 | |
List Price: $19.98 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 167
Released: October 10, 2006 |
| Our Price: $12.99 |
| Used Price: $13.98 |
|
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
Two song and dance men leave showbusiness to open a Connecticut inn, but conflict arises when they fall for the same woman.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-OCT-2006
Media Type: DVD
Description of Holiday Inn (Special Edition):
In 1942, Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby teamed up at Der Bingle's Paramount Pictures for Holiday Inn, a black-and-white musical that proves more entertaining than Crosby's color semi-remake White Christmas in 1954. Astaire and Crosby play partner/rival song-and-dance men who compete for the hand of their performing partner, played by Virginia Dale. After Crosby loses, he moves to the Connecticut countryside where he creates a resort that is only open on holidays and puts on the shows with the help of Marjorie Reynolds. Dumped by Dale, Astaire makes a drunken arrival at the inn on New Year's Eve and dances with Reynolds. He decides she'll be his new partner, but doesn't remember what she looks like, setting off a frenzied search at every subsequent show while the once-bitten Crosby does his best to steer him off track. The theme gives Irving Berlin an excuse to craft or recycle a number of holiday-themed songs, such as (in the former category) "Washington's Birthday" or (in the latter) "Easter Parade." The most famous of the new material, of course, is "White Christmas," which became one of the bestselling songs of all time and the title song of Crosby's 1954 film. Astaire and Crosby also team up for "I'll Capture Her Heart," which playfully contrasts the stars' specialties, and Astaire's "It's So Easy to Dance with You" became one of the signature songs of his post-Ginger Rogers career. Astaire and Crosby teamed up again for Blue Skies in 1946. --David Horiuchi
Holiday Inn (Special Edition) Reviews:
A film for EVERY holiday occasion 
2009-12-24 - Like it's pseudo-remake WHITE CHRISTMAS, this keeps growing on me with every viewing. Might help that I hadn't seen it in a few years before last night - and that I've become much more a fan of musicals, and both Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby. Der Bingle is Jim Hardy, part of a dancing team with Ted Hanover (Astaire) and Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale); both men are in love (or think they are) with Lila, and Jim thinks he's going to take her away from dirty, all-work and no-play Broadway to a nice little farm he's got in Connecticut. She balks at the idea, decides to stay with Ted, and Jim goes off to the farm anyway. Soon he finds that farming is just too hard, and concocts the idea of turning his huge lumbering farmhouse into an inn and nightclub - but only open on holidays. He also accidentally stumbles on new female singer Linda (Marjorie Reynolds) to help him out - and become his new amour - just as Ted, predictably, has a falling-out with Lila. Complications ensue...
This is marvellous fun, though one thing that is quite noticeable on multiple viewings is just how obnoxious both Ted and Jim are. Ted's a serious drinker who doesn't know when to stop (which results in a marvelous "drunken" dance sequence with Linda on Lincoln's birthday); he also seems to have no qualms about trying to make off with every woman that Jim's interested in. Jim on the other hand is domineering and possessive to extremes, going so far as to try to sabotage Linda's chance at stardom - which ultimately ends in her leaving him, going off with Ted, and going to Hollywood where the whole "Holiday Inn" concept is re-created for a film, and the inn built on a set - except that the set, of course, is exactly the set that was used in the "real" part of the film. It's so self-reflexive it might be the first post-modern mainstream Hollywood film.
Famous songs include "White Christmas" (original to this film, and the winner for the Best Song Oscar), "You're Easy to Dance With", "Happy Holidays", and "Easter Parade" - but all of the songs (by Irving Berlin, who apparently came up with the idea for the story in the first place) are pretty swell. There's a nice balance between Bing's crooning some of these numbers and Fred's hoofing throughout - which provides another element of self-reflexivity of course as the film seems to grapple with the notion of whether singing or dancing is the more important element in a musical - and never resolves it (how could it?).
One unfortunate element that really can't be ignored here, and that certainly does make the film a little bit problematic, is the treatment of race - from characters appearing in blackface during the Lincoln's Birthday segment to Louise Beavers' typical "Mammy" role as, uhh, "Mamie", and the just-for-laughs naming of her son, "Vanderbilt". I certainly don't think the portrayal of African-Americans here is at all mean-spiritied - but it's also pretty ignorant and insensitive, and viewers who have problems forgiving old Hollywood stereotypes need to be warned that they're in force here.
I think that what I liked about the film the most is that, despite the two star's constant bickering and underhanded behavior, they do get to learn lessons the hard way - but we also don't believe for a minute that they're entirely born-again nice guys at the end, as the last number slyly reminds us. Reynolds as Linda is quite charming and pretty, and reasonably believable as the naive girl just getting started; Dale has less to do but is fine. They're both a little stronger and more self-willed than the women in many musicals of the era - though they both still fall for these jerks in the end. Ah well, that's Hollywood. Mark Sandrich, who directed most of the best of Astaire and Rogers' films of the 30s, puts it all together with class and keeps it moving, and Walter Abel provides fine comic support as frantic manager Danny.
a classic movie shown here in excellent shape !!! 
2009-12-22 - Holiday Inn is a timeless movie with lots of singing and dancing to match the very fine acting; and the way they cleaned up this print is astounding! The quality of the image is every bit as good as others say it is. The plot moves along at a good pace without ever feeling rushed; and there's time for some interesting character development. The script was wonderful and the choreography couldn't have been better.
When the action starts, we quickly meet Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) and Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire); Jim is a crooner and Ted can dance with the best of them! Jim has plans to wed their mutual show business partner Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale), but unbeknownst to Jim, Lila has other plans--to marry Ted and work with him as his dance partner! Ted steals Lila away but not for too long--Lila sets her eyes on a millionaire and she herself is off to lead a whole new life.
