MPAA Rating: Not Rated/ Genre: Holiday Musical/ Stars: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes, Johnny Grant, John Brascia, Anne Whitfield, Percy Helton, I. Stanford Jolley, Barrie Chase, George Chakiris, Sig Ruman, Grady Sutton, Herb Vigran, Leighton Noble, Dick Stabile/ Runtime: 120 minutes

I think it is safe to say that I do not think that there is that many subgenre that are more iconic than the group known quite simply as Christmas films. Indeed be they top flight movies that really show how crucial family is at this time of the year, comedies that will make you laugh till you’re blue, completely unorthodox yet still essential to the holiday season choices (Die Hard, Gremlins), cheesy Hallmark movies, or emotionally potent films involving angels helping men find the will to live again, there really is a slice of Holiday cinematic pie that everyone in your family can find to enjoy. With that being said, I think it is not wrong to say that the head honcho to be found at the peak of the Christmas musical area is one of those most iconic Christmas movies ever: White Christmas, a heartwarming saga of love, comprehension, friendship, and the true essence of the holidays. Indeed here is a slice of cinematic pie that although most people know it for its terrific soundtrack which includes not only the titular song of the same name, but also “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” and “Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army” among others, is also a film that is terrific in other respects as well to say nothing of top-notch viewing for the whole family. Indeed as helmed by the director of Casablanca and with several of the top performers of the 1950s along for the proverbial sleigh ride, White Christmas manages to be a terrific poster child for all the positives that Christmas films bring to audiences even whilst locating a much deeper meaning than most of those movies by utilizing the iconic holiday as a backdrop rather than a key ingredient to everything this slice of cinematic pie chooses to investigate during its runtime.

The plot is as follows: White Christmas starts its riveting story in war-plagued Europe in the long-ago time known as December of 1944 where we quickly see that the soldiers in a unit known as the American 151st are engaged in holiday shenanigans through the powers of song and dance even as war rears its ugly head nearby. We soon learn that the reason for all this holiday hoopla is because they have discovered that their respected c.o. is being switched out with someone else. To that end, we soon see the men, led by a Broadway man named Bob Wallace and a Private named Phil Davis, are able to give their c.o. one heck of a farewell before the war is able to arrive on their front door. From there, the film moves ahead in time to the end of World War 2 where we see that Davis and Wallace are now working together back home and have become quite the entertainment duo. Things soon take an interesting wrinkle when looking over a pair of sister singers as a sort of favor to a mutual friend they find themselves smitten with the pair and suffice it to say this sister act comprised of Betty and Judy Haynes manage to capture the attention of our dynamic duo in more ways than one to the point that Judy and Phil immediately are enraptured by each other, and it is obvious that Bob and Betty might have a thing for each other too. Of course, as movie convenience would have it, they all quickly learn that they are all headed to a recently-restored inn that is being owned and operated by none other than Bob and Phil’s old c.o. from their days in combat. Upon arrival however our dynamic duo is soon hit with an unexpected snag when they learn that the General’s business is in dire straits due to Vermont going through one of the warmest winter seasons they have had in quite a while. Suffice it to say then that as romance continues to blossom and the temperature refuses to cooperate, our dynamic duo will quickly hatch a plan to save their c.o.’s business and maybe just maybe do something worthwhile with the success that they have managed to obtain…..

Now I think that one of the key reasons that this movie is able to work on the level that it does is because this is not exactly a Christmas film. Oh sure there’s plenty of decorations, a giant Christmas tree, and a Christmas performance at the end and beginning, but otherwise you aren’t really told or shown in virtually every other bit of dialogue or frame that this iconic holiday is front and center. Rather, this is a slice of cinematic pie that deals with the timelessness of the proverbial “spirit of the season” instead of the actual day and all the trappings that come with it. Yes, as I said, the movie’s beginning and end are very much holiday oriented, but this movie is way more than you might think based off its title. Rather, this is a movie which is about finding out, through the cast of characters, that sometimes the finer things in the world around us are not the things that we on our own are able to construct, but rather it’s about the joys of working with others, finding love, or our own undying spirit that we all have deep within us that matters. Indeed this idea is one that is best exemplified by the character of Bob as we see him go from flat out wanting nothing to do with Phil Davis’ idea of working together since he feels he works best alone to finding success with Phil, slowly letting his heart come to love another rather than keep them at arm’s length when he meets Betty, and at long last comprehending just how important bringing his and Phil’s whole division back together would be in their attempts to ensure their old C.O. doesn’t lose his new livelihood.  Suffice it to say then that the thematic concepts this film provides the viewer with manage to rise above the song and dance numbers and even the holiday of Christmas on its own whilst managing to find the true value of having people in one’s life that you can not only trust, but look to when you need someone the most. Indeed the fact that our dynamic duo continues to try and support their highly respected and admired former commander in perhaps a moment where he needs it the most, and not even on the field of combat no less, is as moving as anything I have seen in a movie and the fact that this is all playing out around Christmas is more an ingenious narrative support to help strengthen the themes at play rather than being absolutely essential to the overall narrative.

