Holiday Inn
Product Description
Two song and dance men leave showbusiness to open a Connecticut inn, but conflict arises when they fall for the same woman.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-OCT-2006
Media Type: DVDAmazon.com
In 1942, Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby teamed up at Der Bingle’s Paramount Pictures for Holiday Inn, a black-and-white musical that proves more entertaining than Crosby’s color semi-remake White Christmas in 1954. Astaire and Crosby play partner/rival song-and-dance men who compete for the hand of their performing partner, played by Virginia Dale. After Crosby loses, he moves to the Connecticut countryside where he creates a resort that is only open on holidays and puts on the shows with the help of Marjorie Reynolds. Dumped by Dale, Astaire makes a drunken arrival at the inn on New Year’s Eve and dances with Reynolds. He decides she’ll be his new partner, but doesn’t remember what she looks like, setting off a frenzied search at every subsequent show while the once-bitten Crosby does his best to steer him off track. The theme gives Irving Berlin an excuse to craft or recycle a number of holiday-themed songs, such as (in the former category) “Washington’s Birthday” or (in the latter) “Easter Parade.” The most famous of the new material, of course, is “White Christmas,” which became one of the bestselling songs of all time and the title song of Crosby’s 1954 film. Astaire and Crosby also team up for “I’ll Capture Her Heart,” which playfully contrasts the stars’ specialties, and Astaire’s “It’s So Easy to Dance with You” became one of the signature songs of his post-Ginger Rogers career. Astaire and Crosby teamed up again for Blue Skies in 1946. –David Horiuchi
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Tags: der bingle, marjorie reynolds, fred astaire, bing crosby, connecticut inn, ginger rogers, connecticut countryside, HolidayRelated posts:
I’ve lived long and seen more than my fair share of schmaltz and cornball, but the opening song and dance number in this film takes the cake. Crosby’s lame jazz warblings and Astaire’s embarrassingly dated footwork are enough to give you an undesired and unexpected second look at whatever meal you last ate. Absolutely dreadful. I find it impossible to imagine a crowd of intelligent people sitting in a theater and finding this film entertaining or enjoyable. Say what you will about the state of movie making today, but schlock like this makes you realize just how far the art form has evolved. If released today this abomination would rightly be hooted out of theaters.
Rating: 1 / 5
Holiday Inn
This is indeed a charming film and a favorite. It’s especially funny to see Fred Astaire as a cad, apparently enjoying playing his likeable but rather disreputable character. Not to be overlooked is the extraordinary unself-conscious racism. From the stereotyped black maid to the disrespectful treatment accorded the maid’s children, the racist portrayals are striking. The ‘Lincoln’s Birthday’ number, in which Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds appear as ‘blackface’ caricatures, is beyond belief by today’s—or indeed any—standards. And yet this movie was not made by Klansmen, but by ‘nice’, ordinary Americans. In a final irony, Crosby appears later in the film (made in the early days of the Second World War) as the ‘Freedom Man’, wearing an Uncle Sam-style top hat. All without irony or shame. For those who doubt the deep-seated nature of racism in America, watch and perhaps enjoy this film—and learn.
Rating: 5 / 5
Holiday Inn
I wish I had read all the reviews for this movie, and not just seen the first four. Holiday Inn is OFFENSIVE, and I can’t believe anyone can watch this movie without feeling totally uncomfortable with the portrayal of African-American people. If I had known more about this aspect of the movie, I would not have bought it. “White Christmas” is definitely the movie to buy, as it is truly a Christmas movie, and it is sweet and charming in every way. Holiday Inn is frustrating in that Fred Astaire spends the whole movie trying to steal his “friend’s” fiancees. Overall, this movie is not worth the money.
Rating: 2 / 5
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a pleasant film to watch after an exhasting afternoon of holiday shopping. There is no real plot, but the musical numbers are delightful.
