source: Holiday Inn

Trailer—Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn

Bing sings, Fred dances, and all is right with the world in this lively 1942 musical by Irving Berlin. HOLIDAY INN tells the tale of three characters holed up at the titular location, with a piano-playing Bing Crosby competing with a tap-dancing Fred Astaire for the affections of Marjorie Reynolds. There's some romance and there's a comedy of errors too, as well as lots of charisma from the two stars who repeatedly do their best to get the upper hand over their rival. Best of all are the songs, none greater than Bing's inimitable White Christmas which went on to be the most popular song of all time.

I love Christmas and musicals, and thought this film would be a perfect combination. And it turned out splendidly, and as much as I like White Christmas Holiday Inn is better for me. The story I agree is thin and lacks credibility in areas, but with so many other brilliant assets you kind of forget about any misgivings. Irving Berlin's songs and score are superb(as always, I have yet to hear a Berlin score I don't like), and the dance routines are magical. There is some good direction and dialogue and the production values are little to complain about either. Bing Crosby is wonderful and the songs do justice to his beautiful voice, and Fred Astaire matches him perfectly and dances brilliantly. Marjorie Reynolds is also a beautiful, sympathetic and witty addition to the cast. In conclusion, a classic, perfect for the Christmas season. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This movie has so much and if you can make the chemistry thing the sparking between Bing and Fred and ignore the sidebar romances that don't quite grab you, then you will truly enjoy it. "White Christmas" - the first performance of the standard and it always grabs me. And I must have seen it fifty plus times. The dancing scene with Fred and the firecrackers, stupendous, incredible, how DID he do it?? Forget the blackface bits, slightly offensive, even considering the era. And the rah-rah-rah for WW2. Evocative of 1942 and FDR. Everything comes together beautifully down to the encore of "White Christmas" and Bing in the best of voice all through. Story is just about zero and no credibility - imagine an inn open fifteen days of the year with an enormous cast for the floor show (with full orchestra, no less). Bankrupt after the payroll for one holiday would be my guess :>). But lovely and nostalgic and worth watching over and over, just for the boys, Fred and Bing. 7 out of 10.

The source of the song "White Christmas" would be worth watching just for that, but in addition the movie has a bunch of wonderful dancing, and quite a lot of charming songs; "I'll Capture Your Heart Singing", "Come To Holiday Inn", "You're Easy to Dance With", "Oh How I Hate to Get up in the morning", "White Christmas", and "Happy Holiday" (all by Irving Berlin) are some of the highlights. Anyone who is a fan of Crosby or Astaire will enjoy this movie. Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale play perfect foils for Crosby and Astaire, supporting them. The plot, what there is of it, is just enough to hang enough Muscial numbers on to keep the movie running along apace.

This is truly one of the great musicals to ever grace the silver screen. Between the great song, the dance numbers and the chemistry between Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, this film really is one of the the all time classics. What really makes it great is that it pretty much plays like a great Broadway review that uses the different holidays as an excuse to display the individual talents of each of the film's stars. However, the thing that this film will truly be remembered for is the fact that it introduced one of the all time classic song's to the world, "White Christmas". Another thing that makes this film so beloved is that it came out during a time when America needed somewhat of a diversion, World War II. This film helped to give people something to put smiles on their faces as the whole world was going to hell. At least for two hours, this film helped America to forget its troubles and put a smile on everyone's faces.

They don't get much better than this: Astaire with the drop dead dancing cool, and Crosby with the honey crooning, both competing for the same gal. Crosby decides to let it all go and settle in the country, then on a whim realizes he can open his country house as a club open on holidays only. The girl he ends up drafting for the floor shows ends up being the love of his life, and the dancing partner Astaire has always been searching for. Astaire, Crosby, and Reynolds have great chemistry together: I thought it quite convincing how Crosby's overprotective zeal scared Reynolds away for a while, and Astaire was very cool and believable as a kind of an inoffensive opportunist who exploits Crosby's passionate responses to whatever threat he perceives in Astaire. Top it off with many of Irving Berlin's best classic tunes, performed in interesting interpretations, and you have a very good musical film.