12 Days of Cinematic Christmas #12: White Christmas (1954)
Directed by Michael Curtiz. Songs by Irving Berlin. Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and Dean Jagger.
Is there a musical more synonymous with Christmas than White Christmas? From its glorious Technicolor visuals to its many exuberant song and dance numbers to the sharp chemistry between all the characters to the intricate soundstage sets to the warm and bright titular song, every frame of this film simply exudes the silly joy that one wants out of a golden age Hollywood musical. At the same time, despite all the talk about “angles”, all the characters display an admirable selflessness and generosity that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Christmas.
One of the things that must be appreciated about White Christmas is the beauty of the dance sequences. Dance is an artform which rarely gets its due appreciation in modern times, mostly because in twenty-first century America our dance is rarely beautiful. However, the dance sequences in this film are stunning expressions of human athleticism and sheer fun. All of the dancers are at the top of their game, especially Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. Their genuine talent and art are a joy to watch and are amazing expressions of human creativity and ability. Especially when paired with Irving Berlin’s sparkling music, these song and dance numbers always bring a smile to my face because of how fun they are.
Beyond the fun and art of the musical, the story itself portrays a group of friends constantly looking out for the good of each other, even if they don’t always consult each other before trying to help them. At the very beginning of the film, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) put on a Christmas variety show for their WWII unit in Italy to keep up morale and bring a small taste of home to their fellow soldiers; at the end of the pageant, Phil saves Bob from a collapsing building at the cost of a wound to his arm. Phil tries to find Bob a love interest, concerned at the workaholism Bob evinces and feeling somewhat guilty for suggesting they produce the show which has sparked Bob’s busy-ness. Phil and Bob (with the help of new friends the Haynes Sisters) both try to do something to help out their old army commander, General Waverly, who has fallen on some hard times in post-war America. Despite the fact that yes, by helping their friends they too may get something out of it, their primary motivation is always selfless, and the secondary, selfish motivation is often played for laughs. Of course, this is a romantic comedy, so everything works out for everyone in the end, giving us the joy of seeing all of these friends have a happy ending together.
Finally, this film exemplifies many of the aspects we traditionally associate with Christmas in America, without dipping too far into the trap of commercialism. Much of the film is set in a ski lodge, with classic American stone walls and a big fireplace, plenty of pine trees and Christmas wreaths decorating everything, cozy moments and fun parties, and lots of red and green everywhere. One of the plot points is the curious lack of snow in Vermont in December, but of course in the big finale the promise of the title is fulfilled and we do, indeed, get a white Christmas. Everything about the aesthetic of the film contributes to the nostalgic feeling of Christmas, making it a wonderfully cozy classic to put on as Christmas winds down.