HOLIDAY INN
US, 1942, 101 minutes, Black and white.
Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Walter Abel, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Louise Beavers, Irving Bacon, James Bell.
Directed by Mark Sandrich.
Holiday Inn was a very popular musical of the early '40s. It had a score by Irving Berlin and had many of his popular songs including Easter Parade. However, it was the film of White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby. The screenplay was adapted for another Crosby vehicle when he starred with Danny Kaye in the 1954 White Christmas. This film is notable for an easy singing performance by Crosby, matched by a dancing performance of Fred Astaire (who is partly the villain of the piece!). Marjorie Reynolds is an interesting heroine - although after starring with Crosby in Dixie, she did not have such success in films and moved to television. The direction is by Mark Sandrich who directed so many of the Astaire-Rogers? musicals of the '30s. The film is in many ways reminiscent of those musicals. Light escapist American musical entertainment.
1. An appealing musical comedy? Bing Crosby vehicle, Fred Astaire? Irving Berlin's music?
2. The American cinema musical of the '30s? Theatre background, songs and dances? Romance, difficulties, the overcoming of difficulties, the show must go on? The cinema background? The film about the inn itself? Conventional material, more than the conventions?
3. Black and white photography, the sets - especially as revealed in the Hollywood sequences? Irving Berlin's music and its impact, White Christmas etc.? The choreography?
4. The typical musical plot: the theatre background, the break-ups, rivalries? The Holiday Inn and its set-up, guests, leading lady? The threats of Hanover? Linda and her abilities? The producer and his setting Hanover on? The opportunity for Hollywood? The film - and the happy ending?
5. Bing Crosby as hero? His singing style, the contrast with Fred Astaire's dancing? His songs and their revelation of character, contribution to plot? The composing of the songs? Their being used to illustrate the various American public holidays? His charm, strength, his disappointment with his fiancee going off, the setting up of Holiday Inn, his falling in love with Linda? His allowing her to go off to Hollywood? His going after her? The contrast with Fred Astaire - suave manner, the dancing routines? His wanting Linda for himself and his act, the various devices to find her, luring her away to Hollywood? Being outwitted at the end?
6. Linda as an attractive heroine - her work, pretences in New York, the Holiday Inn, her enjoyment of her work, singing with Bing Crosby, partnering Astaire? Her abilities, the opportunity to go to Hollywood - her being led into the river, leading her rival into the river? The engagement and its being broken off, the happy ending?
7. The dancing partner and her going off looking for millionaires, her reappearance and being put into the river? Humour, satire?
8. The portrait of the agent and his swift talk, impatience, deals? His devices to get Linda to Hollywood, the various manoeuvres used?
9. The people at the Inn - customers? The importance of the black cook, her song, contribution of wisdom, her children? Sentiment?
10. The show business background and its entertainment value? The making of films in the '30s and '40s? Comedy, romance? The dependence of the film on its score and songs?
