Holiday Inn

"I like it here... with you and Linda."

"And we love having you. When  are you leaving?"

Jim Hardy (Crosby), Ted Hanover (Astaire), and Lila Dixon (Dale) have a popular singing and dancing act.  Jim is tired of acting and plans to retire to a farm in Connecticut with Lila.  His plans are derailed with Lila announces that she is in love with Ted and does not want to quit.  Jim is disappointed, but continues his plans.  Life on the farm is not what he expects, so a year later he returns to New York with a new plan: he is going to turn his home into a performing inn that is only open for holidays.  Ted thinks he is crazy, but their manager Danny Reed (Abel) agrees to send some talented people Jim's way.

Danny discovers Linda Mason (Reynolds) at a floral shop and encourages her to go to Connecticut, where she becomes the first member of Jim's holiday team.  Meanwhile, back in New York, Ted is broken and depressed after Lila dumps him and leaves the group.  He goes to Connecticut to visit Jim and falls in love with Linda.  Jim also loves Linda and doesn't want to lose her to the allure of fame and fortune with Ted.


The Good:
The cast is great.  Bing Crosby has a beautiful voice and sells all of the songs.  Fred Astaire is an excellent dancer and this film features his iconic dance with firecrackers to "Let's Say It with Firecrackers."  Marjorie Reynolds manages to keep up with her male costars and sell her role in the film, although her songs are performed by Martha Mears.

The Bad:
The film is good, but it hasn't aged well.  There are some scenes that are cut when the film appears on TV.  Many of the songs are not memorable, and the good songs appear in other films / musicals.

Other Comments:
-The Inn set from this film was used again in White Christmas.
-The film won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Irving Berlin for "White Christmas."
-Berlin wrote all of the songs for the film, the majority of which are performed by Crosby.
-Marjorie Reynolds costumes were designed by legendary costume designer Edith Head.
-I enjoy the film, but it isn't for everyone.

Holiday Inn (1942) 100 minutes
Director: Mark Sandrich
Starring: Big Crosby as Jim Hardy
Fred Astaire as Ted Hanover
Marjorie Reynolds as Linda Mason
Virginia Dale as Lila Dixon
Walter Abel as Danny Reed
Louise Beavers as Mamie
Irving Bacon as Gus