Meanwhile, Jim retires from show business and tends farm in Connecticut. He develops a romantic interest in show biz hopeful Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds) who has genuine talent; and it isn't long before Jim opens up his farm as a type of inn that is open only on the fifteen holidays of the year--hence, it's called Holiday Inn. People show up for good times dining and dancing at Jim's Holiday Inn.
Of course, other developments along the way make the story a bit more complicated even though you know the plot is not too detailed so that the musical numbers can stand out as they deserve to in this film. Jim, Ted, Linda and others have lots to deal with before the film is over! In addition, look for a solid performance by Louise Beavers as Mamie, Jim's maid and cook. It's also important to note that this was the first time the song "White Christmas" was performed; and it was clearly an instant success.
In addition, the bonus features on this DVD are excellent. I'm very impressed. I particularly enjoyed the bonus entitled "A Couple of Song & Dance Men;" and "All Singing - All Dancing" is quite good, too. There's even an optional audio commentary with Ken Barnes and snippets of additional audio clips of Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby commenting on aspects of the film.
Overall, Holiday Inn is a classic movie with lots of fine acting and numerous musical numbers that boast very high quality control all for our entertainment. I highly recommend this film for fans of the actors in it; and anyone who enjoys classic movies and classic movie musicals will not be disappointed!
A film even this dream team could not improve on! 
2009-11-11 - I have always WANTED to like this movie but I cannot give more than three stars to a film whose ponderous,plodding and overly complicated plot is to blame for its'lacklustre results.It has much in common with "White Christmas" whose talent-heavy cast(including Bing)also could not pull things off and rise above the poor plot.It proves the old adage "If a movie is bad...it's BAD";despite its' stars.
The story here involves Fred as Ted and Bing as Jim as,literally,a couple of song and dance men.Their act includes Virginia Dale as Lila.Bing has become disillusioned with show biz and wants to retire to a farm in Connecticut and take Lila along.But Lila still has the show bug and seems to prefer Ted anyways,forcing Jim to "retire" alone.
Things don't go well for Jim who ends up in a sanitarium(!).After his recuperation he returns to his farm with the show biz bug back.He wants to turn it into a venue open only on holidays(thus the title).Ted and his agent wish him well during a visit Jim takes to New York.A little his agent,while ordering flowers for Lila from Ted,is pressed by the flower girl Marjorie Reynolds(Linda) for a chance to sing.The agent refers him to Jim's Inn and is invited next night to see Ted's act.Jim sits at the same table as Linda and they both pretend to be of a higher station than they are.Just before Ted and Lila come to join Jim Linda takes off.
The next day Linda arrives at the Inn and the ruse both played the night before is revealed.They strike up a friendship and Jim it seems has a new partner.Meanwhile Lila has left Ted for a millionaire and New years Eve Ted arrives at the Inn three sheets to the wind.He ends up doing a drunken dance with Linda.
However next day Ted's dance becomes the talk of the town and Ted,not recalling exactly what Linda looks like,is on a hunt for Linda.Jim however doesn't want another repeat like that of Lila,so a game of cat and mouse ensues with many near misses.Ted doesn't get his girl until Valentine's Day when he happens to walk in on Jim singing a song to Linda and she is dancing solo.Ted instinctively joins her and a new partnership is born,much to Jim's chagrin.
When some film studio types come to the Inn to see Ted and Linda for a possible film deal,Jim tries to sabotage the works by having Lila(she has now returned after dumping her millionaire!) delay her.In the end it is a delay of the inevitable as Linda and Ted fly to Hollywood and the producers want to do a picture about the Inn.While Linda and Ted fly out west,disgruntled Jim stays behind to sulk.
After a good talking to by his housekeeper Jim musters up the courage to fly out west and get back his girl.After the final shooting of the film Ted and Linda had planned to elope.But Jim's pipe on a set piano brings Linda's "real" feelings back and she and Jim are reunited for good.Ted is also reunited with Lila.Fade out.
Not only is the plot overly long,complicated and at times just too coincidental and improbable,it leaves you scratching your head at the enormous reserve Jim constantly shows at getting his girls taken right out from under his nose by Ted.Normally there would be some fisticuffs involved somewhere,but not here.And in typical Hollywood fashion there can't be any losers,especially between Bing and Fred,so both get a girl in the end.Not only couldn't the talent in front of the screen overcome the plot but Astaires' old RKO producer Mark Sandrich,couldn't help either.Also on hand was legendary Irving Berlin on the music front.On paper the film was a dream-teaming but in execution a sad let down.
The film DID however have two saving graces.First of all the music performed is great.The classic"White Christmas","Be Careful It's My Heart","Easter Parade" and "Happy Holidays".Secondly both stars were at the top of their game.Bing showed why he was one of the greatest vocalists of the 20th century.And of course Astaire once again proved why he was the best at what he did.
On the techinical side this movie has been remastered and done quite well.The picture is wonderfully crisp and alive.Included on the disc is a nice featurette with Ken Barnes(who produced Crosbys' last recordings) and Astaire's daughter Ava.Another short is on the making of the dance numbers in the movie.Also audio commentary is included along with the original trailer.
In conclusion as a holiday movie it is just a so so entry.The best thing are the stars which display their stellar talents as usual and the wonderful music.However even the heavy duty talent on hand in this pictures' production could not overcome the burdensome plot which leaves you wondering two things:"What happened?" and "If only...".
Nice movie
2009-03-16 - Holiday Inn is just delightful. It is great to have this golden oldie on DVD.
Holiday Inn
2009-02-12 - This movie is one of my favorites. no matter how often I watch it, it never fails to be a delight.
