Personally I feel Vera Ellen "overplayed" as she was _ALWAYS_ looking at the camera. It's one thing to make sure the audience can see you - it's another thing to find that camera and look at it constantly. The choreography was - IMO - a bit too precise for two people dancing together that had never done so before... With no clear lead, it's too obvious it's a performance. Yeah, I know it's meant to be that way, but there comes a point when it's TOO well done, and looks unnatural. Clooney did great... Crosby did great... Kaye did great... Vera was too much. Too much rehearsal? I dunno... she just didn't look "natural" if you know what I mean. I love the movie... but she pulls me out of it a bit.
I whole heartedly agree. We must be about the same age. I was born in NYC but grew up in Miami, Florida....not too many white Christmases. 💕 this movie and especially loved the song. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.
As a kid in the 60s, I loved Rosemary Clooney's singing. And Vera-Ellen was the prettiest woman in the movies. Loved her in On the Town as Miss Turnstiles.
I got my family to love Danny Kaye with 3 movies - Hans Christian Anderson, The Court Jester, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - and this one is just a Christmas bonus on top.
Fun fact however is the gal he was paired up with much much better off a dance than he is they had to get a dancer that was better than her in order to keep up with her
You might find it interesting that when the sisters mention that their brother was "out of the country " working in Alaska, Alaska had not become a state yet when this was filmed.
The housekeeper is Mary Wickes. She is always watchable, warm, funny, heartfelt. She worked from 1934 to 1997. She was a singing nun in Sister Act with Whoopie Goldberg. Even in the group you could hear her distinctive voice. Some character actors really help make a movie good. ❤
Vera Ellen's dancing, especially in the song Mandy, is phenomenal. She takes my breath away!!! They dubbed her singing voice but, like Rosie Clooney said, she could sure as hell dance!!!!! And Dean Jagger's acting is never mentioned by reviewers but is terrific, too
@@PhilipQuigley-x5b I LOVE the Road movies, especially Road to Morocco and the one in the jungle where the gorilla falls for Bob Hope (can't think which one it is.)
For anyone who isn't sure Dean Jagger is the actor portraying General Waverly, the owner of the inn. I thought that was probably who he was, but needed to check to make sure.
Wow. What a star-studded movie this is. I actually had the honor of working with Rosemary Clooney when she came to perform with us college students at Walt Disney World. She was the epitome of class and grace, a legend from a bygone era, and the experience was unforgettable. Merry Christmas, everyone!
@@papalaz4444244 😆 Walt Disney World used to have a summer music program called the All-American College Orchestra, for which I was concertmaster (first chair violin). We performed with an incredible assortment of artists including Donny Osmond, Bob McGrath, Maureen McGovern, Captain & Tennille, Mike Post, and of course, Rosemary Clooney. That experience changed my life and inspired me to become a composer for TV and film.
One little bit of trivia. When Danny and Bing are doing the sisters act Bing couldn't stop laughing, Danny Kaye kept making him bust up. The take you see is the best one they were able to get.
I work at a historic theater in Bexley, Ohio (built in 1937) and we had a showing of White Christmas this past Monday, and we sold out the show. The magic of this film has not faded over the years. As you said, they don't make them like this anymore. Merry Christmas to you both.
Hello from a fellow Columbus resident. I haven't been to the Drexel in so long. I'll have to catch a show sometime this year there. I'm glad that the showing of White Christmas sold out!
Being born in 1964, I grew up with parents who grew up during the golden era of Hollywood, so I was exposed to movies like this, for all of my childhood and teen years. White Christmas will always hold a special place in my heart, thanks to my dad always singing that song just like Bing Crosby, every...single...time. So glad y'all enjoyed this classic.
Good memories, I was an 80's baby and I was gonna say "Jesus, 1964, that was forever ago!" but then I realized that's only like 15yrs older than me.... and i remembered my own dad singing along to Patsy Cline's "let it snow" we don't even GET snow where i live... I'm one of you now lol
The song "White Christmas " debuted in another Bing Crosby movie called "Holiday Inn." The movie co-starred Fred Astire and included some of his best dance routines. Interestingly, the movie is also set at an inn in Vermont.
