White Christmas - 1954

(Another great post by guest blogger Debbie.)

We all have our favorite Christmas films (especially classic film lovers).  For some it's "It's a Wonderful Life", for others, "Holiday Inn" or "A Christmas Story".  Mine has always been "White Christmas".

Maybe it's because being a child of the fifties, I have always equated Bing Crosby with Christmas.  I loved his Christmas music, his Christmas specials on TV, all of it.  Maybe the reason is because the film is visually beautiful.  All musicals should be in color.  This one was particularly colorful.  Maybe it's Irving Berlin's wonderful songs.  Maybe it's the wonderful cast.  Besides Bing there is Danny Kaye, Rosie Clooney and the wonderful Vera Ellen.  (I loved Vera.  As a teenager I was 5'10" and weighed just over 100 pounds.  If she was beautiful that skinny, there was hope for me.)  It's probably all those things.

             The Hayne Sisters (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen)

          Bob Wallace and Phil Davis (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye)

The storyline was great too.  Two song and dance men and two beautiful talented sisters do a show to help the men's former commanding officer (played wonderfully by Dean Jagger) to bring business to his Vermont inn.  Of course, there are lots of songs and many dance routines (be sure to check out Vera Ellen's dance partner, John Brascia, such a talented dancer!) that showcases all the lead actors' many talents.  And of course, there's romance.  The two men are bound to fall for the two sisters.  Of course they are.

      Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen

                              Vera Ellen and John Brascia

I'll be honest, one of the things I love most are the great comic quotes from the film.

Examples:  Phil Davis:  My dear partner, when what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting, whatever it is you've got left.  Bob Wallace:  When I figure out what that means I'll come up with a crushing reply.

Phil Davis:  We wouldn't be any good as generals.  Gen. Thomas F. Waverly:  You weren't any good as privates.

Phil Davis:  [sighs] I don't know what he's up to, but he's got that Rodgers and Hammerstein look again.  Betty Haynes:  Is that bad?  Phil Davis:  Not bad, but always expensive.

But my favorite has always been the one Bing says to Danny Kaye (Phil Davis) and Vera Ellen (Judy Haynes) after they fake an engagement to try to bring Bing (Bob Wallace) and Rosie Clooney (Betty Haynes) together.  Bob Wallace:  [to Judy] You outta consider yourself plenty lucky!  You might have been stuck with this wierdsmobile for life!  .......... So Funny!!!

Do yourself a favor, if you haven't seen this gem, do so.  If you have, watch it again!