White Christmas

Rating:
Summary: Fun and charming parlee with four friends and Christmas!
Review: Contrary to Maltin's q-t on the plot of this delightful musical made and set in the 40's, it integrates friendship and patriotism with wit, ideals and hope. Hard work and lots of fun make for a great show, especially when you add Rosemary Clooney to the soup, singing her melodies with crooner, Bing Crosby. Danny Kaye is a delight and if you can believe the size of her waist, Vera is a doll! This is my holiday favorite right up there with The Christmas Story.

Rating:
Summary: White Christmas is an excellent movie full of great songs.
Review: White Christmas is perhaps the most delightful holiday movie ever made. All of the songs are wonderful and showcase the talents of the actors. It is an excellent family movie - one that can be enjoyed not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. I have seen many old movies, a large number of them musicals, and this one rates among the highest of my favorites, both for story line and songs and music. Its a can't miss, all-around great show.

Rating:
Summary: It would be nice if the cast list included Vera-Ellen
Review: Good music,Good dancing [Danny Kay and Vera-Ellen] a fun movie for Christmas or any time.

Rating:
Summary: Holiday favorite with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye!
Review: Here's a semi-remake of "Holiday Inn" (1942), with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

In this one, Bing and Danny Kaye play a couple of ex-soldiers who become a show business sensation after the Second World War. They work their way up to big-time Broadway producers. On a road trip, they meet up with the Haynes sisters (Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney).

The boys follow the Haynes sisters to Vermont, where they're doing a show at a local inn. It turns out that the inn is run by the boys' ex-Army General. Seems that the "Old Man" is in a jam, on account of there being no snow for the ski crowd, and the inn is practically empty. So the four entertainers decide to put on a show to help save the day for the General.

Fine performances all around, and some pretty good (if uneven) dance numbers. Mary Wickes plays a delightful busybody, and Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye light up the screen.

The movie is fine family entertainment, but only so-so as a musical. It also contains one of the least believeable lines in movie history. Rosemary Clooney, to Mary Wicks, on learning that the inn is in hard times financially: "Oh, please! Couldn't you tell the General that we don't want to be paid? We wouldn't want to be paid if the inn is doing so poorly!" Can you imagine a show person, living show-to-show, asking not to be paid?!

Anyway, lots of good dances and a few good tunes, like "Snow" and "Count Your Troubles", and of course, Bing crooning "White Christmas".

Rating:
Summary: X-MAS NOSTALGIA!!!!
Review: I LOVE THIS MOVIE I WATCH THIS MOVIE EVERY YEAR AROUND X-MAS I LOVE THIS MOVIE. THIS IS SO GOOD IT HAS GREAT PRODUCTION,ACTING, CHOREOGRAPHY,SINGING, AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I LOVE THIS VIDEO IT IS SO NICE I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES BING CROSBY ,DANNY KAYE,OR IRVING BERLING MOVIES TO PURCHASE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS A NICE HOLIDAY MOVIE TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY. I THINK ABOUT MY GRANDPARENTS WHENEVER I WATCH THIS MOVIE; BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF THEIR TIME PERIOD AND IT IS JUST A GREAT MOVIE TO WATCH AND ENJOY.

Rating:
Summary: "We'll follow the old man where ever he wants to go!"
Review: Back in 1954, director Michael Curtiz (1886-1962, who won the Oscar for Best Director for the 1942 film "Casablanca") directed a musical that has become a beloved Yuletide classic for many people (myself included): "White Christmas". With the all-star cast of Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen and Mary Wickes, the film is often regarded as an updated remake of the 1942 classic "Holiday Inn", which also starred Bing Crosby and featured the same classic Yuletide song, "White Christmas". Though the two films do have many similarities (they're both musicals with lots of song and dance and they both have two main male characters), there are sufficient differences in their respective plots to make each film a unique viewing experience.

"White Christmas" begins on a World War II battlefield with soldiers performing a Christmas show for their fellow soldiers. The two starring soldiers are Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye). During the performance, all of the soldiers in attendance pay homage to their commander, General Thomas F. Waverly (Dean Jagger). The film then moves forward to its present day of 1954 where it finds Wallace & Davis as being very popular and successful on-stage song & dance performers. After one of their performances, they go to a nightclub where they a performance by two beautiful sisters: Betty Haynes (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera Ellen). Bob & Phil become infatuated with the pair (Phil more than Bob). They meet each other and Phil sneakily arranges for himself and Bob to go to Vermont, where the Haynes sisters are going, instead of their planned destination for their next performance. Bob isn't too happy initially with Phil's subterfuge, but relents and enjoys the trip with the Haynes sisters to the Vermont ski lodge. Sadly, when they arrive, there isn't any snow; but they quickly discover who owns the ski lodge: their former commander, the retired General Thomas F. Waverly, who is assisted by his daughter Anne Waverly (Anne Whitfield) and Emma Allen (Mary Wickes). The unfortunate lack of snow isn't very good for the ski lodges business, but Bob & Phil decide to help the retired general in the best way that they know.

Songs by Irving Berlin in "White Christmas" include many wonderful and catchy tunes as listed below. (Vera Ellen's singing was dubbed by Trudy Stevens.)