Fred's 'drunk dance' is still one of my all-time favorite dance routines, it's like the man had no bones! I've always loved the movie "Holiday Inn", particularly since they cut the Lincoln's birthday song which is just ... no. At the time the movie was made is was just in poor taste, but in today's culture it crossed the line into truly offensive. But the majority of the movie is pure delight.
A little bit of fun trivia Cassie. White Christmas was originally written for the movie Holiday Inn. It was written by Irving Berlin who was actually A russian Jewish immigrant whose actual name was Israel Beiline. Berlin whould write for both movies, and Broadway plays for the remainder of his life. He’d even write the song God Bless America whom many feel should have been made our national anthem.
Holiday Inn (1942) should be on the ‘list to watch’. Not a Christmas movie, nor is it without controversy (for one scene), but with Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire the musical numbers are top-notch.
Holiday Inn was kinda put on the back burner and isn't played as much. This is because of a scene where they perform in black face and they actually discuss how well the black face went over after the performance. It's too bad they can't cut out that scene because other then that it really is a great movie as well.
@@rbjeans007 It is a great movie even with that scene. It is our history. For better or worse it is our history. We shouldn't lock it in the basement and pretend it never happened.
I don’t love Gene Kelly. But his talent is remarkable and Debbie Reynolds’s an don O’Connor are two of the most fabulous stars ever. Hope they watch this movie
I grew up watching this with my family, my granddad was a world War 2 vet, so this movie really meant something to us. My mother passed 2 years ago this coming January and it made me teary eyed watching this with yall.
This was mom's favorite Christmas movie and when the dance scenes came on mom would grab dad's hand and dance. Such great memories with this movie. Thanks PIB for watching and reacting to this gem of a movie!❤💛
"White Christmas" is a film I watch every Christmas Eve. My father is the one who helped make this film part of my Christmas holiday "ritual." He would watch it every Christmas, especially after the film cam out on VHS (and later DVD). His birthday is 25 December. Now "White Christmas" became part of my sons' holiday rituals. Another Christmas film for Cassie & Carly would be "Joyeux Noël" (2005), if they haven't seen it yet.
This was my parents favorite Christmas movie growing up. I forced my future wife to watch it 15 years ago and now it’s her favorite Christmas movie of all time too. I guess we have good taste.
I rarely watch Christmas movies because I really don’t enjoy them very much. So I’m watching United 93 in tribute to the heroes that fought back and I’m missing them today
Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney were all huge movie stars. Growing up, my favorite was Danny Kaye as The Court Jester and Inspector General were watched over and over in our family. Another great Bing Crosby Christmas movie is Holliday Inn that co-stars Fred Astair. But you can basically watch any movie with these stars in it and have a great time. There is a reason why their era was called The Golden Age of Hollywood.
Rosemary Clooney is George Clooney's aunt. She performed a few times at a theater I worked at in the late 80's early 90's. I got to hear a LOT of stories about George before he made it big. She had a lot of health issues later in life but she never lost her singing voice. This movie always reminds me of my grandparents that were the Depression/WW2 era.
Bing Crosby, 70 movies and over 1500 recordings in his 50 year long career and Mariah Carey is somewhere near 100 in last 3 decades, just show the difference.
Thank you for watching my favorite Christmas movie! This movie had such vibrant colors, beautiful music and a lot of heart. I love the romance and the cast was amazing.
"It will warm you like a Christmas punch when Bing and Danny team up to sing and dance with Rosemary and Vera-Ellen. A wonderful entertainment package with Berlin's first movie score in a decade!"
Bit of trivia people don't normally share so much: Donald O’Connor (Cosmo in Singin in the Rain) had been hired to make White Christmas but came down with a virus before shooting started. Paramount held the project for him, but he was not able to recover fully enough for the dance numbers in time to make the shooting schedule required for a December release. Danny Kaye inherited the part.
Vera Ellen's dancing is nothing short of astounding, such that even Fred Astaire and Gene Kelley were impressed by her. Short career, her candle was twice-as-bright and how it shined.
