2h | Comedy, Musical, Romance | 14 October 1954 | Color, WS
Director: Michael Curtiz
Stars: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes.
Robert Alton ... stager: dances and musical numbers
Nick Castle ... choreographer (uncredited)
Bob Fosse ... choreographer (uncredited)
(Ernie Black, choreographer's assistant per RC c.track, not in IMDb)
The title song won the Oscar for best original song back in Holiday Inn ('42).
Per the opening credits, 1st film released in VistaVision. VistaVision is perfect for 16:9; no letterboxing, therefore good closeups. Cinemascope films at home create a distance from the viewer because they're so wide and short.
Only 1 more VE film after this: Let's Be Happy ('57, UK), which I didn't find online just now.
Because the DK role was originally planned for F.Astaire then D.O'Connor, the male dance responsibilities were split between DK and John Brascia.
George Chakiris is a chorus boy here, but more visible than in prior films. In the c.track, RC says he got fan mail from this appearance.
The shoes dyed to match the slacks were not unique to DK's outfit while dancing with VE; in all the musical numbers the men's shoes match their slacks. Thank you, Edith Head. It's gorgeous.
Songs (all by Irving Berlin) performed (19 chapters with menu):
- ch1. White Christmas, Sung by Bing Crosby
- ch1. The Old Man, Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and chorus
- ch2. Hi Hup, Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
- ch2. Heat Wave, Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
- ch2. Let Me Sing and I'm Happy, Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
- ch2. Blue Skies, Performed by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the montage
- ch3. Sisters, Sung by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
- ch4. The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing, Sung by Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited), Danced by Danny and Vera-Ellen
- ch5. Sisters, Also lip-synched by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye
- ch6. Snow, Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
- ch9. Minstrel Show, Performed by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney
- ch9. Mandy, Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney with a chorus, Danced by Vera-Ellen, John Brascia and ensemble
- ch10. Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep, Sung by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
- ch11. Choreography, Sung by Danny Kaye, Danced by Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, John Brascia, and small chorus satirizing Martha Graham style
- ch14. Abraham, Danced by Vera-Ellen and John Brascia
- ch15. Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me, Sung by Rosemary Clooney supported by 4 chorus boys
- ch16. What Can You Do With a General?, Sung by Bing Crosby
- ch17. The Old Man, Reprised by male chorus
- ch18. Gee! I Wish I Was Back in the Army, Sung by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
- ch19. White Christmas, Reprised during the finale by Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen (dubbed by Trudy Stevens) (uncredited)
I was really not in the mood to watch a schmaltzy scentimental Xmas movie, but I loved it. The music and dancing are great. I didn't even mind when the c.track with RC had few remarks; she's really just reacting to the film, and occasionally tells an anecdote.
I was very pleased to see the minstrel show numbers were NOT in blackface, and the costumes were colorful but elegant, not loud & clownish. The tambourines and the opening backdrop had faces, and they did not evoke blackface either.
Why not a higher rating? The story is just ok: the romance between BC & RC was not believable, but the animosity was. And remember I dreaded watching it... because of the sentimentality about the general whose inn they're trying to help.
Paramount, dir. Curtiz; 8+
