White Christmas (1954)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Norman Krasna (written by) &
Norman Panama (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 October 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

First and unforgettable picture in VISTAVISION

Plot:

A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Plot Keywords:

Song And Dance | General | Vermont | Army | Sister Act

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 5	8:00 PM	AMC
Sat. Dec. 5	10:45 PM	AMC

Cast

Bing Crosby	...	Bob Wallace
Danny Kaye	...	Phil Davis
Rosemary Clooney	...	Betty Haynes
Vera-Ellen	...	Judy Haynes (as Vera Ellen)
Dean Jagger	...	Major General Thomas F. Waverly
Mary Wickes	...	Emma Allen
John Brascia	...	John
Anne Whitfield	...	Susan Waverly
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bea Allen	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joan Bayley	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Mae Bruce	...	Lady in Depot (uncredited)
Tony Butala	...	Child Dancer (uncredited)
Glen Cargyle	...	Jeep Driver (uncredited)
George Chakiris	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Barrie Chase	...	Doris Lenz (uncredited)
Les Clark	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lorraine Crawford	...	Rita (uncredited)
Robert Crosson	...	Albert (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Ex-Staff Officer (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse	...	Carousel Club's Maitre d' (uncredited)
Mike Donovan	...	2nd Conductor (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Gavin Gordon	...	General Harold G. Carlton (uncredited)
Johnny Grant	...	Ed Harrison (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
I. Stanford Jolley	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Richard Keene	...	Carousel Club's Stage Manager (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Vivian Mason	...	Rehearsal Blonde (uncredited)
Peggy McKim	...	Child Dancer (uncredited)
Leighton Noble	...	Bandleader (uncredited)
James Parnell	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Joe Ploski	...	Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Sig Ruman	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Richard Shannon	...	Joe, Adjutant Captain (uncredited)
Dick Stabile	...	Band Leader at the Carousel Club (uncredited)
Grady Sutton	...	Mr. Herring, General's Party Guest (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Novello, Nightclub Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Curtiz

Writing credits
Norman Krasna		(written by) &
Norman Panama		(written by) &
Melvin Frank		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Emmett Dolan	....	producer

Original Music by
Gus Levene		(uncredited)
Joseph J. Lilley		(uncredited)
Van Cleave		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Loyal Griggs

Film Editing by
Frank Bracht

Art Direction by
Roland Anderson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Grace Gregory

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Andy Burkus	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John R. Coonan	....	assistant director (as John Coonan)

Art Department
Dorothea Holt	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Cope	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Farciot Edouart	....	process photographer
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Alton	....	dances and musical numbers staged by
Joseph J. Lilley	....	musical director
Joseph J. Lilley	....	vocal arranger
Troy Sanders	....	music associate
Van Cleave	....	orchestrator
Bernard Mayers	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Gloria Wood	....	background singer: Vera-Ellen (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant
Bob Fosse	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Australia)

Runtime:

120 min | UK:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording) | Perspecta Stereo (optical prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Norway:7 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The photo that Vera-Ellen shows to Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye of her brother, Bennie, is actually a photo of Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The Columbia Inn Station Wagon that picks them up at the train station has a black and yellow California license plate when they are suppose to be in Vermont.

Quotes:

Bob Wallace: You ought to be horsewhipped. First you, then you, and then you again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Best Ever Christmas Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sisters

a good holiday movie

It seems every Christmas this is one movie I must watch, and never tire of it. The cast I thought was mismatched, Danny Kaye was a poor substitute for Donald O'Connor, yet he makes the character he plays so likeable that you can't help but be drawn to his character. Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby dressed as girls has to be seen to be believed. They make the " sisters " song take on a whole other meaning.

This is a picture that shows the magic of Christmas. The last scene with the general brings a tear to the eye. Once again this proves that musicals leave you with that special feeling.