Holiday Inn (Three Disc Collector's Set)
List Price:
Our Price: $13.39
You Save: $13.59 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.74 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Shelby Bacon, Virginia DaleBrand: NBC Universal
Cinematographer: Dave Abel
Composer: Irving Berlin
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Box set, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-10-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Holiday Inn (Three Disc Collector's Set)
Movie Review: "...May the calendar keeping ringing, Happy Holidays to you!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Since "Holiday Inn" is now considered a Christmas film, it might seem out of season to post a review in February. However, there are three holidays in February that are highlighted in the film: Lincoln's Birthday, Valentine's Day, and Washington's Birthday, so to me it seems appropriate. Of course, what forever links this movie to Christmas is the introduction of the classic carol "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. This not only won the Oscar that year for Best Song, but Crosby's single became one of the Top Five best selling records of all time with over fifty million copies sold according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire) and Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale) have a successful nightclub act. On Christmas Eve however Jim has decided to leave the act for good, marry Lila and both of them settle on a Connecticut farm. The scheming Ted and their slick agent Danny Reed (Walter Abel) have other plans however. Ted and the fickle Lila who are involved romantically will form a dance partnership and retool the act. The wounded Jim leaves alone for Connecticut, but finds the role of gentleman farmer involves long hours of backbreaking work. Instead he comes up with an idea of turning the farm into an inn, "Holiday Inn" that will only be open on the holidays. Next Christmas Eve, he shares his idea with Ted and Danny, both of whom are less than impressed. On Christmas Day Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), a young show business hopeful working in a florist shop turns up at "Holiday Inn" looking for employment, sent there by Danny to get her off his back. Jim and she click, and together they work to have "Holiday Inn" open that New Years Eve. They both perform at the inn that evening, which looks to be a success, and also begin to fall in love. But there's trouble ahead, Lila has abandoned Ted and the act that very same evening to elope with a millionaire. Ted gets blinding drunk and shows up at the inn. On the crowded dance floor Ted bumps into Linda, grabs her and starts to dance, she keeps up with him perfectly; they make a marvelous team. At the end Ted passes out, and Jim has him taken up to one of the bedrooms to sleep it off. The crowd applauds enthusiastically, Danny arrives and hears the cheering and learns Ted was dancing with a new partner whom he glimpses from the back ascending the staircase after the comatose Ted. The next day a hung over Ted and Danny peremptorily decide that this mystery woman will replace Lila in the act, and plan as to how to find her. Jim, burned once before, is determined that this won't happen, and has a trick or two of his own up his sleeve to keep Linda out of their clutches.
There is a cornucopia of songs from the Irving Berlin songbook that are both sung and danced expertly by Crosby, Astaire, Reynolds and Dale used primarily to highlight the various holidays. My own favorites are the three that have stood the test of time to become classics. "Happy Holidays" merrily sung by Jim and Linda at the New Year's Eve inauguration of "Holiday Inn" begins with an outdoor panoramic view of the crowded, brightly lit inn then the camera pans in through the wide windows. The nattily dressed Jim and Linda drive back to the inn from church in a horse drawn carriage while Jim sings "Easter Parade" to the Easter bonneted Linda. The best is "White Christmas" which is staged simply and beautifully. Jim and Linda are in the darkened living room lit only by the roaring fire and the candlelit Christmas tree, they've only just met, and both are alone on Christmas evening without family or friends. The dialogue leading into the song evokes feelings of nostalgia overlaid with a poignancy tinged with a gentle melancholy. As Jim sings and plays the piano and Linda chimes in, you see the mood lift as the song works it's spell and the romance start to bloom between them. As the their final harmony fades at the conclusion of the song, they beam at one another as the fire flares up in the fireplace throwing a bright glow on their faces, a magic moment.
On the flip side there is "Abraham", a number that now is considered in bad taste, where on Lincoln's Birthday, Jim and Linda perform the song in blackface as a minstrel number. Although, it's embarrassing to watch now, I fast-forward through it myself, and some television stations will edit it out, no racial slur was intended. It's a plot device that Jim devises at the last minute to disguise Linda from the prowling Ted and Danny. It also must be remembered that the movie is a product of its time, and today's enlightened standards were not in existence.
