Christmas Movies: White Christmas

Image via WikipediaWhat can you say about White Christmas, the grandaddy of all Christmas movies? Although it could be argued that it's corny (even Rosemary Clooney said as much in the DVD commentary), you can't ignore that the best of the best were involved with bringing it to the screen.

With a score by Irving Berlin, the movie could have been predicted to be a hit before they even started shooting. Legend has it that Irving Berlin said to his secretary after staying up all night writing the immortal hit, "Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I've ever written — hell, I just wrote the best song that anybody's ever written!"

Adding to the joy brought by the title song White Christmas (which was actually introduced to the public in 1942 in Holiday Inn) and other songs that were written especially for the film, were the stars how were chosen to bring the movie to life. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are perfect together as sometimes-bickering show-biz partners. The scene in the nightclub where they sing Sisters is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. For those who have seen it: Crosby laughing at the end of the number was supposed to be an outtake. But it was so funny, it was left in.

Rosemary Clooney also lent her considerable star power to the movie and Vera Ellen (reputed to be one of the best movie dancers ever) danced her heart out. All this was enhanced by amazing wardrobes for all the characters, care of famous movie costumer Edith Head.

With all that behind the scenes, it's hard not to enjoy White Christmas. It has the obligatory happy ending of holiday movies from that era, which means that after two hours of being entertained, you'll have plenty of ho-ho-ho to put in your Christmas stocking.