The Grand Holiday Revue (Part One)

Well, it’s almost Christmas, which means it’s time to trot out a few old favorites holiday films. So grab an eggnog (don’t skimp on the rum!) and get ready for a grand revue of holiday film favorites.

White Christmas (1954)

Now what would Christmas be without viewing this old favorite? In this one, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye form a partnership and make it big as entertainers. They got their training in the Army, where they got to arrange big productions like the one they do for their commanding officer when he’s relieved of command. Isn’t that what all the grunts do?

Bob and Phil (Bing and Danny, respectively) end up watching a sister act (the sisters being Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen, who had one name before Cher or Madonna)).

The sisters do a song and dance, and naturally it’s love at first sight for the boys. So when the gals can’t cough up the dough for their landlord, guys help them skip out on the tab. Isn’t that romantic?

All four of them hightail it up to the Pine Tree Inn in Vermont, where the sisters are booked to play. And who runs the inn? None other than the boys’ favorite general. Wow! The only thing is the inn’s going down the drain financially. But after two hours of the usual romantic misunderstandings between the boys and girls, it all works out in the end. And everyone gets to sing and dance and do the corniest most interesting comic skits ever.

Needless to say, it all winds up with a big finish featuring the song in the title.

 

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Although this movie is touted as a feel-good holiday favorite, to me it’s one of the most depressing movies ever. We see young George Bailey, who dreams of growing up and traveling the world.

But George is fated to stay forever in his small hometown of Bedford Falls. Apparently, if George leaves town, the lives of everyone he cares about will go straight to hell.

So, it’s incumbent upon George to stick around and marry his girlfriend, so that she doesn’t end up an … OMG! … old maid.

And it’s entirely up to George to make sure that the Bailey Building and Loan stays in business, or the ever so horrible old man Potter will take over and evict all the little people from their homes.

We only know all this because on Christmas Eve, George is suicidal. So he’s visited by an Angel who explains it all. And then he realizes his life was wonderful, even though he’ll never go anywhere or see any of the things he wanted to see. And everyone’s well-being depends on him. So I guess it’s up to him to live forever. Feeling uplifted yet?

Maybe this will help. 🙂