Holiday Inn (1942)

Holiday Inn
Directed by Mark Sandrich
Written by Claude Binyon and Edgar Rice from an idea by Irving Berlin
1942/USA
Paramount Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] I’m dreaming of a white Christmas/ With every Christmas card I write/ May your days be merry and bright/ And may all Your Christmases be white — “White Christmas”, lyrics by Irving Berlin [/box]

Holiday Inn has a whole lot more going for it than “White Christmas”.

Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) and Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire) are friendly rivals and partners in a nightclub act.  Jim is engaged to Ted’s dancing partner Lila and plans to retire to a farm in the country after the wedding.  Seeking to save his act, Ted confesses his love to Lila and persuades her to stay in show biz.

Jim sets off for the country anyway.  He comes up with idea of opening an inn at his farm that will be open only on holidays and feature entertainment with songs he will write for each occasion.  Eventually, he is joined by lovely singer/dancer Linda.

After Lila dumps him for a richer man, Ted shows up at the inn like a bad penny.  He chances to dance with Linda and she becomes the only partner for him.  But she disappears and Jim manages to hide her from Ted for a while.  Then history repeats itself.  Or does it?

Aside from performances of standards like “White Christmas”, “Easter Parade”, and You’re Easy to Dance With”, Holiday Inn is blessed with one of Astaire’s most classic numbers, “The Firecracker Dance”.  The lesser-known songs are good too and are presented enjoyably by director Sandridge (Top Hat).  The film is regrettably marred by a blackface number, “Abraham”, for the Lincoln Birthday holiday.  Even that gives us the chance to hear Louise Beavers sing, so all is not lost.

“White Christmas”, lyrics and music by Irving Berlin, won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original song.  Holiday Inn was nominated for Oscars for Best Writing, Original Story and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

Until 1997, “White Christmas” was the best selling music single ever. It was passed at that time by “Goodbye, England’s Rose” done for Princess Diana’s funeral. These two songs still top the rankings.  The song’s success is attributable largely to the war years when millions found themselves longing for home at Christmas.

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