'White Christmas' Commemorates Seventieth Anniversary: Fathom Events Honors Significant Holiday Movie Anniverary
The holiday film spectacle "White Christmas" from Irving Berlin is the epitome of the yuletide season. The backdrop is a picturesque winter lodge in a fictional locale named Pine Tree, Vermont. The ensemble is headed by crooner Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. The film's universal charm played a significant role in establishing Christmas as a celebration that resonated with every American. When I discovered that entertainment provider Fathom Events was re-showing the beloved 1954 production on the big screen to honor its 70th anniversary, it was time for a trip to the cinemas for two hours of nostalgic bliss and entertainment.
Bearing similarity to other timeless masterpieces that I've experienced recently courtesy of Fathom Events (such as "Gone With the Wind," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "West Side Story" and Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" and "The Birds"), the experience of immersing myself in a theater filled with fellow enthusiasts appreciating this cinematic gem from the past was genuinely enriching. As always, I applaud Fathom Events for paying homage to these movies from yesteryears, as the past in any art form is too often overlooked. I shall remain an ardent attendee, not only for my own pleasure but also in support of Fathom.
In "White Christmas," war veteran and singer Captain Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Private Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) entertained the 151st division with a Christmas Eve soldier's show. In a particular winter, they teamed up with a musical group comprising Rosemary Clooney as Betty Haynes and Vera-Ellen as Judy Haynes, ultimately setting off to Vermont in pursuit of that quintessential white Christmas. Romantic feelings began to flourish between Bob and Betty, albeit with minor complications along the way. On Christmas Eve, however, they reconciled, and Judy and Phil acknowledged their feelings for each other as well. As they all sang "White Christmas," blissfully ignorant, a heavy snowfall finally blanketed Vermont.
To celebrate seven decades, here are ten captivating tidbits about "White Christmas":
1) Comprising a budget of $2 million, "White Christmas" became the highest-grossing film of 1954 in the United States, amassing an estimated $12 million by the end of its theatrical run. This equates to approximately $137 million in today's currency.
2) Notwithstanding their convincing chemistry, Bing Crosby as Bob and Rosemary Clooney as Ellen had an age gap of 25 years, with Crosby being 51 and Clooney only 26.
3) Vera-Ellen, portraying the younger Haynes sister in the film, was actually older than Rosemary Clooney. Meanwhile, Dean Jagger, who played retired Major General Thomas F. Waverly, was six months younger than Crosby.
Four years prior to "White Christmas," Jagger had won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for the war film "Twelve O'Clock High."
4) Fred Astaire had initially been slated for the part of Phil Davis, which would have reunited him with his "Holiday Inn" co-star, Bing Crosby. However, Astaire had retired by the time "White Christmas" was filmed, and he declined the role. Danny Kaye ultimately stepped in to fill the void.
5) Bing Crosby had sung Irving Berlin's song "White Christmas" on screen 13 years before "White Christmas" came out, on the radio show "The Kraft Music Hall." He also first sang the song on screen in Berlin's "Holiday Inn" in 1942.
6) The inn depicted in "White Christmas," the Columbia Inn, was the same one featured in "Holiday Inn," and the set was refurbished for "White Christmas."
7) One of the performers in "White Christmas" was George Chakiris, who appeared uncredited in a close-up with Rosemary Clooney while she sang "Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me." Later, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Bernardo in the 1961 film "West Side Story."
8) When Vera-Ellen as Judy Haynes sang, it was actually Trudy Stevens' voice that resonated. The only time Vera-Ellen's real singing voice was heard was during the train scene, when the quartet sang the opening lines of "Snow."
9) The humorous musical number "Sisters," in which Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye imitated Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, was not originally included in the "White Christmas" script. The actors were simply fooling around on set, and director Michael Curtiz found their antics amusing enough to capture on film.
10) Was that Alfalfa from "Our Gang" we saw? In "White Christmas," Vera-Ellen's Judy shows Bob and Phil a picture of her brother, Bennie. The actor used in the picture was Carl Switzer, who had also played Alfalfa in the "Our Gang" film shorts.
People who love the timeless hit, "White Christmas", can catch it on the silver screen today and tomorrow. Coming up next in the vintage collection at Fathom Events is the 40th anniversary celebration of "The Goonies", the captivating story of a band of quirky outcasts named The Goonies, created by Steven Spielberg, Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon) and Chris Columbus (Harry Potter). These misfit kids stumble upon an old map and embark on a thrilling quest to uncover a legendary pirate's long-lost fortune. Catch this cinematic journey in theatres on January 19 and 20, 2025.
- The musical number "Sisters," where Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye imitate Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, was inspired by their playful antics on set.
- referencing the film, the line could be: "Just like in 'White Christmas,' Vera-Ellen's character, Judy, had a picture of her brother, who was portrayed by Alfalfa from the 'Our Gang' series."
- In the spirit of nostalgia, Fathom Events is also showcasing "The Goonies," a 1985 film directed by Richard Donner, starring Sean Astin and Josh Brolin, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on January 19 and 20, 2025.
- During "White Christmas," Vera-Ellen's renditions were often sung by Trudy Stevens; however, Vera-Ellen's actual voice can be heard during the train scene, where the quartet sings the opening lines of "Snow."
