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Christmas in July

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95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When the coworkers of Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell) play a prank and trick him into thinking that's he's won the grand prize money in a slogan contest for a coffee company, he is thrilled and makes plans to marry his sweetheart, Betty Casey (Ellen Drew). To everyone's surprise, the coffee company owner, Dr. Maxford (Raymond Walburn), also falls for the prank and awards the prize check to Jimmy. Eventually the ruse is discovered, jeopardizing Jimmy and Betty's newfound happiness.
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Christmas in July

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/23/2024
It is fairly light-weight but it is more fun than many of the year’s prouder efforts in comedy; and it is the work of a director who makes hard things seem like doing it the easy way, rather than vice versa. Go to Full Review TIME Magazine 12/05/2008
Produced for a paltry $325,000, it once again gives the lie to the arbitrary Hollywood assumption that a film's quality is in direct proportion to its cost. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 11/13/2007
A mildly diverting programmer, Christmas in July lacks both the overall spontaneity and entertainment impress of Sturges' first picture. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 10/20/2024
3/4
...a briskly-paced endeavor that boasts, at its core, a tremendously appealing lead performance by Powell... Go to Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills 07/31/2023
There’s no space here to extol the individual glories... Go to Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row 01/04/2020
3/4
A breeze to watch, and Sturges packs the brief running time with plenty of his trademark wit, skewering corporate vanity and overconfident male bluster in equal measure. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Dec 3 Funny in 01 hour and 07 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Matthew R @RT77445758 10/03/2022 A really cute and hopeful movie! See more 11/17/2019 Lovely film, me gustò màs que Lady Eve. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader 01/27/2019 The best comedy movie ever made! See more 10/19/2015 In some ways, I feel Christmas in July may be my favourite Preston Sturges picture. Its short, to the point, and wonderfully told. Its about a day dreaming contest participant Jimmy MacDonald, who thinks he can make it big by entering contests. His girlfriend Betty is by his side, regardless of his many losses. When his co-workers play a little prank and send him a telegram saying he`s won, he goes on a huge shopping spree, and even has the President of the contest fooled. What follows is a quaint and enjoyable little comedy with a lot of themes of perception and ambition, and it works quite well. See more 04/18/2015 There were some nice parts, but I found the film a bit boring. See more Read all reviews
Christmas in July

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Cast & Crew

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Preston Sturges

Director

Dick Powell

Jimmy MacDonald

Ellen Drew

Betty Casey

Raymond Walburn

Dr. Maxford

William Demarest

Mr. Bildocker

Ernest Truex

Mr. J.B. Baxter

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Christmas in July

Christmas in July (1940) Christmas in July (1940) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When the coworkers of Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell) play a prank and trick him into thinking that's he's won the grand prize money in a slogan contest for a coffee company, he is thrilled and makes plans to marry his sweetheart, Betty Casey (Ellen Drew). To everyone's surprise, the coffee company owner, Dr. Maxford (Raymond Walburn), also falls for the prank and awards the prize check to Jimmy. Eventually the ruse is discovered, jeopardizing Jimmy and Betty's newfound happiness.
Director
Preston Sturges
Producer
Paul Jones
Screenwriter
Preston Sturges
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 1940, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 21, 2006
Runtime
1h 7m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)