IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Christmas in July (1940)

Christmas in July (1940) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 3 | slideshow)

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   997 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Preston Sturges (written by)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Christmas in July on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 October 1940 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
If you can't sleep at night, it isn't the coffee - it's the bunk!
Plot:
An office clerk loves entering contests in the hopes of someday winning a fortune and marrying the girl he loves... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
How a film ought to be made. more (19 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Dick Powell ... Jimmy MacDonald
Ellen Drew ... Betty Casey
Raymond Walburn ... Dr. Maxford
Alexander Carr ... Mr. Shindel
William Demarest ... Mr. Bildocker
Ernest Truex ... Mr. J.B. Baxter
Franklin Pangborn ... Don Hartman (radio announcer)
Harry Hayden ... Mr. E.L. Waterbury (office manager)
Rod Cameron ... Dick (co-worker)
Adrian Morris ... Tom Darcy (co-worker) (as Michael Morris)
Harry Rosenthal ... Harry (co-worker)
Georgia Caine ... Mrs. Ellen MacDonald
Ferike Boros ... Mrs. Schwartz
Torben Meyer ... Mr. Schmidt
Julius Tannen ... Mr. Zimmerman
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
USA:67 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The set to this movie was open because Sturges loved visitors to observe what he was shooting. more
Quotes:
Jimmy MacDonald: It'll be kinda hard to face that... gang, tomorrow morning from behind a desk.
Mr. J.B. Baxter: It would be just as hard to face them from in here, if you didn't *belong* here - uneasy lies the head...
Betty Casey: He *does* belong in here, Mr. Baxter.
Mr. J.B. Baxter: Now what is the joke this time?
Betty Casey: He belongs in here because he thinks he belongs in here, because he thinks he...
Mr. J.B. Baxter: Oh, that's all very deep dish and high fallutin', but from a practical...
Betty Casey: It is practical, Mr. Baxter. It's the most practical idea you ever had. He belongs in here because he thinks he has ideas. He belongs in here until he proves himself or fails and... then... someone else belongs in here until he prove himself or fails and somebody else after that and somebody else after him and so on and so on for always. Oh... I don't know how to... put it into words like Jimmy could, but... all he wanted, all any of them want is a - is a chance to show - to find out what got while they're still young and burning like a short cut or a stepping stone. Oh, I know they're not gonna succeed, at least most of them won't, they'll all be like Mr. Waterbury soon enough, most of them, anyway. But they won't mind it. They'll find something else, and they'll be happy, because they had their chance. Because it's one thing to muff a chance once you've had it... it's another thing never to have had a chance. His name's already on the door.
Mr. J.B. Baxter: [looking to the door] Well, if anything decided me. That would be it.
Betty Casey: Mr. Baxter
[smiling joyously]
[...]
more
Movie Connections:

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
12 out of 16 people found the following review useful.
How a film ought to be made., 1 October 1999
10/10
Author: P-Sprout (p-sprout@pacbell.net) from Berkeley

I'm a film buff...I watch movies of all sorts all the time. But Christmas In July may well be my favorite film of all time. It is well-constructed, tightly executed, and just plain hilarious. I've never laughed harder at any film then I did during the seen where Dr. Maxford gives Jimmy the check.

As always Bill Demerest is great. The entire cast shines in this film. I'd advise anyone striving to become a writer/director of films to study this film. This is how it ought to be done.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (19 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Christmas in July (1940)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Robert Ryan??? Dolly_Lo
Shindel Bros. Truck ardmore-ok
seen one of the store owners before avanineglect
time to drool. antsinyourplants
DVD? jamesvculek
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
East Side Kids The Palm Beach Story Café Metropole Woman in Distress He Couldn't Say No
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.