Crosby's and Astaire's star wattage and on screen rapport along with Berlin's songs of course made the film a big hit. Of the two Crosby has the edge, Jim Hardy is a more sympathetic part, the songs outshine the dances, Bing has the lion's share of those, and he's also the better actor. Also, Astaire's character is too selfish and absorbed in himself to be likeable, Jim is his alleged "best friend" yet Ted woos Lila away from him without a qualm, and is fully prepared to do the same with Linda. While the dances are good per se, Astaire only has one memorable, innovative number a Fourth of July solo danced with exploding firecrackers at his feet.
Future Broadway superstar Mary Martin was originally to play Linda, but was pregnant. A pity the film wasn't made earlier or later, she and Crosby paired wonderfully together in two prior films, and it would have been even more memorable to have Bing and she introduce "White Christmas" together. That being said Marjorie Reynolds does a very competent job particularly in the dances and is likeable but lacks that little something extra, ditto Virginia Dale as the flighty Lila. In lesser roles Walter Abel brings the right level of smarminess to agent Danny Reed, and Louise Beavers is warm and down to earth as Jim's housekeeper Mamie.
I have to say a quick word about the set of the actual "Holiday Inn" by the art directors Roland Anderson and Hans Drier, it's perfection. It's a long sprawling reprodcution of a colonial farmhouse, classically decorated, very similar to the one used in "Christmas in Connecticut". I would love to live in either one of them!
"Holiday Inn" was such a big hit, that in 1954 it was very, very loosely remade in color and Vistavision this time around, entitled "Irving Berlin's White Christmas", although it is more familiarly known as just "White Christmas". Bing was on board again, and although Fred was courted, he wasn't interested. Danny Kaye who replaced him was an inspired choice, as were singer Rosemary Clooney and dancer Vera Ellen as Bing and Danny's romantic interests. As to which is the better of the two, is perhaps too close to call. Both have their individual strengths and weaknesses, but each in it's own way is superior entertainment. I recommend you try them both and decide for yourself!
Summary of Holiday Inn (Three Disc Collector's Set)
Experience one of the most popular holiday movies of all-time like never before with the 3-disc Holiday Inn Collector?s Set featuring a brand-new color version of the film and the complete CD soundtrack!Screen legends Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star as two talented pals who find themselves competing for the affections of the same lovely lady (Marjorie Reynolds) in this Academy Award-winning musical, filled with singing, dancing, comedy and romance.
Whether you are watching the original black & white masterpiece, discovering the new color version, or listening to the timeless Irving Berlin soundtrack featuring ?White Christmas,? the 3-disc Holiday Inn Collector?s Set is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday season!
Similar DVD Movies
A Christmas Carol (Ultimate Collector's Edition)VCI Entertainment; Release date: 2007-10-23; DVD
Best price: $9.94
Price in other shops:
A Classic Christmas - The Ed Sullivan ShowNoah's Ark Distribution; Release date: 2005-10-04; DVD
Best price: $1.29
Price in other shops:
Christmas in ConnecticutWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-11-08; DVD
Best price: $3.65
Price in other shops:
Birth Of The Blues/ Blue Skies - Double FeatureUniversal; Release date: 2003-05-06; Published: 2003-05-01; DVD
Best price: $8.27
Price in other shops:
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday (Christmas in Connecticut / A Christmas Carol 1938 / The Shop Around the Corner / It Happened on 5th Avenue)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $9.30
Price in other shops:
It's A Wonderful Life (Two-Disc Collector's Set)Paramount; Release date: 2007-11-13; DVD
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops:
The Bells of St. Mary'sRepublic Pictures; Release date: 2003-09-23; DVD
Best price: $4.54
Price in other shops:
Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition)Fox Home Entertainment; Release date: 2006-11-21; DVD
Best price: $6.49
Price in other shops:
White Christmas (Anniversary Edition)Par; Release date: 2009-11-03; DVD
Best price: $13.18
Price in other shops:
Holiday Inn (Special Edition)NBC Universal; Release date: 2006-10-10; DVD
Best price: $5.91
Price in other shops: