DVD Review: White Christmas

My Christmas holiday always includes a screening of the hit film of 1954 — White Christmas. The New Yorker, the only repertory cinema (sadly demolished a few years ago) in my hometown of London, Ontario, had a screening of the film every December 23. My grandmother and I made it our Christmas ritual when I was a teenager.

Although I do embrace digital technology, home viewing will never replace the magic of the shared cinematic experience. Every year, that aging cinema with its uncomfortable, squeaky seats would be filled with smalls groups of people full of holiday cheer who would laugh at all the jokes they’d heard a dozen times before and sing along with every toe-tapping Irving Berlin tune. During the spectacular finale when the women wear those fabulous red gowns next to the giant Christmas tree and the doors open in the rear to reveal ‘real’ studio snow falling, everyone in the cinema would put their arms around those sitting next to them and sing “White Christmas” along with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.

The first year my grandmother and I went was the most magical. As we left the cinema, we discovered that it had truly begun snowing for us as well — huge, fluffy wet flakes that covered the ground in a thick blanket. We drove home cautiously down the unplowed streets singing all the way.

I now live far from Canada and my grandmother has passed away, but I make it my ritual to watch White Christmas with people that I love every year. Sure, it has a hokey plot, but the jokes never get stale. Such as when Phil Davis (Kaye) pesters Bob Wallace (Crosby) about something and Bob interjects: “When I figure out what that means, I’ll give you a withering reply.” And, I defy anyone not to laugh when Bing and Danny do the"Sisters" feathered blue fan routine in semi-drag, with their pants rolled up to reveal the garters holding up their socks. Danny Kaye’s over-the-top performance caused the crooner’s mask to slip and it’s such a hoot to watch Bing Crosby as he loses it and convulses in genuine laughter.

This was the first film Paramount shot in VistaVision, a process designed to compete with Cinemascope. The result on the DVD transfer is stunning. The images are clear and crisp and the colours are simply gorgeous. Paramount also went out of their way to assemble a stellar cast and crew for this picture. The renowned Edith Head (who won eight Oscars out of 34 nominations!!) designed the costumes, Robert Alton (Ziegfeld Follies, Easter Parade) did the choreography and made a cameo appearance, Loyal Griggs (Shane) wore the DOP mantle and Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, Mildred Pierce) directed.

Article Author: Catherine Munroe Hotes

A Canadian film critic with eclectic tastes ranging from Japanese anime to Classical Hollywood movies and from German Expressionism to spaghetti westerns.

Visit Catherine Munroe Hotes's author page — Catherine Munroe Hotes's Blog