White Christmas (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'White Christmas' (directed by Michael Curtiz, of Casablanca, King Creole) was the highest grossing film of 1954 and, quite frankly, is one of those great holiday classics that you annually want to check out; much like It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, Love Actually, & the like. This movie tells the story of two spirited entertainers, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) & Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), who accompany a lovely pair of singing sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) & Judy (Vera-Ellen) to a rustic Vermont ski lodge where the girls are booked to perform during the winter holidays.
Upon arrival, they soon discover that the lodge owner, Major General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger) was Bob & Phil's revered commanding officer during WWII and, that the lodge is mightily struggling due to no snow {thus, no guests}. Bob & Phil come up with a recovery plan by bringing the cast of their latest show up to Vermont for rehearsals. And of course, simultaneously, they juggle romantic snafus with Betty & Judy. Our heroes unsurprisingly save the day and, the resounding feel-good message left is that: in the face of adversity, joy & happiness can come from serving others.
As a follow-up to 1942's Holiday Inn, the story of this 120 min. film may sound deceptively simple, but it is executed with such charm, style & wit by a perfect cast {for a movie like this}. Really, everything about the movie is just right on; from the light direction, to the fun dialogues, to that wonderful Irving Berlin music, to Robert Alton's choreography, to Edith Head's fabulous costumes and, best of all, some stunningly vibrant cinematography by Loyal Griggs. The color of every set & every outfit pops off the screen and, the entire film evokes the warm glow of a vintage Christmas card.
Danny Kaye & Vera-Ellen's "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" is one of a plethora of beautifully-staged sequences. Other ones include: "Sisters", sung by the two ladies, & then hysterically reprised by Bob & Phil; Clooney's "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me", sung in an amazing black gown; Crosby crooning the Academy Award-nominated "Count Your Blessings" to Clooney by fireside; and - of course - the classic title song, which bookends the movie. In the last scene, with the cast singing "White Christmas" and the stage door opens to reveal falling snow ... movie magic.
The 4 leads of the film are wonderful in their amusing roles, richly singing & lithely dancing along throughout the light proceedings. George Chakiris leads the supporting players; showing us a preview of his varied talents that would win him an Oscar 7 yrs. later for West Side Story. The supporting cast also includes the great Mary Wickes, Dean Jagger, John Brascia, Anne Whitfield, & many more. 'White Christmas' completely enchanted me and, it is pretty much a perfect Christmas movie.
Upon arrival, they soon discover that the lodge owner, Major General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger) was Bob & Phil's revered commanding officer during WWII and, that the lodge is mightily struggling due to no snow {thus, no guests}. Bob & Phil come up with a recovery plan by bringing the cast of their latest show up to Vermont for rehearsals. And of course, simultaneously, they juggle romantic snafus with Betty & Judy. Our heroes unsurprisingly save the day and, the resounding feel-good message left is that: in the face of adversity, joy & happiness can come from serving others.
As a follow-up to 1942's Holiday Inn, the story of this 120 min. film may sound deceptively simple, but it is executed with such charm, style & wit by a perfect cast {for a movie like this}. Really, everything about the movie is just right on; from the light direction, to the fun dialogues, to that wonderful Irving Berlin music, to Robert Alton's choreography, to Edith Head's fabulous costumes and, best of all, some stunningly vibrant cinematography by Loyal Griggs. The color of every set & every outfit pops off the screen and, the entire film evokes the warm glow of a vintage Christmas card.
Danny Kaye & Vera-Ellen's "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" is one of a plethora of beautifully-staged sequences. Other ones include: "Sisters", sung by the two ladies, & then hysterically reprised by Bob & Phil; Clooney's "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me", sung in an amazing black gown; Crosby crooning the Academy Award-nominated "Count Your Blessings" to Clooney by fireside; and - of course - the classic title song, which bookends the movie. In the last scene, with the cast singing "White Christmas" and the stage door opens to reveal falling snow ... movie magic.
The 4 leads of the film are wonderful in their amusing roles, richly singing & lithely dancing along throughout the light proceedings. George Chakiris leads the supporting players; showing us a preview of his varied talents that would win him an Oscar 7 yrs. later for West Side Story. The supporting cast also includes the great Mary Wickes, Dean Jagger, John Brascia, Anne Whitfield, & many more. 'White Christmas' completely enchanted me and, it is pretty much a perfect Christmas movie.