Favorite Christmas song...White Christmas, of course. Nobody sings it like Bing. The song was written for a movie called "Holiday Inn" and then they made this movie. Private is a demotion from Sgt. The ballerina sitting in the center is Bing's youngest daughter, Mary Francis. Merry Christmas!
Well ladies, I'm so glad that the both you finally got to watch this wonderful Christmas classic... Your faces and your reactions were priceless... I can't imagine anyone going through life and not ever watching this wonderful movie... I'm 67 years old and I've watched this movie every year for at least 55 years now and it still gives me the warm fuzzies every time I watch it... It's my favorite Christmas movie to watch and now you've finally seen it too...Great reaction as always, ladies... I hope the both of you have the best Christmas ever...Merry Christmas to you both...Keep being awesome !!!...
Hope the girls get to catch Dean Jagger (General Waverly here) in a great WW2 movie with Gregory Peck, called Twelve O'Clock High (1949). Please put it on the list.
So happy you both are finally seeing this movie! My mom and dad’s favorite! Well one of them! Mom listened to Bing Crosby in her house everyday when she was a little girl and now every year at Christmas we listen to Bing Crosby’s Christmas Album at Christmas! ❤️❤️ His voice is sublime! Underrated IMO. Yeah Sinatra is okay but he’s not Crosby IMO ❤️🙏 No one sings “White Christmas,” like him! Rosemary Clooney is George Clooney’s aunt. ❤️❤️ All the costumes in this movie are amazing! Mom always cries when they sing for the general. They just don’t make classics like this anymore! ❤️❤️ Please also check out Christmas Cottage with Peter O’Toole and Jared Padalecki and Smokey Mountain Christmas with Dolly Parton. Merry Christmas to you both from my mom and I in So. Cal USA 🇺🇸 ❤️❤️❤️
Moin aus Hamburg or greetings from Hamburg (Germany) "White Christmas" is my favorite Christmas film next to "We're No Angels (1955)". My absolute favorite Danny Kaye film, however, is “The Court Jester”. You definitely have to watch this film. It's from 1955 with Angela Lansbury and Basil Rathbone. JUST AWESOME. Merry Christmas.
I just watched this yesterday with my sister. My dad also retired from the military a few years ago so the scenes with the general always make me emotional now.
my favorite Christmas movie of all time. My daughter and I watch that together and sing along with everything every year. That is our favorite Christmas tradition.
This is so weird to see them only knowing Bing Crosby when Danny was way bigger globally. And his act that seems to confuse them is what hrs known for. He was the Jim Carrey of the time.. 😊 A fave of danish tv in the 70's and 80s. He was always on when i was a kid or teen..
My absolute favorite Christmas movie ever. It’s the first one I watch every year after thanksgiving dinner is over. It’s my official start to the holiday season!
This is my favourite Xmas movie, closely followed by it’s a wonderful life. But this definitely brings major tears to my eyes when the general comes down & sees the men ❤
Not a lot of young people would appreciate the "hokey-ness" of this film. Some of it certainly doesn't age or translate well, but the overall story is moving and timeless. Great reaction, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love, love, LOVE this movie!! It's an essential every Christmas. Saw it a few years ago in the theatre along with my nieces and it was such a wonderful experience. The print was in pristine condition making it even more beautiful to look at and it pulled you in even more. All four of the leads are perfectly cast. Vera-Ellen (Judy) is unquestionably one of the greatest dancers there ever was in film and her elegance, gracefulness and skill is given a great spotlight here. Bing and Rosemary Clooney were great friends and recorded several albums together and remained close throughout his life. Danny Kaye wasn't initially cast as Phil but when the first two choices-Fred Astaire and Donald O'Connor-proved unavailable he was brought in and is simply great. He and Bing share a great chemistry. I highly recommend seeking out one of his best starring vehicles "The Court Jester" which really shows off his versatility and is terrifically funny as well with a great cast backing him up including Angela Lansbury, Mildred Natwick and the bewitching Glynis Johns.
