HOLIDAY INN

Holiday Inn
(aka Irving Berlin's Holidy Inn)
Paramount, 1942, B/W, 101 minutes, ***½
Released August, 1942

Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire sing and dance their way into your heart in the sensational musical comedy Holiday Inn. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, [this film] features 13 holiday songs by famed composer Irving Berlin, including "White Christmas" - one of the biggest-selling recordings in music history.

Crosby plays a song and dance man who leaves showbiz to run an inn that is open only on holidays. Astaire plays his former partner and rival in love. Follow the two talented pals as they find themselves competing for the affections of the same lovely lady (Marjorie Reynolds). 'Tis the season for one of the most enjoyable fims of all time!

The 1954 film White Christmas is a remake of this film, though the two have little in common.

Produced and Directed by: Mark Sandrich
Screen Play by: Claude Binyon
Adaptation by: Elmer Rice
Based on an Idea by Irving Berlin
Lyrics and Music by: Irving Berlin
Music Direction: Robert Emmett Dolan
Music Assistant: Arthur Franklin
Vocal Arrangements: Joseph Lilley
Specialty Accompaniments: Bob Crosby's Band
Dance Ensembles Staged by: Danny Dare
Art Direction: Hans Dreier, Roland Anderson
Gowns: Edith Head
Makeup Artist: Wally Westmore
Sound Recording by: Earl Hayman, John Cope
Director of Photography: David Abel
Edited by: Ellsworth Hoagland

Awards: Won Best Song Academy Award for 1942 ("White Christmas").
Academy Award nominations for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (Robert Emmett Dolan) and Best Writing, Original Story (Irving Berlin)

Cast: Bing Crosby [Jim Hardy], Fred Astaire [Ted Hanover], Marjorie Reynolds [Linda Mason], Virginia Dale [Lila Dixon], Walter Abel [Danny Reed], Louise Beavers [Mamie], Irving Bacon [Gus], Marek Windheim [Francois], James Bell [Dunbar], John Gallaudet [Parker], Shelby Bacon [Vanderbilt], Joan Arnold [Daphne], Additional Cast: Leon Belasco [Flower Shop Owner], Harry Barris [Bandleader], Judith Gibson [Cigarette Girl], Katharine Booth (aka Karin Booth) [Hatcheck Girl], Martha Mears [Linda Mason's singing voice]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra, portion sung by Chorus, behind titles); [0:04] I'll Capture Your Heart Singing (sung by Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Virginia Dale, with a little dancing); [0:10] Lazy (sung by Bing Crosby behind montage); [0:18] You're Easy to Dance With (sung by Fred Astaire and Chorus, danced by Astaire and Virginia Dale); [0:26] [Christmas] White Christmas (sung by Bing Crosby and Martha Mears dubbing for Marjorie Reynolds); [0:29] Happy Holiday / Holiday Inn (sung by Bing Crosby and Martha Mears dubbing for Marjorie Reynolds and Chorus); [0:32] [New Years Eve] Let's Start the New Year Right (sung by Bing Crosby); [0:45] [Lincoln's Birthday] Abraham (sung by Bing Crosby, Louise Beavers, Martha Mears dubbing for Marjorie Reynolds and Chorus); [0:52] [Valentine's Day] Be Careful, It's My Heart (sung by Bing Crosby, danced by Fred Astaire and Marjorie Reynolds); [0:58] [Washington's Birthday] I Can't Tell a Lie (sung by Fred Astaire, danced by mixed Chorus, all dressed in 18th Century fashions); [1:04] [Easter] Easter Parade (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:13] [Independence Day] Let's Say It With Firecrackers (sung by Chorus) / Song of Freedom (sung by Bing Crosby and Chorus); [1:18] Let's Say It With Firecrackers (instrumental dance solo by Fred Astaire while throwing firecrakers); [1:27] [Thanksgiving] Plenty to Be Thankful For (sung by Bing Crosby on phonograph); [1:36] White Christmas (sung by Martha Mears dubbing for Marjorie Reynolds and Chorus); [1:38] [New Years Eve] I'll Capture Your Heart Singing (with special lyric, sung and danced by Fred Astaire, Virginia Dale, Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds and Chorus)