How had I never seen... "White Christmas"?
Friday, December 25, 2020 at 7:00PM ;)
As someone who loves Christmas and the musical genre, I'm ashamed to say I'd never seen 1954's White Christmas until this year. Irving Berlin's classic is beloved by many, and it has become one of those immortal holiday movies that seem to have everlasting popularity. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen, the picture's a jolly affair full of merry dance breaks and one of those ridiculous "let's put on a show" stories that were so common in musicals of this particular era.
It's with great sadness that I admit I wasn't won over by White Christmas, not completely. That being said, there's plenty to love about this Yuletide affair. Because now's a time for merriment and celebration, let's sprint through the negatives to get to the positives…
;)
Despite its two-hour runtime, White Christmas is light on story. It focuses on a pair of G.I.'s turned to song and dance sensations who, along with a glamorous sister act, decide to create an epic Broadway-ready stage musical to help a little inn in snowless Vermont. The establishment is owned by the duo's former general, who the men feel obliged to help. In the end, all turns out right, each veteran gets a sister as their romantic partner, and everyone lives happily ever after, Old Hollywood-style.
In other words, it's too damn long and tiresome for the story it's telling, even when accounting for the musical numbers sprinkled throughout. Some of which, like "Snow", could have done with some judicious editing or a couple of re-writes, by the way. On an entirely personal note, there's also the fact I've long proven immune to Bing Crosby's putative charms. Apart from his melodious crooning, putting up with his presence is a bit of a chore. It's admittedly irrational, I'm aware and I'm sorry for being unfair.
;)
Having dealt with the coal, let's move on to the cinematic presents waiting for us under the Christmas tree. While Crosby proves himself a bland leading man, Danny Kaye is a joyful comedic co-lead whose enthusiasm electrifies the screen. He's having fun, and it's infectious. Clooney is a marvelous torch singer whose performance style brings unexpected pathos to the script's flimsy emotional stakes. Her dancing could be improved, though. Diametrically opposed, Vera-Ellen's singing may have been dubbed but she makes up for it with her dancing whose sheer athleticism is awe-inspiring.
The dance is really quite stupendous for a movie whose titular song is such a slow number. Director Michael Curtiz certainly helps, building a film of simple yet effective compositions where color and choreographed movement are the main forces defining the frame. His use of the brand-new Vista Vision technology and chromatic excess are the main reasons why White Christmas manages to best Holiday Inn, the 1942 flick it's unofficially remaking. Also, there's no Blackface on the 1954 motion picture.
;)
Regardless of all those sterling qualities, one aspect of White Christmas overshadows all others, and it's neither Berlin's tunes, the cast, or Curtiz's modestly exquisite direction. The true star of White Christmas is Edith Head, whose costumes are a rainbow of excitement from the moment the two sisters walk into the frame covered in lavender Battenberg lace and marabou feathers. Paramount's queen of fashion didn't just excel at creating glitzy frocks either. Her work with the men is as superb, full of smart details like shoes dyed to match a suit's trousers, creating beautiful lines for the dance sequences, elongating the male figure. It's a crime she wasn't Oscar-nominated.
;)
Some of my favorite sartorial moments of White Christmas include: A Martha Graham parody that sees Danny Kaye costumed as a beatnik caricature dancing with a troupe of purple dressed chorus girls. Every slinky number Rosemary Clooney wears when singing is also excellent, especially the structured black gown donned to sing "Love You Didn't Do Right By Me". All the ski lodge chic outfits the leads model, including a bunch of mustard accessories that bridge the color story between Floridian night-clubs and the Vermont entertainment complex whose size must rival some of Las Vegas' biggest joints.
;)
Finally, there's the iconic ending scene that sees the production decked out in festive regalia, every actor covered in bright red trimmed with white fur, plush velvet and scarlet rhinestones as far as the eye can see. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen look like Holiday Barbies come to life, their blinding smiles a final cannonball of Christmas cheer fired directly at the audience. The escapist glee is almost too much, but, by some Tinsel Town miracle, it all holds itself together, concluding one step away from ridiculous kitsch.
White Christmas might not be the best holiday picture nor a particularly fine example of the movie musical but it's a warm distraction, glamorous and pleasant. Watching it felt like I imagine lounging by an open fire while wearing a New Look haute-couture gown, sipping on over-sugared hot chocolate, must feel like. That was my experience, at the very least. What about you, dear reader? Are you a fan of this musical classic?