Ooh, ooh! I have a Canada story form 1980! I was visiting friends after Christmas in Montreal, in the outskirts of town. I needed to take a bus to Ottawa, and the stop was outdoors, outside suburban homes. I had on every bit of winter clothing I had in my student duffel bag-it was -38C/-37F. I waited and waited and waited for the bus. People in the homes keeping coming to their windows and peeking out at me. I worried that they might think me an intruder and call the cops. The bus never came. Later, I learned that the bus service had been cancelled because it was too cold! Silly me!
Oh my gosh!! I thought you had already seen this movie!! It is so perfect for you and your sister!! Holiday musical love story… I mean, could you love it any more?!? ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for this. White Christmas was my mom's favorite Christmas movie and I try to watch it every year as a tribute to her. Now I may just watch your reaction instead. It was so fun to watch you two fall in love with it! Also can't wait to see your rendition of "Sisters" !!!!🎄
I am mindblown that you two have not ever seen this before! The song "White Christmas" was first used in the movie "Holiday Inn", which was about a hotel that was only open for holidays. Bing Crosby was in that, along with Fred Astaire. It was a show with Irving Berlin music, and many of the numbers, especially the excerpts from Phil and Bob's shows were Irving Berlin songs recycled from other shows. I don't know where it ranks now, but for decades "White Christmas", recorded by Bing Crosby, was the all time best selling single.
In any Irving Berlin movie the rule was always that only Irving berlin songs could be used. That's why in Holiday Inn for New Year's eve they couldn't even do Auld Lang Syne, but had to use a Berlin song for that.
Such a great Christmas movie. Danny Kaye is so underrated: he was such a multi-talented performer. Dean Jagger was also superb in this movie. And Vera Ellen is just so sweet. Danny and Bing doing sisters was them actually just messing around between takes on the set and the cameras were left rolling. It was totally ad-libbed. It worked so well that they cut it into the movie!
After seeing you enjoy Danny Kaye so much - there's a boatload of Danny Kaye movies that you both would love: Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Wonderman, and The Court Jester to name a few! Loved your reaction to this classic!
You guys should do more Bing Crosby movies. He's one of my absolute favorites, up there with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra. Those guys really dominated the period between the 30s to the early 70s, especially when it comes to movie musicals. Every time I watch most movies from this 40yr period, my heart is just full of joy by the end, I absolutely love it.
Dig up one of the Road Pictures-- The Road to- Morrocco, Bali, Rio, several more- Crosby and Bob Hope, the comedian- both came from vaudeville, where, to succeed, you had to be able to sing, dance, act, tell jokes. Much like this. And most of them featured Dorothy Lamour, who wore short skists that showed off her legs. Generally, the plots centered around these 2 guys in show biz who were always in some difficulty, often with Lamour as an adversary. Dance, song, comedy, mystery, romance...
@@raloria9173 they did do a few more together I think. I'm blanking on the name now, but it was one they did in the 70s, when they were getting a bit older, I think it also had Fred Astaire. I can't remember if Gene Kelly was in that one though. I'd always been obsessed with seeing Gene and Fred together in a picture so I was very happy when I saw The Ziegfeld Follies. Even the Original Ziegfeld Follies is a classic.
I always loved Danny Kaye, and watched every movie he ever made. I would love to see your reaction to some of his other movies, especially A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The chalice from the palace, or the vessel with the pestle ...
Bing Crosby starred in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court while Danny Kaye had to grapple with the realization that they broke the chalice from the palace in The Court Jester.
HOW MANY OLD MOVIES DO YOU HAVE TO WATCH BEFORE YOU STOP THINKING YOU WON'T LIKE THEM?!?! LOL Old movies are amazing - and I'm so glad the "younger" people are giving them a chance! I'm only 43 but I've been watching classic movies since I was 10. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PS My favorite songs are O Holy Night and Sleigh Ride (Boston Pops version)
They're original, and aren't attempts to recapture the golden age by re-making them "with modern equipment." They didn't need all that CGI crap... the overprocessing ... the special effects.... The movie was worth seeing without it.
