"Vermont should be beautiful this time of year, all that snow!"
This is one of my favorite movies of all time, not restricted to just Christmas time. I can sit down, the windows open with the sun shining, in the middle June and watch this film. I know this because I have done it and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Growing up, we were not a family that HAD to watch many holiday films around Christmas and New Years. "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" are wonderful films, but I don't remember seeing them every year, unless we caught them on television. The only film we were required to watch was "White Christmas".
Of course I welcomed this because I loved old movies and musicals, but I'm not sure how much my brothers really cared for this film. I do remember my sister enjoying it because she's classy and knows a good thing when she see's it. The one person that really loved it, other than me, was my Dad. It seemed to be the only movie besides "McKlintock" that he could watch over and over without it ever getting old. I loved to watch this film with Dad because he always laughed so hard at Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Also, being a military man, he probably saw himself and friends in the guys on the screen. He maybe even knew his own "General Waverly".
Let's move on to the music!
I can't remember ever skipping any songs. From "Count your Blessings" to "Choreography", they were all utter perfection. Thank you Irving Berlin!
My favorite songs (in no particular order):
"The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing": It's basically the first big dance number and it's very acrobatic and fluid. Laura (sister) and I used to call the Vera-Ellen "Barbie" because she was so skinny. I've since seen her in many other films and am genuinely a big fan. She was an amazing dancer!
"Gee I Wish I Was Back In The Army": This song is catchy and visually stimulating. There's another element about it that certainly stands out but I will leave that too myself as not to spoil the movie.
The "Abraham Number": This song is really quite random and doesn't seem to go with a holiday theme at all. It's more of a dance in which to showcase the immense talent of Vera-Ellen. She's in a very short, yellow dress and her hair is down, instead of pulled back. She's beautiful and quite a force to be reckoned with. The dance, unlike the rest, only last a few minutes but it always seemed to be the one that stood out.
"Mandy": Very-Ellen once again is the star of this dance. Though the other three, Rosemary/Bing/Danny also appear in this with a wonderful little "minstrel" thing, she's the focus when it comes to the dancing. It's full of bright colors and dance moves that makes you question your flexibility. The best part may be at the end of this big production number, when you find there are only two people watching. Of course this is on purpose, because it's a dress rehearsal, but still.......it's hilarious! "This'll bring in business, Grandpa!"
"Sisters": Rosemary and Vera-Ellen perform this one. If we were being technical, my sister Laura, being older, would have been the Rosemary character and I would have been Vera-Ellen, but I always wished and pretended I was Rosemary. She had such a beautiful voice that was unique and smokey and unmatched by anyone else.
"Love You Didn't Do Right By Me": I've basically mentioned or described every song in this film and this is definitely not one you leave out. Rosemary SLAMS this song out of the park. It's personal and revealing and beautiful. She wears a beautiful black dress with long black gloves up past her elbows and she's surrounded by young men all dressed in black. It's simple and elegant. 'Nuff said.
I feel it's my duty as an avid lover of this movie to encourage you all to watch it. There really are no excuses that are at all acceptable in my book.
I don't care if you don't like old movies.
I don't care if you don't like musicals.
I don't care if you don't like snow.
I don't care if you don't like X, Y or Z.
You should watch this movie if only to better yourself as a person!
"Let's just say we're doing it for a pal in the Army."
Merry Christmas!
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