Christmas Films--#7

For November and December, we’re looking at the most enduring Christmas films. Is there a pattern to Christmas films that last, that stand the test of time? And as writers, will knowing that pattern help us to write future Christmas classics?

Last week’s 1983 film, Trading Places, still works 43 years later. But what about an older film—in fact, the oldest of the films we’ll be looking at? It’s 1942’s Holiday Inn which came from an idea suggested by Irving Berlin, who wrote the songs and lyrics for the film. The screenplay was by Claude Binyon with an adaptation by Elmer Rice, and 78 years after it was made, it’s still fun to watch… with one startling exception. Take a look at a clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifkmvBNQhd8

Did you catch the exception? It’s the number shown briefly of everyone in blackface. It just jars you—and you can’t help wonder how people could have not seen how prejudicial that was! But it’s an accurate portrayal of the times—nightclub acts often featured performers doing blackface numbers. It’s an interesting bit of our history that’s worth exploring, for sure.

But that’s just a moment in the film. The film’s premise is very light-hearted. It’s about a trio, two men who perform with a woman and they’re both in love with her. When she leaves the trio one man decides to quit and open an inn that is—get this—only open on holidays. His theory being that this will reduce his workload dramatically—he’ll only have to work 14 days a year. So he opens this inn and the musical numbers revolve around each holiday. Another woman starts to work for him… and, well, it’s your classic romantic comedy. But it’s 78 years old.

So many films from the 30s and 40s feature a sort of declamatory style of dialogue that just isn’t natural, so Holiday Inn is a terrific exception to that rule. People speak in a conversational way that’s just as normal today as it was back then. This makes the film relatable to today’s audience.

The film also has the classic mistaken-identity plot that adds to its charm. Will the hero figure out that the girl he loves is also being pursued by his ex-partner? Will the ex-partner steal the girl from our hero? And, guess what, the ex- partner isn’t your typical villain, he’s a likable guy who just wants to succeed and who’s still getting over the woman who left the trio last year, so we don’t hate him, we relate to him. But who will win the girl in the end?

As I say, classic romantic comedy.

The film is also famous for introducing the most beloved Christmas song of all time—White Christmas—a film we’ll talk about next week!

Copyright © Diane Lake

15Nov20

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