At 36:30 the dancer with Rosemary Clooney's right hand on his shoulder is George Chakiris, who would later star as Benardo, leader of the Sharks, in the OG edition of West Side Story.
If you like this movie Cassie, you’ll probably like The Court Jester. It’s another movie with Danny Kaye. It’s also a comedy musical. It also has Angela Lansbury who you’d know as Mrs. Potts in Beauty and The Beast.
Some Fun Facts: - Bing's Love interest was Rosemary Clooney, both of whom were well known singers at the time. Rosemary's nephew is George Clooney. - The song 'White Christmas' actually comes from Bing's 1944 film "Holiday Inn", but was so popular that this film was made (while both films are similar and share some people like Bing, this is not a remake of Holiday Inn) - Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen (the other couple) were best known for their physicality at the time; Kaye as a slapstick comic, Vera-Ellen as a Rockette and solo dancer. A point of interest on their shared dance number early on at a club: Edith Head (a legendary Costume designer who arguably made Haute Coutre popular by working with many stars like Audrey Hepburn) said one of her proudest moments was the grey socks and shoes she had for Kaye for that numbers, because the shoes / socks / pants blended so well but you couldn't help but watch the dancing. - Bing had won the Best Actor Oscar a decade before for the musical 'Going My Way', whose sequel (The Bells of St. Mary's) is also a Christmas movie featuring Bing. - On a personal note, my own Aunts have for many years done the 'Sisters' number whenever they are cooking at family holiday dinners - always good for a laugh.
I'm an old, hard hearted meanie but "The Glass Slipper" (1955) starring Leslie Caron hits me hard in the feels. I think you two wonderful girls would really like it. Merry Xmas, PiB thanks for a wonderful year.
Rosemary Clooney is in real life George Clooney's Aunt. He talks fondly about her in some interviews. This film stands on it's own. It always hits home and it is a real treat to see it again. Great directing and great performances from the cast. Love the Story.
This one is always a good time. "Holiday Inn" is also excellent. Glad you both liked it. We used to go to movies to escape the world for an hour or two. Cheesy is good sometimes. Good reaction, thanks and Merry Christmas to you both and your families.
Holiday Inn starred Crosby and Astaire and White Christmas was supposed to star both of them again but Astaire was unable to do it so they got Danny Kaye to do it.
My mom loved Danny Kaye so much when she was a kid, that when I was born, she made Kaye my middle name. lol He was a great philanthropist, esp. helping children and youth groups.
You guys really know how to spread that Christmas cheer. Haven't seen this for such a long time. Thanks so much for the trip down memory lane ladies. It's never cold in the house of Cassie, and I'm so glad Carly could brave the icy tundra to join us for this one.Sisters, sisters ...
The song White Christmas came from the 1941 movie “Holiday Inn”, also starring Bing Crosby. Interestingly, while Holiday Inn is set at an inn in Connecticut, and White Christmas an inn in Vermont, it was the same movie set for both films. If you pay attention, you can see that the interior of the inn is the same in both films. Irving Berlin wrote the song “White Christmas” but didn’t think it was any good, and didn’t think it should be included in Holiday Inn. It was Bing Crosby who knew a hit when he heard it, and made sure it was in the film. It went on to sell more copies than any record in history.
Well girls, this was the most enjoyable reaction yet. There are several classic movies I try to watch at Christmas and this is one of them. So glad you enjoyed it. You've done "It's a Wonderful Life", and "Miracle on 34th St." "A Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott is my favorite version of that classic. A lesser known but very enjoyable Christmas theme film from the same era as "White Christmas" is "It Happened on 5th Ave." You might like it as well. One of you mentioned this had 2 love stories in it. In '53 there was a classic comedy with 3 love stories. "How to Marry a Millionaire" starred 3 of the top women of the day. Marilyn Monroe. A sex symbol yes, but a great comedic actress as well. Betty Grabble. The #1 pin-up girl of WWII. And Lauren Bacall. (IMO) one of the classic beauties of all time. It's not Christmas movie but please consider putting it on your list for next year. Thanks for tonight's reaction and a very Merry Christmas to all.
