
This movie is a Christmas tradition with me. But there is something strange about its allure. It's wonderful between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then on December 26th, it is like the Christmas tree. It turns from a glimmering tribute to the season into a bunch of dead pine needles that you want to haul to the pavement as soon as possible.Maybe that is because there are no bad guys in this film, it is pure good will, pure nostalgia - even in 1954 it was pure nostalgia - nostalgia for the men who had been soldiers in an all out fight for saving the planet from forces of pure evil just ten years before. And it is pure hope - hope for finding that special someone, hope of not being "the forgotten man (or general in this case), hope that your friends and family care that your life turns out alright, hope for a White Christmas.The great Irving Berlin songs include "Sisters", "White Christmas", "Count Your Blessings", and "Snow". The musical numbers are greatly varied including - a minstrel number??? - but then you have a greatly varied cast. There's old pro Bing Crosby whose voice and demeanor warm any film, Danny Kaye's nervous exaggerated presence and Bing's old army buddy and now song and dance partner, Vera Ellen floating on air in all of her dance segments - and look at that waist..if you can find it!. Finally there is iconic 50s songstress Rosemary Clooney rounding out the cast.Dean Jagger plays the general and former commanding officer of Crosby and Kaye who has sunk all of his savings into a Vermont ski inn - except global warming seems to be parked overhead. Then there is great character actress Mary Wickes as the inn housekeeper whose bad habit of eavesdropping on the extension almost throws a fatal monkey wrench into what has up to that point been just been too happy of a film. Remember, if you are going to be an eavesdropper, listen to the WHOLE conversation! Highly recommended as a sugary holiday treat that hits the spot.
DaxBeach2.0
There was probably no sweeter human to come out of 1950s Hollywood than Danny Kaye. And he put all his skills to use in this film along side Bing Crosby and Co. Never the less, it was still tough to get through. The neat thing is, is that I got to see it in an actual movie theater, as meant to be, I suppose. It's really a campy story - and if I'd been a studio Exec in 1953, and heard the Pitch, Synopsis and Scenario, I would not have green-lighted it at all! ha.Basically, a song-n-dance duo (Kaye/Crosby) meet two lovely sister who kinda do the same. Said sisters travel to VT for a gig, and the boys follow them all the way. Olny to get there and find out, that an old commanding general of theirs from WWII own the lodge where gig was at, and learn that the old man is in debt and about to lose everything. The two song-n-dance duos (with lots of lovin' and flirting in between) orchestrate a way to save the old fellow, and have a Merry Christmas together. Look for it on streaming services, but don't bother buying it. Let in run in the background at your family/friends xmas party, and everyone will enjoy the music!