;)
White Christmas is currently streaming on Netflix, and you can also find it available to rent on most services.
Reader Comments (23)
Sorry you weren't bowled over by the film but I LOVE it wholeheartedly!!!
My nieces and I have had a holiday tradition since they were little to watch it every year, if not together as we once did when they were small than to call each other either while watching or just after and gush over our favorite various parts.
I love it all, and it never feels overlong to me, but my favorite segment is the Mandy production number and the way Vera-Ellen is tossed around like a feather when she's not bending into inhuman shapes with her nonexistent waist! Plus the glitter covered tambourines with the smiley faces on them. And then there's that final scene. It's magic!
A couple of years ago there was a brief theatrical showing for it (one of the fathom events) that we went to and that is most definitely the way to see the film. On that big silver screen it was A-MAZ-ING!!
OH... I thought it was a movie about cocaine...
There's a lot to enjoy here. I definitely second your enthusiasm for Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, They're both enchanting in it. And of course the color and costumes are to die for. Also the Berlin songs (except for the excruciating "What Can You Do With a General?"). I love the "Snow" number. Definitely wouldn't shorten it; on the contrary I always want it to just keep going. Don't usually like Dean Jagger and this picture's no exception, But even more of a fly in the ointment is Mary Wickes, whose character's nosy parkering interference causes the climactic complications all the other characters have to suffer through. Without ever getting a comeuppance. Otherwise, this picture's a winner - fun to re-welcome every Christmas.
I still prefer "Holiday Inn", though. It's pure perfection from start to finish, And so romantic. One December several years ago, I noticed a local cinema was showing it for one day only. And made it my business to be there. I was the only one in attendance. But, what a joy - after years of watching it on small screens - to see it all unfolding in the 21st century on a big one. I really felt like part of the film that day. A magical experience.
It really is a "White Christmas", not a person of color in sight (maybe the train conductor, sign of the times), at least "Holiday Inn" had the wonderful Louise Beavers (as a housekeeper) and her 2 kids, but the blackface segment is ghastly. The glorious dancing of Fred Astaire in "Inn" is matched by the wasp-waisted and superb Vera-Ellen in "White" and he's better than Danny Kaye, whose flouncing jollity wears thin rather quickly. George Chakiris is one of the dancers, too. I prefer Bing's rendition of "White Christmas" (first time ever heard and a huge hit) in "Inn"(duet with talented Marjorie Reynolds, dubbed), with whistling and bells, to the partial remake's first appearance, rather flat. A colorized version of "Inn" is available and looks marvelous, just skip over the Lincoln's Birthday segment (the horrifying blackface). The duet between Bing and velvet-voiced Rosemary Clooney for "Count Your Blessings" is magical. I agree that the color schemes, widescreen VistaVision and costumes in "White" are eye-catching. It is appropriate that this article is right above one about George Clooney, Rosemary's nephew.
Whether one enjoys Holiday Inn or Irving Berlin's White Christmas, an understanding of the biggest selling song of all time enhances the experience.
Berlin wrote White Christmas while America was deeply involved in the war across the globe. The melancholy song touched the nation of families whose husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, friends, and others were not coming home for the holiday.
A mere eight sentences long, the lyrics evoked a sense of the deep seeded emotion felt by so many. Berlin, a Jew, had other grief that prompted the song. A few years earlier his three week old first born son, Irving Berlin, Jr. died on Christmas Eve, presumably from SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. For Berlin, the song was an expression of his lasting grief. The song became a recipe for Christmas music, the mix of melancholia and the draw of home.
Berlin was not an immodest man. After completing the song, he reportedly told his secretary he just finished the greatest song ever written. He wasn't far off the mark Bing Crosby's classic version of the tune sold 50 million copies. Receipts indicate that all recorded versions of White Christmas have sold over 100 million copies.
Al the 1942 Oscar ceremony, for some unknown reason, Berlin was asked to present the Best Song category leaving the songwriter in the awkward position of presenting the award to himself. Rules were changed to prevent such a situation from reoccurring.
It’s no “Holiday Inn”, but I greatly enjoy rewatching this every year with the fam. It’s great, lighthearted fun with memorable songs.