The song White Christmas was introduced in the movie Holiday Inn, 1942, that starred Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. This movie was originally going to be a reteaming of them, but Fred had retired from movies so he turned it down.
I’m a little sad you didn’t see a Christmas Carol starring Alastair Sim but I would highly recommend green for danger excellent British film strange suspenseful and funny
I love the sound of men singing together, too. If you girls have never watched Zulu, you should, if only for the part where brave soldiers facing death sing, “Men of Harlech.” That song is engraved on my brain because of that movie.
The song White Christmas was introduced in 1942 in the Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire movie Holiday Inn. You should definitely watch Holiday Inn. The version of the song used in that movie became one of the biggest selling records of all time.
Bing Crosby was actually in his 50s, when he made this film, Rosemary Clooney, the lady who played the older sister was actually younger, she was 26…the girl who played her younger sister was actually in her 30s.
@3:11 I’m dying. 🤣 I’ve been so lucky to play the role of Judy twice with two different, wonderful theatre companies. It’s absolutely a classic! (Plus, if you ever decide to see the show live, the “minstrel” number has been replaced by an incredible large tap number called “I Love A Piano”, so there’s no need to worry about supporting a show with anything inappropriate. Love you guys! Happy Holidays! 🎄❤️
Such a great movie a must watch every year, It was one of my grandmas favorites she would watch it several times around Christmas time. I can remember spending the night with my grandparents and waking up to different song numbers in the morning while she would be watching it.
This has been my second-favorite Christmas movie for decades(right behind the original Miracle On 34th Street) and I think you can see why. Great music, great dancing, two love stories for the price of one, and a great display of altruism. For your next musical, you SHOULD NOT MISS High Society, a musical remake of The Philadelphia Story that stars Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and features Louis Armstrong and his band. It's amazing and funny, with great songs. Highly recommended.
Oh my gosh ♥️🎄♥️🎄♥️ HOW had you never even heard of this movie!?!? So glad you've been caught up. Love this movie, it's always our first movie we watch as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Every year.
I watch it every year too. I have already watched it this year but when I saw that you two were watching it I just had to watch along with you. 🙂 I just knew you would like it. Merry Christmas to you all!
My favorite Christmas song is from Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Called "little drummer boy," but if I had to go with more of a poppy style song, it would from the Beach Boys Christmas album. Like "the man with all the toys" or "I want to meet Santa Claus" or "Merry Christmas Bady".
IDK if you know this... but the movie Holliday Inn is the first time the song "White Christmas" was heard. Holliday Inn was made in 1942. And it stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Too bad there is a scene in the movie Holliday Inn that could not be aired on any streaming service do to a controversial style of entertainment that was common in 1942. But if you get a chance to see Holliday Inn, do it.
I was born in Vermont in 1956. This was on TV every year at Christmas time and we faithfully watched. Back when it was a simpler time and people had class. It makes me sad to see what we have become.
Danny Kay did a one-man stage show in London after the war. A year later he returned, but the posters on the wall simply said "He's back!", and that was enough because everyone guessed who it was. He might have been the best all-around entertainer of the 20th century.
Crosby’s album, Merry Christmas is my absolute favorite Christmas album and I’m not even 50, yet! It reminds me of my grandparents because that was their generation’s music and I’ve heard it as long as I’ve known Christmas. It’s not Christmas without Bing! BTW, the 1942 recording of “White Christmas” is the highest selling single of all time.
Literally my late wife's favorite Christmas movie. She was a huge fan of classics. And introduced me to so many great classic films. Thank you for sharing these films with your reaction channel ! Been watching since Maverick. Keep up the good work, and popcorn recommendations. I hope the musical OKLAHOMA and SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS are coming in the future. Happy holidays!
This had always been my wife's and my favorite Christmas movie and every year we would watch it together..Until she Passed away a few years ago. the following christmas i cried when i tried to watch it by myself.. but now i watch it every christmas knowing she;s with me watching it too.. I am glad you two loved it.
