12 Days of Christmas Films: White Christmas {9}

I feel a little guilty about writing so definitely that I prefer Holiday Inn over White Christmas last week...because after I watched White Christmas again the other night, I remembered just how much I love it. :) I think I still like Holiday Inn better, but only by the tiniest bit. Dear White Christmas, I'm sorry that going a year between viewings made me forget your awesomeness.

{I also feel bad for thinking of it and referring to it as "tacky." It definitely is tacky, but that's okay! That's one of the things I love about musicals.}

One of the reasons why is probably because of the musical numbers. Those are pretty important in musicals. :) I love every single song and musical number in Holiday Inn, but in White Christmas, I'm divided. I love about half of the songs, but there are a few dance numbers that are just...eh.

I love the song "Sisters" when the two girls are singing (or ironically, the one girl. Because Rosemary Clooney was singing both parts in that song). I possibly love it even more when the guys are singing it. :) It's hilarious and I love that they're cracking up, too. One of my favorite things about comedy is when it's so funny that the comedians themselves can't help but laugh. {That happens sometimes on the Colgate Comedy Hour with Dean Martina and Jerry Lewis, and I love it.}

I also really enjoy "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing." Honestly, I'm not a big Danny Kaye fan, though he's alright in this film. And I like Vera-Ellen well enough, but her impossible thinness here is so distracting (she was supposedly anorexic at the time). Despite that, this is a really charming dance number and song. One thing, though...this is completely random, but it drives me crazy that Danny Kaye's gray suede-looking shoes match his suit exactly. I can't even explain why, but I think it looks so silly. Whew...glad I got that off my chest. :)

Since I mentioned Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, I guess I should talk about the other two stars. Bing Crosby is awesome, as usual. I love the little bits of humor with his character. I'm not sure if it's scripted or ad-libbed, but he has some hilarious, off-handed comments that you might miss if you're not really paying attention (or if you're not rewatching this movie for the 20th time). Like when he's reading the letter to the general, who can't read it without his glasses. And Bing moves the letter back and forth to get it at the right distance where he can see it clearly, and he says, "I'm starting to play the trombone a little, too." I just love stuff like that. And I like Rosemary Clooney...she's so pretty and has the loveliest voice.

One of my least favorite parts of White Christmas is the Choreography number. Ugh! It's so awful and bizarre and awkward. I'm also not a huge fan of the random Vera-Ellen dance number stuck right in the middle. The music is catchy (it's Abraham, which was also in Holiday Inn), but it just feels unnecessary.

By the way, I noticed something for the first time while watching the film again this year. I recognized Dick Stabile, the band leader in Rosemary Clooney's song Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me. He's the band leader in the Martin and Lewis episodes of the Colgate Comedy Hour! I only started watching CCH during this past year, so I was really surprised to see him in this movie. :)

I love the military aspect of the plot. Maybe the ending is a bit sappy and over-the-top, but oh my goodness, I love it so. It always makes me teary-eyed, no matter how many times I see it. :) I love how the very beginning sets up the rest of the story, and of course the fact that they're singing I'll Be Home for Christmas (my favorite Christmas song) while at war, away from their families, is so incredibly sad. But I love how the two guys are reunited with the general, and it's awesome how they show their appreciation at the end. So yes, I feel like I've been saying this with most of the Christmas movies I've reviewed, but the ending is my favorite part of the movie! :)

Do you like White Christmas? What are your favorite and least favorite songs/dance numbers in the film?