* "The Old Man/Gee I Wish I Was Back In The Army" (5 stars, performed by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and chorus).
* "Sisters" (5+ stars, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens and chorus).
* "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing" (4 stars, Danny Kaye with the Skylarks & chorus.)
* "Snow" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kay, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens and chorus).
* "Blue Skies/Mandy" (4 stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and chorus.)
* "Choreography" (5 stars, Danny Kaye, the Skylarks & chorus.)
* "Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep" (5 stars, Bing Crosby.)
* "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" (5 stars, Rosemary Clooney.)
* "What Can You Do With The General" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby.)
* "White Christmas" (5+ stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Trudy Stevens & chorus.)

"White Christmas" has deservedly become an annual Yuletide classic that will be enjoyed by many generations to come. Overall, I rate the film with 5 out of 5 stars. Also on the DVD is an excellent commentary by Rosemary Clooney. Sadly, "White Christmas" was Vera Ellen's second-to-last film after she decided to retire from acting.

Rating:
Summary: 50% sweet, 50% sweeter.
Review: Irving Berlin's wonderful collection of songs find a well-suited home in the holiday classic "White Christmas," a movie bursting with vibrant colors, a zesty, delightful cast, and a plot that bears nothing but sheer whimsy and comical brilliance from some of the all-time greats. Inevitable comparisons to "Holiday Inn" arose at the time the film was released, though there's no reason not to fall in love with this movie's warm and spirited appearance.

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in the film as army buddies Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. When an attack commences on their campsite, Phil is injured while pulling Bob from danger, and wittily uses his injured arm as a way to convince Bob to join him in a singing duet, leading to their popularity as Wallace and Davis becomes a hit. After receiving a letter from an old army pal, they head to Florida to see the Haynes Sisters, composed of motherly Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and crafty Judy (Vera Ellen), who wants nothing more than to see her sister married and happy.

Finding that they have a common goal, Phil and Judy cook up a scheme that lands the four of them in Vermont, where the girls are to perform at a ski lodge that has been doing poorly due to lack of snowy weather. What's more, the owner of the lodge is none other than Phil and Bob's old army general, Thomas Waverly, whose financial situation is increasingly unstable because of the lackluster season. What do the boys do? Why, they cook up a plan to whip the general's self esteem back into shape, all the while falling in love with the sister act as they await the much-anticipated snowfall.

The story may not be as complex as past Christmas films, and even for a musical, though it's certainly never dull, thanks in part to some grandiose musical numbers and exuberant dance sequences. There's a great deal of schmaltz to be had with the romances between Phil and Judy and Bob and Betty, but it all goes down easy like an overly sweetened snow cone. Director Michael Curtiz is careful to keep the romance and the outside stories in equal measure, for a movie that's half sweet, half sweeter.

This snow cone is made easier to swallow by the acting on the parts of Kaye, Crosby, Clooney and Ellen, who each supply humor, wit, and tact into their characters. Kaye is the standout, employing his graceful way with comedy into Phil with incredible results. Dean Jagger makes the general more than just a secondary character, while Mary Wickes provides some lighthearted moments as the maid Emma.

The physical appearance of the movie is superbly mounted, a handsome displays of nicely-paced choreography, winsome costumes, and striking music and dance sequences. Irving Berlin's classic songs, from "Sisters" to "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," make their way into the story, some as entertainment pieces within the film, others as advancements of the romantic angles. The famed title song makes its appearance in the film's finale, which crowns the film in a glorious tapestry of costume and music. On a side note, this was the first film ever to be shot in what was known as VistaVision, a widescreen format that works well in capturing the film's various setpieces.

In the end, "White Christmas" is little more than a fairy tale spun from sheer whimsy, but its a striking example of a fairy tale done in all the right ways. The appeal and talent of its quartet of stars adds a much-needed charm to the material, as does the production design, bringing Christmas to life like never before. To watch the film with a cynical eye is to miss out on the magic and the joy this underrated classic has to offer.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Holiday movies ever!
Review: I've watched this movie my whole life and have looked forward to watching it every year on television. This year, we finally splurged and bought the dvd. The color is just beautiful on it and it was done so very well. I really appreciate owning it now and getting to watch it whenever I choose. This is truly a timeless story - watching Crosby honor a WWII veteran - it's just nice to see the way things used to be in a simpler time, unaffected by the various occurrences today. It certainly would be nice to go back in time and have a holiday like this movie portrays. It's certainly romantic and something everyone should have as their holiday traditional movie watching!


Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Holiday Movie
Review: Danny Kaye is my favorit comedian of all time. This movie gives him a chance to show his comedy as well as the handsome dramatic actor too, well sort of. Danny and Bing are absolutely wonderful in this movie. It is a must see for all of you who enjoy the classic musicals with a real plot. The scenes are beautiful and the on screen chemistry between the actors and actresses is perfect. Buy this in place of "It's a Wonderful Life," and watch it throughout the entire year!

Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Ever!!!!!!
Review: White Christmas is the best movie ever made. It is feel good, heart warming entertainment. It is even fun to watch in the summertime! I could watch it every day. By far, my favorite part is the Sister song. If you don't like this movie, you are crazy!!!!