White Christmas (1954)
Directed by Michael Curtiz. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, and Mary Wickes.
After leaving the army following WWII Bob Wallace and Phil Davies partner-up to become a top draw song-and-dance act, the pair meet a sister act who are scheduled to perform a Christmas show at a Vermont Lodge, and the boys tag along for the ride…and it turns out the lodge his run by their old army commander, General Waverly.
Things aren’t going well for Wavely though, he’s invested all his money into the Inn, and it looks set to fail. There’s a distinct lack of customers because if there’s one thing you expect from a snowy retreat is snow, and unfortunately the weather isn’t providing the goods.
Bob & Phil decide to help out there war buddy by relocating the musical they’re working to the Inn, and use it as an attraction for visitors.
White Christmas was the second biggest film of 1954, raking in $30 Million at the Box Office, which in today’s money is the equivalent to just over $281 million. Interestingly it was beaten by The Caine Mutiny which starred Clooney’s husband Jose Ferrer.
This is actually the third film in which Bing Crosby sings White Christmas, the first was Holiday Inn (1942), followed by Blue Skies (1946). It’s no wonder he’s so well known for this tune.
Have you seen White Christmas? Does it regularly make your Christmas movie watchlist? Let me know in the comments below.