Musical Mondays: White Christmas (1954)

     White Christmas was released on October 14th, 1954. Directed by Micheal Curtiz (Casablanca, Yankee Doodle Dandy) it stars Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. It is the third and final collaboration between Crosby and songwriter Irving Berlin who had previously worked together on Holiday Inn (1942), where the title song for this film debuted, and Blue Skies (1946), both of which co-starred Fred Astaire.

     White Christmas was originally intended to reunite Crosby and Astaire but Astaire wasn't interested so a replacement had to be found. When Donald O'Conner had to drop out due to illness Danny Kaye was finally hired to co-star with Crosby and new material had to be added to fit his character. This lead to new songs by Berlin and a complete re-write of Norman Krasna's script by Mel Frank and Norman Panama, which was rushed out in eight weeks.

     Perhaps because of this, the story is a little sloppy in places. The drama between Crosby's Bob Wallace and Rosemary Clooney's Betty Haynes is pretty contrived and based upon an easily resolved misunderstanding. On the other hand the story concerning Dean Jagger's Major General Tom Waverly is really quite touching and well done. After the war Waverly, Crosby and Kaye's commanding officer, struggles to get by in civilian life with his inn (which they just happen to stay at) failing due to the lack of snow in Vermont that year. Feeling sorry for the old man, the two hot young entertainers decide to give him a hand by moving their entire musical show to his Columbia Inn and, as a surprise, invite all of the generals former men to come to the inn on Christmas Eve.

     Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye have good comedic chemistry with Kaye brilliantly playing off of Crosby's nonchalant coolness with his earnest, boyish charm. Vera-Ellen also plays well with Kaye and their dancing duet in the middle of the film is a joy to watch. Crosby and Clooney don't fair quite as well as they spend too much of the filming sniping at each other but, in the moments when they fall for each other, they do sell it. Dean Jagger is great as the grizzled old commanding officer who can't figure out how to stop soldiering. Finally. Mary Wickles is a hoot as Waverly's noisy housekeeper Emma Allen.

     Berlin's songs are (mostly) great. While you may not remember the admittedly insipid lyrics of "Snow" or "Mandy" ("the wedding chimes, Bring happy times, For Mandy and me!") but with a grand total of 17 songs there's more then enough great material to make up for it. Highlights include "The Old Man", Crosby and the troops moving tribute to their retiring CO; "Sisters", which introduces Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen's sisterly duo and is later lip-synced by Crosby and Kaye to great comedic effect; and "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing", which is accompanied by a brilliant dance number from Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. "Count Your Blessings", which serves to consummate the romance between Bob and Betty, is deservedly a classic  and works beautifully in the film. The new version of "White Christmas" sung by Crosby in the film's opening and reprised by the whole cast at the end of the film, is also great.

     While not a perfect film, White Christmas is a thoroughly enjoyable holiday romp and well worth watching for it's charming cast, delightful music and rock solid dance choreography.

Score: 8/10