Next morning I’m absolutely knackered and have after staying out a bit too late and engaging in some proper hard rock head-banging and screechy falsetto singing. Luckily, next up, I have a delightfully soothing visit to the original home of Best Song Oscar-winner 'White Christmas', with 1942's Holiday Inn, another Bing Crosby-starring classic that’s a joy to behold. This feels really similar in vibe to White Christmas but trumps it by having Crosby's foil be the inimitable dance star Fred Astaire. Fred and Bing really get to show off their stuff here, combining their talents in some marvellous routines.
The plot is a flimsy excuse for these two to wow us in a bunch of Irving Berlin-penned musical extravaganzas. Crooner Jim (Crosby) and tap-dancer Ted (Astaire) form a successful trio with partner Lila (Virginia Dale) but, naturally, the dame comes between them in a top-drawer jilting where she breaks Jim's heart, running off with Ted instead, right before they're to be wed.
These two have some miraculous friendship in that there's no hard feelings between them, even though Ted's run off with Jim's missus. Heartbroken, Jim buggers off to transform his farm into a “Holiday Inn” hotel with a snazzy entertainment touch - it will only open 15 times a year for national holidays, when he’ll put on lavish, holiday-themed musical shows to get the punters in. As I say, it’s all an excuse to have Bing sing us a variety of holiday-themed songs about Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Lincoln’s Birthday and so on. Naturally, the Christmas season bookends the film, while the inn is situated in a gorgeous, snowy mountainside retreat, giving the movie that requisite yuletide magic feeling.
Anyway, Jim auditions beautiful, talented Linda (Marjorie Reynolds) to be his partner for the show and, of course, they fall in love. Naturally Ted, now also freshly jilted by fussy Lila, turns up steaming drunk and looking to patch things up with his pal. In a bizarre twist, Ted also ends up falling for Linda - what are these boys like? It’s silly but told with such grace and good charm that none of that matters. Jim and Ted work their shit out and form a new formidable team with Linda, allowing us to enjoy some crazy, O.T.T., old-timey musical set-pieces.
The only sour note is a song about Lincoln freeing the slaves, with Crosby and co in full blackface makeup. It’s uncomfortable to watch now, though it certainly makes sense as a plot point in the film. Jim only decides for them to ‘black up’ at the last minute to try and disguise Linda, as he’s twigged that Ted’s now got the hots for her - but was so drunk he can’t remember her face. It’s daft but hammers home the fact that this sort of thing was still common less than 80 years ago.
Thankfully, the singing is at least excellent and, political incorrectness aside, this is highly recommended as the sort of soothing, easy watch that’s perfect for the magical season. Mr Crosby, sitting by the fireplace, tinkling the ivories is perhaps the very essence of Christmas distilled into musical form. Sublime.
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