Rating: 2 / 5
Holiday Inn
I have always WANTED to like this movie but I cannot give more than three stars to a film whose ponderous,plodding and overly complicated plot is to blame for its’lacklustre results.It has much in common with “White Christmas” whose talent-heavy cast(including Bing)also could not pull things off and rise above the poor plot.It proves the old adage “If a movie is bad…it’s BAD”;despite its’ stars.
The story here involves Fred as Ted and Bing as Jim as,literally,a couple of song and dance men.Their act includes Virginia Dale as Lila.Bing has become disillusioned with show biz and wants to retire to a farm in Connecticut and take Lila along.But Lila still has the show bug and seems to prefer Ted anyways,forcing Jim to “retire” alone.
Things don’t go well for Jim who ends up in a sanitarium(!).After his recuperation he returns to his farm with the show biz bug back.He wants to turn it into a venue open only on holidays(thus the title).Ted and his agent wish him well during a visit Jim takes to New York.A little his agent,while ordering flowers for Lila from Ted,is pressed by the flower girl Marjorie Reynolds(Linda) for a chance to sing.The agent refers him to Jim’s Inn and is invited next night to see Ted’s act.Jim sits at the same table as Linda and they both pretend to be of a higher station than they are.Just before Ted and Lila come to join Jim Linda takes off.
The next day Linda arrives at the Inn and the ruse both played the night before is revealed.They strike up a friendship and Jim it seems has a new partner.Meanwhile Lila has left Ted for a millionaire and New years Eve Ted arrives at the Inn three sheets to the wind.He ends up doing a drunken dance with Linda.
However next day Ted’s dance becomes the talk of the town and Ted,not recalling exactly what Linda looks like,is on a hunt for Linda.Jim however doesn’t want another repeat like that of Lila,so a game of cat and mouse ensues with many near misses.Ted doesn’t get his girl until Valentine’s Day when he happens to walk in on Jim singing a song to Linda and she is dancing solo.Ted instinctively joins her and a new partnership is born,much to Jim’s chagrin.
When some film studio types come to the Inn to see Ted and Linda for a possible film deal,Jim tries to sabotage the works by having Lila(she has now returned after dumping her millionaire!) delay her.In the end it is a delay of the inevitable as Linda and Ted fly to Hollywood and the producers want to do a picture about the Inn.While Linda and Ted fly out west,disgruntled Jim stays behind to sulk.
After a good talking to by his housekeeper Jim musters up the courage to fly out west and get back his girl.After the final shooting of the film Ted and Linda had planned to elope.But Jim’s pipe on a set piano brings Linda’s “real” feelings back and she and Jim are reunited for good.Ted is also reunited with Lila.Fade out.
Not only is the plot overly long,complicated and at times just too coincidental and improbable,it leaves you scratching your head at the enormous reserve Jim constantly shows at getting his girls taken right out from under his nose by Ted.Normally there would be some fisticuffs involved somewhere,but not here.And in typical Hollywood fashion there can’t be any losers,especially between Bing and Fred,so both get a girl in the end.Not only couldn’t the talent in front of the screen overcome the plot but Astaires’ old RKO producer Mark Sandrich,couldn’t help either.Also on hand was legendary Irving Berlin on the music front.On paper the film was a dream-teaming but in execution a sad let down.
The film DID however have two saving graces.First of all the music performed is great.The classic”White Christmas”,”Be Careful It’s My Heart”,”Easter Parade” and “Happy Holidays”.Secondly both stars were at the top of their game.Bing showed why he was one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century.And of course Astaire once again proved why he was the best at what he did.
On the techinical side this movie has been remastered and done quite well.The picture is wonderfully crisp and alive.Included on the disc is a nice featurette with Ken Barnes(who produced Crosbys’ last recordings) and Astaire’s daughter Ava.Another short is on the making of the dance numbers in the movie.Also audio commentary is included along with the original trailer.
In conclusion as a holiday movie it is just a so so entry.The best thing are the stars which display their stellar talents as usual and the wonderful music.However even the heavy duty talent on hand in this pictures’ production could not overcome the burdensome plot which leaves you wondering two things:”What happened?” and “If only…”.
Rating: 3 / 5
Holiday Inn