White Christmas
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Canada
Movie Reviews of White Christmas
Movie Review: Count Your Blessings
Summary: 5 Stars
This is pure entertainment. Like so many people here, I grew up to this movie. I usually put off seeing this movie until the last because it's so WARM, I like to end up the holiday with a high note.The plot is fine, it's no "A Christmas Carol," but it's breezy. Whoever questions Bing Crosby's talent doesn't realize that here he is at his prime, just doing what he does best, being relaxed, charming and in wonderful voice. And he is hilarious in this movie for his "hipster" dialogue: "Grab the cow" when he says to Rosemary Clooney when he wants her to pick up the milk. He talks about women as "scatbacks" and "first sackers" and in my 41 years I still have no idea what he's saying but I still find funny. When Danny Kaye brings up children to the Haines sisters in a leading way, I love the way Bing whispers, "Pushing... pushing..."
I feel bad for Clooney. She has a somewhat thankless role as the B - I - T - - - H sister because she completely misinterprets what Bing's up to but she comes around. She's still gorgeous, sultry and worth chasing. And the way she does "Love" is drop-dead phenomenol, even though the New York dancers that surround her are, of course, the same ones who dance with Vera-Ellen at the inn.
Danny Kaye is great, a wonderful sidekick. And he's a great dancer, too!
Vera-Ellen is a dish, quite a capable actress and comedian. (I like the way she says guiltily, "I'm not the kind of girl that throws herself at a man," to which Danny Kaye fecetiously replies, "No one would think that.") Or watch the movie just to see how startlingly tiny her waistline is. But I am always annoyed by the way at the end Crosby and Clooney are passionately making out and all of a sudden Kaye says "I'll join you" just unconvincingly grabs her and kisses her, like, "Oh, me too, it's part of the ending."
Dean Jagger, a marvelous actor, has kind of a thanklesss role, too, playing a Sad Sack kind of figure. Yet he still delivers. In the movie, they worry about him becoming a pathetic figure but they kind of end up making him such with that song, "What Do You Do With a General?" (I still like the way Crosby does up on the end note of "un-em-ployyyyed." Can you tell I've seen THIS movie too much?) I like how they call him the Old Man even tho he and Crosby were about the same age.
It's fun, it's Christmas. Great great movie.
Movie Review: 5 stars for the movie it is not the DVD quality!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this movie when I was 8 years old back in 1977 on a black and white tv. Even as a kid I appreciated the fun story and catchy songs. Years went by and as a teenager I would look for this film every Christmas time. It was never played, why I don't know, and as time went by I thought I had forgotten the name of the movie. As a result my trying to view this film I became introduced to other Christmas classics such as Holiday Inn and Christmas in Connecticut which had similar summaries in the tv guide.
When I finally saw this film again it was 1986 and because I had not seen the film in almost a decade I though that the film had been colorized. The colors were so bright and festive that I thought Ted Turner had colorized this film. It was at this time he was destroying some films such as Miracle on 34th Street and The Maltese Falcon with this process. However, I noticed that this films color was better than any thing Turner had done. I then learned that this movie was filmed in color and the first film to use the widescreen VistaVision format. I had just recently purchased the lp of this film and was familiar with all the songs but when the songs are integrated with such fine actors as Crosby, Kaye, Clooney and Ellen and along with a simple but good romantic story I couldn't believe how much I could enjoy a holiday movie. I also taped the film and later purchased the VHS version.
I had been awaiting the DVD release but after reading other reviews about the poor quality of the color I put off buying it. However, I bought it because of the commentary by Clooney and her interview. I was not disappointed. She actually seemed to be having fun recalling memories while commenting on the film. Clooney made this DVD worth the purchase price. Although I must agree with the other viewers, the color is horrible. The version I taped off of tv had better color. The color in this movie has been muted to the point where the film looses some of it's festive feel. I do have a question that if anyone knows the answer to I would appreciate an e-mail with that answer. "Why does Peggy Lee sing the songs on the lp album with Crosby and Kaye instead of Clooney?"
Movie Review: Couldn't take my eyes off the screen!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie for the first time this Christmas season. We rented it from Blockbuster, and I watched it a few times already. I am thinking I will have to buy it. I won't give you a summary since others already have, but here are my thoughts on the movie:
Bing Crosby's voice alone is enough to make me watch this movie. In the beginning of the film, he sings White Christmas in front of all the men in the army. When he sings many of the men look down and get tears in their eyes. Although it was probably done as an effect for the movie, his performance is moving enough to make you get teary-eyed without having to act. All four of the main characters' voices blend together really well, especially in "Snow."
This is one musical where you actually love the musical interludes - because that means dancing! Vera-Ellen has to be the most physically fit person that has ever existed. I couldn't imagine doing the dancing that she does for 2 solid minutes without falling over! All the dancing is fun to watch and covers a wide spectrum of styles. You get soft-shoe, tap, ballroom, show, and even modern!
I love all the fun characters that pull the movie along in their mischievousness - the guilt-tripping friend, the plotting sister, the snoopy housekeeper. And of course the actors and actresses themselves are what drive the movie. Bing Crosby is feeling and charming, Danny Kaye is dramatic and fun, Rosemary Clooney is serious yet passionate, and Vera-Ellen is light-hearted and oh so talented! On top of the incredible casting, it's amazing that a movie with that much wonderful singing and dancing could also have a heart-warming and fun plot. The movie is a bit on the cheesy side, but that only makes it more fun. You often find yourself saying, "Oh bother! Here we go again!" Besides, what's a Christmas movie without a bit of cheese?
I highly recommend this movie and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Movie Review: 50 years later, this classic still impresses
Summary: 5 Stars
To some, White Christmas is a song that is heard on the radio in December. But to others, White Christmas also refers to a great movie that has stood the test of time.
Having a score by Irving Berlin is on the same scale as having John Williams manage the music. There are many great songs heard throughout this movie. While older people may appreciate these a bit more, the younger generation would also benefit from the songs. In a sad world where rap is the dominating music genre, many have not heard lyrical music. The overwhelming majority of 5-21 year olds are not quite sure who Bing Crosby and Perry Como are. Some aren't even sure who John Lennon or Brian Wilson were.
The movie is also great. The actors can also sing and dance, something that isn't done all too often today. One of the best points of this movie is that everyone can watch it--it's not rated but is probably worth a "G". You don't find gems like this one very often in the modern world where there is no cursing and no sex.
One of the extras is an interview with Rosemary Clooney. Quite a few interesting facts are brought up, including details on the production of the movie and how it was originally to involve Fred Astaire. I won't spoil any more of the interview, but will add that the original trailers are part of the extras as well.
Movie Review: GREAT DVD package
Summary: 5 Stars
"White Christmas" is a classic - corny, sentimental, predictable and absolutely WONDERFUL. The music, by Irving Berlin, is exceptional with the Bing Crosby version of "White Christmas" the ultimate! Rosemary Cloony, one of the best femal vocalists ever, is beautiful and has the great "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" in the super sexy black gown. Was there ever a better film dancer that Vera Ellen? I doubt it. (I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago and she was a warm, delightful person.)Now the DVD version. It just makes this holiday delight even better. There is a wonderful interview with Rosemary Cloony that makes the DVD very special, but to top that there is her commentary track to be played with the actual film. Her recollections of things that happened during the filming are funny and delightful. At one point, she tells how Bing was breaking up during the filming of the song "Sisters" when he and Danny Kaye take over for the girls. He never thought that take would be used, but when the director compared that version with the more serious one, he chose the one with Bing breaking up. Things like this story make the DVD a necessity for any one who loves this film. . . .