Now when approaching this film entirely from the point of view of its technical merits, White Christmas I feel it should be said is just as terrific even when not taking into account its heartwarming thematic concepts. Indeed not only is the talent assembled to bring this story to life fantastic, but the song and dance numbers are spot-on in every way. Yes not all of the songs work as well as they should and there are a few that even feel like they snuck in the back door when no one was looking, but I find it not difficult in the slightest to glance over these mistakes especially when 98% of the finished film is as iconic as this one is. In addition, the performances in this are absolutely wonderful with just the right touches of both decent and heartwarming especially from Bing Crosby who brings genuineness and sly charm to the part of Bob that just proves to be entertaining throughout the whole movie. Be that as it may be, it is Dean Jagger’s performance as Bing and Danny’s c.o., one Major General Waverly that is perhaps the finest the film has to offer. Indeed he might not get top billing in this movie, but it really is not that often that I have witnessed a thespian shown such an outpouring of genuine and quite potent pathos as Jagger does Bob and Phil’s scheme to help save his hotel is realized at the conclusion of the movie. Suffice it to say then that if the end doesn’t make you downright emotional, then I hope Jagger’s performance in this will suffice. Above all though, every single character in this particular ensemble is actually likable and the performers manage to be equal parts happy and satisfied with the work that they are doing in this. It’s sad to say really, but the land of movie magic just really doesn’t have thespians in it quite like Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and Dean Jagger around anymore, though Tom Hanks and perhaps a few others do come to mind, and the time when Hollywood could make a film that was just in equal parts decent and sweet seems like it has come and gone tragically. Incidentally it is that lack of films of this ilk in the world of movie magic nowadays that has immensely aided films like this one to continue to increase in stature every time it is watched and with every Christmas season that comes and goes.  In that respect, this is a slice of cinematic pie that manages to hold on to its feel good vibe to the point that the complications that crop up for our characters prove to be nothing but pebbles in their shoes as they head toward the predictably happy conclusion. Yet I would just like to point out that this is par for the course when it comes to a genuinely good entry in the musical genre. Suffice it to say White Christmas then is a film that is about both the journey and the destination equally. Indeed even though we can easily guess how things will wrap up, I can also say that the honesty, decency, and genuineness of this particular viewing is what defines the film and others in a similar vein as the iconic films that they truly are.

All in all I think it can be said quite easily and beyond any and all doubt whatsoever that White Christmas may very well just be the finest Christmas film that in more than just a touch of irony is a film that is not exactly revolving around Christmas. Indeed even though the timeless holiday is nothing more than a mere setting for some of the movie, there is no denying that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in the film from beginning to end. Yes although this slice of cinematic pie is one that shows off its narrative structure quite a bit, this is also a film that deals more with a particular vibe, mood, and distinct message than any sort of genuine dramatics. A fact that becomes apparent when you realize that the drama in this film is both superficial to the hilt as well as functioning as nothing more than just a means to an end. Yet the prize for engaging with this slice of cinematic pie is one which can be found in just watching the film and appreciating not only the iconic roles and catchy tunes, but also in the thematic idea revolving around unity and both how crucial friendship and honesty is no matter what is going on in one’s life. To that end it should be noted that even though this film is enjoyable at any point in the year, it also has at the same time most assuredly earned the honor to be called one of the best of the best when it comes to Christmas movies. On a scale of 1-5 I give White Christmas “54” a solid 5 out of 5.