This is not a Christmas picture; nor are its stars Crosby and Astaire. It is a movie for any holiday, though it will always be associated with Christmas, because it marks the debut of Irving Berlin's most memorable song, out of hundreds of memorable songs. White Christmas won an Oscar, and deservedly so, but this movie also features Berlin's Easter Parade, which I love as much, and other songs associated with Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day. Not as well known, but they are Berlin songs, so you know they are well done. The music is the real star of this picture.
One of the songs deserves special mention. It is titled Abraham, and is offered as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is celebrated, and it is sung in blackface. The song is usually excised when this movie is shown on television, out of fear of offending modern audiences with modern sensibilities about race. It doesn't seem fair somehow to apply those modern sensibilities to this movie. The song should be judged in the context of its times by those who lived through those times.
Crosby is in fine voice; Astaire is graceful and energetic, though an unconvincing drunk, and I enjoyed the performances of the women who had supporting roles: Virginia Dale and Marjorie Reynolds. Neither is a household name today, but both were fine in this movie, holding their own with their better known co-stars. Reynolds is particularly good singing White Christmas with Crosby. I do not wish to be seen as knocking the movie, White Christmas. It is a holiday staple, and rightly so, but truth of the matter is, this movie is better. It is on my must-see list every Christmas from now on. Highly recommended.
One of the songs deserves special mention. It is titled Abraham, and is offered as a tribute to Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is celebrated, and it is sung in blackface. The song is usually excised when this movie is shown on television, out of fear of offending modern audiences with modern sensibilities about race. It doesn't seem fair somehow to apply those modern sensibilities to this movie. The song should be judged in the context of its times by those who lived through those times.
Crosby is in fine voice; Astaire is graceful and energetic, though an unconvincing drunk, and I enjoyed the performances of the women who had supporting roles: Virginia Dale and Marjorie Reynolds. Neither is a household name today, but both were fine in this movie, holding their own with their better known co-stars. Reynolds is particularly good singing White Christmas with Crosby. I do not wish to be seen as knocking the movie, White Christmas. It is a holiday staple, and rightly so, but truth of the matter is, this movie is better. It is on my must-see list every Christmas from now on. Highly recommended.