White Christmas (1954): a vibrant, charming, and heart-warming Christmas classic. With old-timey vocals, dazzling dance numbers, and mounds of snow in the mountains of Vermont, what’s not to love?
The only way to watch the movie, in a true corny-Christmas fashion, is cozied up with hot chocolate, a fire (whether in a hearth or on your laptop), and a blanket, ready to sing carols with Bing Crosby and tap dance with Vera Ellen.
Crosby and Ellen are joined on screen by Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye as their respective romantic interests. The four radiate on screen, first with Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby’s smokey vocals, next with Vera Ellen’s superb dancing and Danny Kaye’s knack for comedy.
White Christmas gives viewers a peek into the tale of Bob Wallace (Crosby), Phil Davis (Kaye), and sisters Betty and Judy’s (Clooney, Ellen) musical careers, and the way the four use them in order to save a struggling inn.
Bob and Betty, along with Phil and Judy, all find themselves tangled up in a romance, as well. This, of course, is all taking place during Christmastime; festive gowns, classic holiday tunes, and winter-wonderland backgrounds each add to the movie’s charm.
Although the movie is a cult classic, it isn’t without its faults–mainly in the predictable romance it offers.
With a cast of four characters, two males and two females, it’s almost a necessity that they should date, right? Maybe the movie would’ve had a bit more spice if it didn’t have this predictability, but maybe that’s what adds to its quintessential nature.
White Christmas is the Hallmark channel of Christmas movies: boy meets girl, someone ends up singing, romance blooms, and ultimately the boy and girl fall in love thanks to the magic of Christmas. Surprising? No. But if the only criticism a viewer can muster for a film is it being too cheesy, it’s probably not a terrible movie.
Overall, I’d give this movie a solid 8/10. It has all the elements of an essential Christmas movie. Although it is a little corny, concessions can be made for a classic.
I recommend White Christmas for any lover of nostalgia-inducing films, an overload of Christmas spirit, and an all-around holly jolly experience.