You find Bing Crosby bland and love Danny Kaye. I find Crosby super charming and Danny Kaye, well, not my favorite comedian (Bing wanted Fred Astaire as a partner, but this one was unavailable). Glad we can have divergent opinions. At least about movies. :-)
Overall, I prefer HOLIDAY INN, but that blackface number, going off like a stink bomb about halfway through is something the film never really recovers from. I'm not hugely politically correct, but that really is a huge weakness in the film. WHITE CHRISTMAS, on the other hand is a colorful treat. I also agree with you about Crosby. I have no idea what his politics were, but he just comes across like a self-righteous conservative in so many ways. Every time I see that duet with David Bowie, of "The Little Drummer Boy," in that 70s Christmas special, I expect my TV to catch fire. It's like watching John-Boy Walton having sex with Jeff Stryker in a porn film.
Seems like you couldn't either use that song/movie title in today's instantly offended by every word generation...
Not on the list of 10 best musicals of all time. Not even in the 100s. But it has its charm. 3 and a half stars or four if you're a fan of any of the stars. I agree that Holiday Inn is superior because it has a better script and the presence of Fred Astaire also makes a difference. Although I personally think White Christmas is funnier.
From IMDB 15 interesting facts about BING CROSBY:
(Sorry. Had to be only 10. Actually I don't know what happened.)
01. He was the 20th century's first multi-media entertainer: a star on radio, in movies and in chart-topping recordings. He had 38 No. 1 singles, which surpassed even Elvis Presley and The Beatles.
02. "White Christmas" became the bestselling single for more than 50 years until overtaken in 1997 by "Candle in the Wind", Elton John's tribute to the late Princess Diana.
03. At the time of his death in 1977, he was the biggest selling recording artist of all time.
04. Is one of only five actors/actresses to have a #1 single and an Oscar for best actor/actress. The others are Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Cher and Jamie Foxx.
O5. He received 23 gold records and was awarded platinum discs for his two biggest selling singles, "White Christmas" in 1960 and "Silent Night" in 1970.
06. According to ticket sales Crosby is, at 1,077,900,000 tickets sold, the third most popular actor of all time after Clark Gable and John Wayne. He is also, according to Quigley Publishing Company's International Motion Picture Almanac, tied for second on the "All Time Number One Stars List" with three other actors - Clint Eastwood, Tom Hanks and Burt Reynolds. Crosby was the #1 box office attraction for five years, beaten only by Tom Cruise who was #1 for seven years.
07. In 1960 he received a platinum record as First Citizen of the Record Industry for having sold 200 million discs, a number that doubled by 1980.
08. Between 1915 and 1980 he was the only motion-picture star to rank as the #1 box-office attraction five times (1944-1948). Between 1934 and 1954 he scored in the top ten 15 times.
09. In 1962 Crosby was the first recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
10. Four songs Crosby sang in movies - "Sweet Leilani" (1937), "White Christmas" (1942), "Swinging on a Star" (1944), and "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" (1951) - won Oscars.
11. He is the most electronically recorded voice in history.
12. In 1948 a poll declared Crosby the most admired man in the world, ahead of President Harry S. Truman, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII.
13. His estate was valued at $150 million, making him one of the wealthiest entertainers in Hollywood, along with his friends Bob Hope and Fred MacMurray.
14. After Judy Garland was fired from MGM about 1950, he was one of the first to offer her work on his radio show to help her out of her financial woes. The two had marvelous chemistry as a comedy duo, and many of these audio recordings still survive today.
15. He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1611 Vine Street, for Radio at 6769 Hollywood Boulevard, and for Recording at 6751 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
I adored Vera Ellen and her dance numbers were my favourite. I really liked Danny Kaye. And yes, the costumes!
But we had to stop watching it because it upset my grandfather.
He had joined the army in 1939 and fought in France, Belgium, and the liberation of Holland (which was so dangerous that they only sent the “disposable” troops). Then he helped in releasing people in the prisoner of war camps.
He was completely anti-war. When the movie started singing about how they loved their general, he would get up and stamp out of the room, only coming back to hear Rosemary Clooney sing, who he loved.
One of his many war medals was for throwing himself on a fire that the officer had carelessly started at the only exit where the troop was hiding. He had no love for officers and generals who wasted and endangered lives.
We would quietly listen to him and agree and I would look wistfully at Vera Ellen, but we just tried to play another movie instead.
I haven't read a review of White Christmas as an actual movie in a long time. I think Claudio's "negatives" are actually why the movie has lasted as long as it has. You barely have to pay attention to the plot to follow along. It's the perfect movie to have in the background while, well, making Christmas cookies or wrapping presents. You can zone out during the amateurish dialogue, and come back and watch whenever Rosie sings or Vera-Ellen dances.
