It’s my favorite holiday movie. I first saw it on television in the 80’s. Then one Christmas I got a VHS copy. A couple of Christmases later I got a super-fancy deluxe edition with shooting script, soundtrack CD and VHS. At this point, I have purchased this movie in one form of media or another about 8 times. With no regrets! The Blu-Ray copy I watched tonight is pristine…I love how many little details you see on Blu-Ray. But I digress. This article promises 12 things I love about “White Christmas.” So here we go!
Binglish. Bing Crosby tosses out a lot of unique phrasing in the movie. Examples:
“I’ll grab the cow” (“I’ll bring the pitcher of buttermilk.”)
“I’m playing trombone a little bit myself.” (“I have to move this letter around a bit until my eyes get focused in.”)
“You could have ended up with this weirdsmobile for life.” (“You could have ended up with this strange man.”)
“Bleached Charger” -white horse (as in, knight on white horse)
Danny Kaye. A great singer, a great dancer, a great co-star for Bing. His classic schtick is a crack in his voice when he’s nervous or surprised. I have stolen that in umpteen hundred commercials. “White Christmas” almost starred Bing and Donald O’Connor, but I’m glad Danny Kaye ended up with the role. He’s a joy.
“Sisters” (“an impromptu surprise!”) One of the most iconic scenes in the movie is when Wallace and Davis, in an effort to give the Haynes sisters a chance to escape their landlord, do a lip-sync of “Sisters.” What makes this scene so enjoyable, besides the obvious humor, is the fun Bing and Danny have. Towards the end, when Danny starts smacking Bing with a fan, neither of them can finish the routine with a straight face.
Old Timey Nightclubs. I hate getting dressed up. (My usual line is “I only wear a suit if somebody died or I won an award.” But if they still had supper clubs like Novello’s (where Phil Davis and Judy Haynes dance) or The Carousel Club (where Betty Haynes sings “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me”)…..well, I’d learn how ro tie a tie.
Mary Wickes. One of many great character actors in the film, she is hilarious as switchboard operator Emma. Wickes would later frequently pop up on “Here’s Lucy” along with Mary Jane Croft as Lucy’s partners-in-crime after Vivian Vance left the Lucy series. Here’s a clip with Lucy, Viv, Mary and Mary from a TV special:
Freckle-Faced Haynes, The Dog-Face Boy. It’s Alfalfa! Of Little Rascals fame.
Irving Berlin. “White Christmas” is one of those great old movies that spotlights the songwriting output of one artist. From the classic title song to military tunes like “Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army”, from great old chestnuts like “Blue Skies” to newly written songs. Amazing output…and these weren’t all songs from the trunk…some were written brand new for the film, such as…
“Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep.” My favorite song in the movie…it’s such a good message, and so beautifully written and sung by Bing and Rosemary Clooney.
A “Minstrel Show” Musical Number Without Blackface. It’s nice to see that by 1954 they realized how awful that is. I’m not one of these people that thinks old movies should be censored or anything–history and context matter. But still…glad they did the number without it. (It is at the same time somewhat depressing that the only black character in the film is a wordless black employee serving drinks and sandwiches on a railroad club car.)
George Chakiris! Who makes one of his earliest screen appearances as one of Betty’s dancers at the Carousel Club.
General Waverly Arrives In Uniform. This scene always gives me a little lump in my throat. The General’s granddaughter is so proud of her grandpa…it’s just a beautiful little scene.
Dean Jagger. His performance as General Waverly is spectacular from beginning to end. He does more with his eyes than some actors do with their entire frame.
So there you go. 12 things I love about “White Christmas.”