Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Catangro After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

aubrimmer I'm not usually one to watch a Christmas film or a musical but as I have never seen "White Christmas" before, and since the song was stuck in my head courteous of the radio, I thought I'd give it a try. Plus Michael Curtiz is the director. So I thought it should be pretty good since I have seen many of his films and enjoyed them Watching the movie, I realized that it was actually a pretty good feel good movie. Not my favorite, but not bad nonetheless. It was cute and humorous (probably the only reason I enjoyed the film). The stars of the film had wonderful voices and there seemed to be an equal balance between the comedy and music. I have seen old/the first musicals that are really bizarre and strange with the sets. They always seemed to have that one man singing with beautiful women around him with detailed and ostentatious sets, even "Singin' in the Rain" had evidence of this. But "White Christmas" even though it was a fluff piece was nice and really served the purpose of making the audience feel good. Truthfully, even though it was Curtiz directing, nothing really stood out in the film for me. But that could have easily been caused by my aversion of Christmas.The director Michael Curtiz did a good job directing this film but this film doesn't even come close to "Mildred Pierce"(1945), "Casablanca"(1942), or "The Jazz Singer"(1952). But for a Christmas and musical film it wasn't that bad. Probably won't watch it again but I do like Michael Curtiz so I thought I'd give it a try. If you want a feel good Holiday film I would watch "White Christmas" but forewarning, it is a bit of a fluff piece in my opinion.

funkyfry Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play a pair of entertainers, who seem to be possessed of the songwriting talent of Rodgers & Hart plus the singing and dancing talent of..... Crosby and Kaye? Rosemary Clooney looks good and sings beautifully, and Vera-Ellen performs at her usual high-energy level (in several scenes she's paired with George Chakiris for dances that are clearly beyond Crosby and Kaye's skill level).The entire plot of the movie is that the sad-sack Dean Jagger is now sad because he's running a hotel instead of being a general in the army. Crosby and Kaye decide to put on a show to cheer him up, and Rosemary Clooney somehow becomes convinced that they are trying to embarrass him. That's it. Who cares? I guess. The musical numbers are pretty good, mostly dug up from Irving Berlin's endless box of old numbers from his "Music Box Revue" days.

Matthew_Capitano Not-so-hot remake.Danny Kaye makes Bing Crosby look like dog food in this tired Christmas contest of dullness and dance numbers. Some very misplaced arrangements, like 'Choreography', are coupled with a jumbled story about a retiring army general to bury this holiday film in a dirty stocking under a dead tree. Kaye and Vera Ellen are good, but Crosby and Rosemary Clooney thoroughly stink. Whoever told Crosby he could dance? Like the slow and sloppy Gene Kelly, Crosby's lame dancing belongs on the back of a truck to be carted out in the woods somewhere and dumped.There are much better Christmas films to watch; this one is for fans of the stars only.

SimonJack Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" movie almost was a classic when it came out in 1954. That's because the title song had been out for 12 years, and was made hugely popular after its first use in the 1942 film, "Holiday Inn." It won the Oscar that year for best original song. The song already had broken sales records and was an annual Christmas favorite. So, even with as long as it took 20th Century Fox to make the film, the movie was seen as a sure-fire hit musical and comedy romance. The delay was mostly in trying to fill the role of Phil Davis, played by Danny Kaye. Fred Astaire declined the role and Donald O'Connor became ill just before shooting began. Perhaps providence had a hand in the delay, because I don't think any long-time movie buffs today could imagine anyone other than Danny Kaye in that role. The movie premiered Oct. 14, 1954, and became the top moneymaking film for the year. It had $12 million in box office sales (about $105 million in 2014 dollars). The second highest grossing film that year was "The Caine Mutiny," at $8.7 million. Moreover, the record sales of the song continued to ring up. According to Guinness World Records, Bing Crosby's recording of "White Christmas" holds the world record as the best- selling single recording of all time. As of 2014, Crosby's recording tops 50 million, and the total sales of "White Christmas" by all recordings tops 100 million. Today this movie endures, along with "It's a Wonderful Life," as the two 'must' original films on all lists for annual family viewing over the holidays. Without a doubt, this is the best musical of the season. Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" is the third movie that is on most lists for annual viewing; but viewers have a choice of several different renditions to choose from. Any of four of those are very good. What's not to like about "White Christmas?" It's a wonderful story of the early musical play versions where the entertainment is the profession of the stars. The plot is very good, with some sub-plots interwoven. It's a nice romance and light comedy of the everyday life variety. And it has wonderful music, singing and dancing. This film is packed with talent. It has 17 songs – all written by Irving Berlin, and several dance numbers. The songs are a mix of previous numbers and entirely new ones. Several were Berlin hits that are still played today. Some have been used or can be heard in movies in the 21st century. Besides "White Christmas," these include "Heat Wave," "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," and "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me."Kaye has a couple dance numbers and one with Vera-Ellen who shows her dance talent in several other numbers. Rosemary Clooney plays half of the Haynes sisters act (as Betty) with Vera-Ellen's Judy; and she's also the romance interest with Crosby. Other top cast members include veteran actors Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes and Sig Ruman. Two future stars are in the music and dance cast – Barrie Chase and George Chakiris. "White Christmas" has one of the wittiest funny lines of filmdom. Kaye as Phil says to Crosby's Bob Wallace, "My dear partner. 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." Another good example of the comedic banter between the two male stars is later. Bob is talking about Phil to Ed Harrison (played by Johnny Grant). "I have complete confidence in him. When it comes to conniving and finagling, you can't beat this boy."This wonderful film never wears thin for viewing year after year. The songs and dance numbers will always entertain any audience. And the story is a nice holiday tale of friendship, romance, kindness and fun. It's a classic that families will enjoy for generations to come.