White Christmas

Composer Irving Berlin's iconic Christmas favorite “White Christmas”—the bestselling single of all time—which debuted in the 1942 musical Holiday Inn—is the centerpiece for this 1954 Technicolor production starring Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace and Danny Kaye as Phil Davis, a pair of song-and-dance men who meet during a World War II USO show and go on to become a major nightclub and later Broadway act after the war ends. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen play the love interests Betty and Judy Haynes, a struggling sister act the guys help out of a tight spot in Florida (Bob and Phil dress up in drag and lip-synch to the Haynes' signature number "Sisters," with feather fans and coy glances, while Betty and Judy escape), and together they stage a revue to save a failing Vermont country inn owned by their beloved former commanding officer (Dean Jagger). Directed by reliable studio hand Michael Curtiz (Casablanca), this holiday classic is sentimental, contrived, and stiffly silly, yet it charmed audiences and became the biggest hit of the year, thanks largely to the Berlin score, lavish production numbers, and relaxed presence of Crosby, who even manages to calm down the usually hyperactive Kaye. Debuting in a sharp-looking Blu-ray release, extras include supplements from the earlier DVD special edition, including archival audio commentary by and an interview with Clooney, along with production featurettes. A slice of Hollywood innocence past, White Christmas remains a musical classic beloved by many. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)[Blu-ray Review—Nov. 4, 2014—Paramount, 120 min., not rated, $26.99—Making its latest appearance on Blu-ray, 1954's White Christmas sports a great transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary by costar Rosemary Clooney, a sing-along option, five “Classic Holiday Moments” TV appearances (22 min.), the 1954 UNICEF documentary “Assignment Children” featuring Danny Kaye (19 min.), the behind-the-scenes featurettes “A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney” (17 min.), “Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner” (14 min.), “Rosemary's Old Kentucky Home” (14 min.), “Danny Kaye: Joy to the World” (13 min.), “Backstage Stories” (12 min.), “Irving Berlin's White Christmas” (8 min.), and “From Page to Screen” (5 min.), photo galleries (with rehearsal, behind-the-scenes, and publicity shots), trailers, a bonus DVD copy of the film, and a 12-song audio CD. Bottom line: if you don't already own the earlier Blu-ray release, this “Diamond Anniversary Edition” is definitely worth adding.]