Holiday Inn

Movie Review: Holiday Inn

Year of Release: 1942
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Mark Sandrich
Cast: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale

Plot outline: Lovely Linda Mason has crooner Jim Hardy head over heels, but suave stepper Ted Hanover wants her for his new dance partner after femme fatale Lila Dixon gives him the brush (IMDb).

This Irving Berlin's musical features Fred Astaire as an elegant, charming show business professional who is ambitious for success and Bing Crosby as a talented, but lazy partner who just wants a life of comfort and not to work more than he has to. Small wonder that soon after the opening sequence ends they go separate ways. The story then focuses on Crosby as he dreams up a great idea of a resort called Holiday Inn where he only works on holidays (which is only 15 days out of 365 days in a year). I think it's a great idea too ... what a wonderful life would that be (!) And then enter a complication, her name is Marjorie Reynolds ... they both get interested in her. Holiday Inn features songs (twelve new songs) for all holidays of the year. Obviously, some are omitted, intentionally or unintentionally, e.g. songs for Memorial Day and Labor Day. "Be Careful It's My Heart", the song for St. Valentine's Day, performed by Crosby and danced by Astaire and Reynolds was supposed to be the number one song. But, "White Christmas", performed in a duet by Crosby and Reynolds, surpasses the success of the song. It also gives Irving Berlin his only Oscar and Crosby the number one single of all time. Astaire, Crosby and Reynolds have great chemistry together: Astaire is cool but ominous, Crosby is laid-back but nervous and Reynold is charming and creditable. I very much enjoy the dancing sequence of "You're Easy to Dance With" (Astaire and Dale), "Be Careful It's My Heart" (Astaire and Reynolds) and especially "Let's Say It with Firecrackers" (Astaire) ... wow, only Astaire could dance with firecrackers (!) I also immensely enjoy the singing sequence of "White Christmas" (Crosby and Reynolds) ... it's timeless, it's utterly beautiful (!) Holiday Inn presents charm, wit, sincerity and freshness. It's an uplifting and heartwarming remembrance that is a legend in its own right.

Mu judgement: *** out of 4 stars