Weekend Cinema Spotlight: White Christmas

"White Christmas" (1954)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! For this Christmas edition of my Weekend Cinema Spotlight, I bring you to White Christmas. It has an all-star cast with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.

"White Christmas" Trailer"



This film was the first movie filmed in VistaVision, a process using twice the surface area of standard film. The story begins in 1944 with two WWII soldiers; one who was a Broadway entertainer Bob Wallace (Crosby and the other a would-be entertainer, Phil Davis (Kaye). Davis saves Wallace's life and from then on they take over Broadway and Hollywood as Wallace and Davis.

Years later Davis feels as though Wallace is never going to take a break from work and settle down so he sets him up with one failed date after another. That is until they go to see the "Haynes Sisters" (Clooney and Vera-Ellen) and Clooney's character, Betty catches his eye. Noticing the sudden shimmer in Wallace's eyes, Davis hatches a plan to help out the sisters and follow them out to Vermont.

Wallace and Davis helping the Haynes Sisters out.

The part where Crosby is laughing was unscripted but

they decided to keep in the film anyway-I love it!

When they get to Vermont, they soon learn the Inn they are staying at belongs to their beloved General Waverly (Dean Jagger). They also learn the Inn is in terrible danger of closing because there wasn't any snow for the tourists, therefore there wouldn't be any tourists.

Wallace uses his connections and decides to set up his show on the Inn's property and then contacting all the men and their families to Gen. Waverly's Inn to not only show their support but to help him bring in the money he needs to keep his investment running. In the midst of all this Betty and Wallace are falling for each other but she is fighting it and Judy and Davis fake an engagement in order to bring Betty and Wallace together. Things become a little messy but the endings is Hollywood Christmas magic.

This films also stars Mary Wickes who is their nosy housekeeper and who was also known to play the crabby and old-fashioned Sister in Sister Act films during the later part of her life and acting career. Her character is fantastic and I must say the entire film would be very enjoyable even to those who do not have an affection for classic films. It has loads of humor, music, dancing, incredible actors, and a even better story line. I hope you put this on your "must see" movie list for the New Year!

And I would like to wish you and yours had a very Merry Christmas!!

xox