I love all the time capsule elements of it as well - riding trains, supper clubs, early TV etc. And I've often wondered who is the male dancer who has to do all the big numbers with Vera-Ellen whilst getting none of the acclaim. Poor guy. And don't we all live for George Chakiris spotting moments?
It's a Vista Vision Holiday treat- both perfect and camp and you can't forget John Brascia whose dancing skill and tight pants are a treat on their own!
I've seen this movie so many times as a kid I haven't had to watch it in years as I have it basically completely memorized. I like how you mention the costumes because they are really something and the colors! Even Rosemary Clooney's basic red bed robe looks gorgeous. The plot is thin but it's a really beautiful looking picture even beyond the costumes. I remember as a kid being mesmerized by the shine of Rosemary Clooney's blonde hair. Also you know you're watching an old Hollywood movie when the woman goes to bed wearing a heavy coat of bright red lipstick. Glamour!
White Christmas is a profusion of musical numbers of the most creative. As with many movies of the genre, the story doesn't matter much; it's just an excuse for the presentation of the songs.
Vera Ellen, wonderful as always. One of the real dancers cinema managed to transform into an actress. Must be easier for a dancer to act as an actress than the other way around. And someone else's voice in the songs - normal; they did it all the time. If you don't know, you would never suspect.
joel6 -- That's a lovely tradition and I'm very thankful that you shared your love for the picture with us. Even if I wasn't bowled over by it, it's wonderful to know the movie has brought so much joy to so many.
thevoid99 -- "Snow" certainly becomes a more interesting song if we see it as some sort of celebration of unbridled cocaine addiction.
Ken -- Watching classic films on the big screen is always such a wonderful experience. I often find myself more in love with those theatrical experiences than the more modern movies. Sadly, I've never watched either musical on the big screen.
Reggy Lou -- I've watched HOLIDAY INN eons ago and remember very little of it. Mostly, I recall being horrified at the Blackface and frustrated whenever the picture focused more on Crosby than Astaire. Fred's one of my favorite musical stars of all time.
James -- Thanks for that lovely history lesson on the origins of the classic tune.
Angel Alvarez Ortiz -- I don't love Kaye, but do prefer his gleeful silliness to Crosby's mellowness in this particular picture. Astaire would have been wonderful here and one dreams of the dancing he'd have done alongside Vera-Ellen.
Dan Humphrey -- That duet is so wonderfully bizarre.
Gwen -- The dynamic between the brazenly horny Vera-Ellen and the easily flustered Kaye certainly add a lot of humor to the '54 picture.
Feline Justice -- Thanks for sharing those interesting Crosby facts.
Northern Girl -- Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience with the movie. Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man.
Dave in Hollywood -- He's John Brascia and he looks really hot in all his dance scenes, even when wearing a perfectly festive but rather ugly green tuxedo.
Jaragon - Hear, hear!
Sarah -- Even as an adult, I couldn't take my eyes away from Clooney's perfectly sculpted coiffe. Her hair looks like spun gold, both silky and impossibly solid. She looks gorgeous throughout.
Prajiban -- She was a really great dancer. I miss the time when real dancers were cast in musicals instead of forcing non-dancers to fumble through choreographies that are then cut to smithereens in the editing room.
Thank you all for the feedback. Happy holidays everyone :)
Claudio:
If you yearn to see Fred Astaire dancing with Vera-Ellen, you must watch "The Belle of New York", an MGM musical from 1952. They also share lovely moments - musical and otherwise in 1950's "Three Little Words". But "The Belle of New York" is almost solely focused on their dancing and there's not a moment of that dancing that isn't sublime. I don't think Astaire ever had a more accomplished or charming partner.
Ken -- I've never seen that one. Thanks for the recommendation.
If you haven’t read Tom & Lorenzo’s take on White Christmas, please do so immediately:
https://tomandlorenzo.com/2020/12/t-los-white-christmas/
I’m with you on all of this - White Christmas is a good, frequently moving film that could stand to move a little faster. But the main quartet and Dean Jagger are quite charming, and the final sequence with his dinner is just perfect. And yes, Edith Head’s costumes are the star of the show, even with all those exquisitely staged musical numbers. Merry Christmas hun. Thanks for another great article.
^"hun"?!!??
OMG! I dinno George is related to Rosemary Clooney until today!! She was his aunt!!
I was thinking Clooney is such an unique family name to have two unrelated celebs bearing it, guess what! lol