My Favorite Christmas Music/Dance/Movies – White Christmas
This week I present another of my favorite Christmas music/dance/movie
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, October 1954
Plot
Having left the Army following W.W.II, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, as the lodge owner, who, they learn, is having financial difficulties; his quaint country inn is failing. So, what’s the foursome to do but plan a yuletide miracle: a fun-filled musical extravaganza that’s sure to put Waverly and his business in the black!
The Story Behind “White Christmas”
The White Christmas first aired during the Kraft Music Hall radio show December 25, 1941. Then-host, Bing Crosby, crooned the carol which is special at the time. Pearl Harbor had been attacked just a few weeks before.
It turns out, the song has a sad back story too. It was written by Irving Berlin, a Russian-born immigrant who did not celebrate Christmas, as he was Jewish.
Berlin’s three-week-old son had died on Christmas day in 1928, so every year on December 25, he and his wife visited their baby’s grave.
He wrote “White Christmas” for a musical that eventually morphed into the movie Holiday Inn and ended up winning an Academy Award for the song. In 1954, it became the title track of another Bing Crosby Christmas musical, White Christmas.
Crosby’s rendition quickly became an American favorite. It was constantly requested by troops during Bing’s USO appearances overseas, which gave the singer some mixed feelings. He didn’t want to come that far to make them sad. For this reason, several times he tried to cut it out of the show, but these guys just hollered for it. Clearly, they identified with the wistful lyrics about holidays at home. Since then, “White Christmas” has been an all-time favorite.
Bing Crosby sings “White Christmas” in Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, 1942
Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye sing “White Christmas” in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, 1954
The King’s Academy, WPB, FL performed “White Christmas” in February 2018
.
.
.
The Showers of Blessings 
I hadn’t watched this movie in so long, but my daughter-in-law and I watched it Christmas Day while the kids were all resting. She had never seen it before and she really enjoyed it. Then we googled a bunch of stuff about it, so it was a lot of fun.
LikeLike
I like all these suggestions.
Here’s my favorite! Have a listen …. https://thethinkingwasp.wordpress.com/2020/12/23/kings-college-carols/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice and mind full to read. oto linkssendly otomightee otoclickad oto
LikeLiked by 3 people
How amazing, Miriam, my mom and I were listening to this song of Bing Crosby’s earlier today. Thanks for sharing. He had the most incredible voice.
LikeLiked by 3 people
What a perfect timing, Robbie. Yes, he has such a deep and soothing voice. I love many of his songs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the classic Christmas movies. This one, The Bishop’s Wife, The Bells of St Mary’s, and Christmas in Vermont are my favorites.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Priscilla! I have to check out the other ones. We tend to stick with the ones watched before.
LikeLike
Great post on a great holiday classic Miriam ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I need to pull this one out and rewatch. Thanks for reminding me, Miriam.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Even though I know the story by now, I just watch it for the music and dance. I always like the warm Christmas feeling at the end though. I’m glad you’ll watch it again, Jacqui!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this movie;) My daughters have acted out “Sister” for us.
LikeLiked by 3 people
How lovely, Denise. I love musical and watched most of them. This one is our regular for Christmas.
LikeLike
I’m a huge Bing Crosby fan and this is one of my favorites!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m a big fan also, Jacquie and love a lot of his songs! We watch this one every year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing, Miriam. Loved the videos… Your informative post taught me a lot and the White Christmas music brought back so many childhood memories. 🎄Merry Christmas! 💞xo
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you, Bette. The song made me think of all the Christmas cards I write and the memories I had with family and friends. I love the movie and its heartwarming story. ❤
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve seen the movie, Miriam, but I’m absolutely familiar with the song, as we all are. Crosby has such a wonderfully rich voice. And thanks for the bit of history. How sad for the Berlins. It adds an extra layer of poignancy to the song. Merry Christmas, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’ve known and sung the song for years before watching the movie, Diana. I only learned about the backstory as I prepared this post. I used to have a hymnal history book in Chinese and read the stories behind a lot of hymns and it gave more meaning to them as I sang.
My daughter and family went to snow yesterday. Looked so much fun. Merry Christmas to you, my friend. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a poingant song. I didn’t know the backstory of the Berlins’ losing their baby on Christmas Day.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I only learned it as I was making this post, Liz. What a sad memory on Christmas day. I also didn’t know this song was first included in the Holiday Inn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing the information we can find if we do a little digging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always curious about the facts behind a song or movie. Information is just a click away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such easy access to information sure makes life fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s too easy and I get sidetracked to keep clicking away!
LikeLike
Always a winner!
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re right, Peter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched White Christmas. It’s one of my favorites, Miriam.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I love the song, Jill, and we started to watch the movie some years ago and watch it almost every year now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have it set to record this Friday. It’s on the American Movie Channel. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you have cable? We’d pay $2.99 or $3.99 for each movie from Prime Time. We got a good antenna and stop the cable services and use Roku for some channels, but we don’t get many channels we had before. We used to record the Olympics or other programs to watch and fast forward to skip the commercials. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, we do have cable and it’s a rip-off! Derek can’t part with his sports channels. Of course, I can’t give up my Hallmark movies either. Oh yes, we record everything to avoid the commercials. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’re not fans of either, so we’re okay without the cable. It does add up. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miriam, although I obviously know the song I’ve never seen the film!! 😀 Your excellent review and history of the film intrigue me and I must see if it is showing anywhere this Christmas!
LikeLiked by 4 people
You must watch it, Annika! You’ll love it!
LikeLiked by 3 people
We have several Christmas movies to watch every year and this is one of them, Jill!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Annika, it’s a heartwarming movie for Christmas. You’ll like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
one of my favorites, too –
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes, Beth. I’ve heard the song long before I watched the movie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of my favorites. Watch it every year.
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s ours also and watch it every year, Marie.
LikeLiked by 3 people