White Christmas

These are a few of my favourite things. I know, different movie.

Some might question why we can watch the same films over and over again, like listening to our favourite songs or reading our favourite books, revisiting the feelings and memories of a time, that probably wasn’t that fantastic in reality when we escaped into a dream, humour or just shared something a parent or loved one enjoyed.

There are a few parts of White Christmas, starring Bing Crosby, (my Dad loved his voice) and Danny Kaye, I loved his moves, and the contrast between his uncoordinated physical comedy I think of as the draw to return.

The “Sisters” number where Betty and Judy, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Allen establish for the audience their commitment to one another, the strength of their relationship, the suggestion a union that nothing, not even love to could come between. Only in the movies. I can visualise the chiffon of the cornflower blue dresses, a long time favourite colour of mine. And those tiny waists and skinny legs Hollywood studio bosses demanded of their female leads in the 1950s.

The show in Vermont, put on to show the aging General Waverley who commanded Bob and Fred (Crosby and Kaye) during the war, he is remembered and respected. I love the scale of it, all the marching, the haphazard almost unrehearsed perfect performances by the stars, the music of course and the lump in the throat it always manages to deliver. It’s the shared emotion conjured that make it a classic I guess.

And the scene at the end where the tiny ballerinas join the cast around the massive Christmas tree, reminds me of visits to the Nutcraker in posh frocks, winter coats and patent mary Jane’s and all the excitement those visits to the theatre conjured. Pure nostalgia for two hours escapism.

The film was made in 1954 and directed by

Michael Curtis and along side Crosby and Kaye, stars leading ladies Rosemary Clooney and Vera Allen as sisters Betty and Judy. The other standout performance comes from Mary Wickes who plays a hilarious Emma, General Waverley’s housekeeper at the Inn in Vermont where all the action takes place.

If you’ve never watched it, I can’t imagine that could possibly be the case, although I have never seen a Star Wars film, don’t shoot me, give it a go without preconception. Let the film take you on a light, funny, old fashioned, very unrealistic journey about real true friendship and good strong unselfish values. Two things that can be hard to find let alone actually recognise in the fast paced aspiration of the commercialised Christmas we endure these days.