Holiday Inn (1942)

Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby
Irving Berlin songs

Certain snobs on certain movie sites will claim that Holiday Inn is the better version of White Christmas, because it is the original, and therefore... better.

It actually is better, in a way.  The story is tighter, and somewhat more daring.  The songs are consistently of a better quality (I never did like that 'Sisters' song, and they sing it, like, three times).  And although the why of Bing Crosby's career will forever be a mystery to me, he was slightly more bearable in the early 40's.

Unfortunately, neither Bing Crosby nor Fred Astaire can act (although Bing holds a slight upper hand here).  Should you ever watch a musical for a great dramatic performance?  If you think the answer to that is 'yes', then you should probably get your head examined.  Still... it's hard not to make comparisons to the great Donald O'Connor, and, yeah, Gene Kelly too, who both had great screen presences, and were fantastic dancers as well.  Not to mention, they could both really belt a tune.

That 'Abraham' blackface number was a little uncomfortable to watch.  I don't really get blackface.  I hear it's racist, and it feels racist.  That 'Abraham' number felt pretty racist.  I was glad when it was over.

Bing convinces his girlfriend to wear blackface so
that Fred won't make any moves on her

Asides from the very good musical numbers, Holiday Inn doesn't have too much to recommend it.  It's corn, but it's bad corn.  Did it make me feel good?  Sort of.

White Christmas is good corn, and has better talent.  I don't particularly like Astaire, nor Crosby, nor that blonde girl who played the lead role whose name I have forgotten.

At least it was entertaining.  I'll give it that much.  Lots of movies don't even manage that.