White Christmas (1954)
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Cast
as Bob Wallace
as Specialty Dancer
as Gen. Waverly
as Phil Davis
as Judy Haynes
as Betty Haynes
as Gen. Carlton
as Dancer
as Emma
as Conductor
as Doris
as General's Guest
as Adjutant
as Joe
as Susan
as Novello
as Station Master
as Sheriff
as Landlord
as Ed Harrison
as 2nd Conductor
as Rita
as Albert
as Assistant Stage Manager
as Dancer
as Fat Lady
as Maitre d'
as Jeep Driver
as Dancer
as Dancer
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Critic Reviews for White Christmas
All Critics (38) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (29) | Rotten (9) | DVD (4)
Paramount's first film in (lavender-hued) VistaVision was this pornographically soppy but, nonetheless, hearty and humorous 1954 festive romp.
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, along with VistaVision, keep the enteratinment going in this fancifully staged production, clicking well.
The whole thing is rather forced and antiseptically cheerful.
Director Michael Curtiz has made his picture look good. It is too bad that it doesn't hit the eardrums and the funnybone with equal force.
A good musical with a lot of star power.
Something of a forced march, but worth seeing for its old-school studio vibrancy and for Curtiz's ability to compose for depth as well as breadth within the widescreen frame.
Audience Reviews for White Christmas
One of the better known Christmas films, "White Christmas" is a huge scale musical that has little to do with Christmas. There's the eponymous song, which is featured twice in the film, but otherwise all the musical numbers have nothing to do with Christmas. This is more of a Technicolor musical than it is a Christmas movie. The plot revolves around two former GIs (Crosby and Kaye) who work together as an act, putting on huge Broadway shows. They come upon an inn that's headed by their former general, which hasn't seen many people because there isn't any snow, sad since it's close to Christmas. The rest of the film features musical numbers from their famous two man show, which have nothing to do with Christmas. There's also two sisters (Clooney and Vera-Ellen), who help the GIs during the show. The film is complicated by the GIs' romance with the sisters, which of course lends to misunderstandings, like in any good musical. The numbers are impressively huge, but they are strange as this era in Hollywood's history consisted of films influenced by large set pieces and huge ensembles, and less with coherent songwriting. While this is still a valid film to watch at Christmastime, I would recommend "Holiday Inn" as a better option, which was the direct inspiration for this film.
Super Reviewer
Gen. Waverly: There's no Christmas in the army, captain. White Christmas is a great Christmas classic and a fantastic musical. It has a story that's not too Christmassy but still manages to sum up the whole idea of what Christmas should be about. I'm not the biggest fan of musicals, but when I do see one I enjoy, it's always a treasure. This is a new favorite of mine when it comes to the holiday season. Two army friends create a song and dance act that becomes extremely successful. When they go to see a sister act, Phil decides to try to hook Bob up with one of the sisters. They end up going with the Haynes sisters to Vermont where they are to play a show at an inn. This inn ends up being owned by Bob and Phil's commanding general from their army days and things aren't looking great for the general. Since there's no snow to speak of, his inn is completely empty and it looks like he could lose it. Bob and Phil decide to do a show there in order to attract people and they end up coming up with an idea that will be a great gift for their beloved general. White Christmas is a beautiful movie with endearing performances and some pretty good song and dance numbers. Fans of old musical will love it, as should people who don't really care for this sort of thing normally. It's easy to see why this movie is so highly regarded when it comes to the Christmas season. It's a great holiday movie to sit down with the family to.
Super Reviewer
White Christmas is a perennial favorite of the holidays. Of course the title for the movie is from the enduring hit, the best-selling single of all time. Originally written for the 1942 musical Holiday Inn, White Christmas was a belated follow up to that hit movie. This is another excuse to weave a lot of Irving Berlin songs into a simplistic plot. "Blue Skies", "Snow", "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me." They're all here. The song "Sisters" is particularly entertaining - in 2 different versions sung by both sexes. Bright colorful production is beautifully filmed in the widescreen format VistaVision. White Christmas also spotlights some really splashy dance numbers including "Choreography", "Abraham" and "Mandy". The latter of which features dresses and tuxes in such blazing reds and greens, the color is simply bursting from the frame. The spectacle was syrupy sweet when it came out, but feels even more corny today. A less secure critic might be embarrassed to concede that he actually delights in this sort of hokum. I freely admit I enjoy this film without one iota of shame. There's a sugar-coated artificiality to the proceedings, but that's what makes the old fashioned display so heartwarming. There's a reason why this has endured for 6 decades. fastfilmreviews.com
Super Reviewer
White Christmas Quotes
| Doris: | "Well how do you like that? Not so much as a "kiss my foot" or "have an apple". " |
| Judy: | [about Betty] Yesterday, she couldn't sleep. Today, she won't eat. She's in love. |
| Bob Wallace: | Well if that's love, somebody goofed. |
| Phil Davis: | When what's left of you gets around to what's left to be gotten, what's left to be gotten won't be worth getting, whatever it is you've got left. |
| Bob Wallace: | When I figure out what that means I'll come up with a crushing reply. |