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Holiday Inn | 
 enlarge | Director: Mark Sandrich
Actors: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: Video
List Price: $9.98
Buy Used: $2.47
You Save: $7.51 (75%)
Rating:  93 reviews
Sales Rank: 4011
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Hifi Sound, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6300181553
UPC: 096895503931
EAN: 9781558806450
ASIN: 6300181553
Theatrical Release Date: 1942
Release Date: March 1, 1992
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com essential video
This perennial, Christmas-season favorite from 1942 teamed Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as entertainers (and rival suitors of Marjorie Reynolds) running an inn that is only open on holidays. It's a great excuse for lots of singing and dancing, seamlessly wrapped in a catchy story, and Astaire's frequent director Mark Sandrich (Top Hat, Shall We Dance?) doesn't let us down. The Irving Berlin numbers (each one connected to a different holiday) are winners. Crosby's warm performance of "White Christmas" is a movie touchstone. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 88 more reviews...
 Spooky, Fooled Me Once, Green Leaves, etc. January 4, 2009
Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States)
I didn't knock off one star because of the blackface number... but mostly because of the sort of coldness of both Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire... I turned in late and couldn't figure out what the 15 days were supposed to be--the 15 days a year Jim is willing to work. We had a bit of a tiff about that, and one of us said that the fifteen days included one day on either side of the major holidays--one day to rehearse, one day to perform, another day to take down those lavish sets. So that really there were only 5 holidays worth worrying about... And that for 2 of them. Lincoln's birthday and Valentine's Day, only one day separated them, so that it would be a rehearsal day and a take-down day all at once. And that would throw the calculations off seriously. Neither could we figure out if New Years Eve and New Years Day were both holidays in the movie or not. You know that big calendar they keep showing--the one in which the turkey jumps back and both between the 20th and the 27th of November?
How many holidays are there in Holiday Inn? Christmas, New Years, Lincoln's Birthday, Valentines ("Be Careful, It's My Heart), Washington's Birthday ("I'd tell you you were ugly, but I cannot tell a lie"), Easter Parade, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas again, and New Years Eve. Somebody said that as the Fourth of July got two songs, "Let's Say it with Firecrackers" and "The Song of Freedom," maybe the latter was really for Memorial Day or some other holiday like Veterans Day. And what about the "Happy Holidays" song? Was that just for Christmas or did Bing and Marjorie Reynolds sing it anytime anybody came to the Inn?
I wish there was a true special edition in which the special features included the long lost deleted scenes like when they celebrate Halloween ("Spooky"), Arbor Day ("Green Leaves"), April Fools Day (a solo for Marjorie Reynolds perhaps, called "Fooled Me Once, Shame on You, Fooled Me Twice, Shame on Me.") And there could be some Jewish holidays in there too (or maybe that's what "Happy Holidays" is for). I do like Marjorie Reynolds: what's her story anyhow? People say she's "serviceable" but she's much more than that. She's instantly likeable and her acting is so sincere she puts the boys to shame, like they're just playing with her. And the one scene where she drives a certain party into the lake is both hilarious and chilling.
 Wonderful dancing and music January 3, 2009
JDB (Salinas, CA USA)
First, an important disclaimer. I am not a big fan of the classic Hollywood song and dance films of the 30s and 40s. While I respect the great talent of the performers of this era, this genre is simply not my taste. But because my wife enjoys great dancing, I will watch a film of this sort from time to time.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed "Holiday Inn" given my natural interests. I sometimes find the story line of these classic musicals to be a little on the thin side, but this plot, while still slight, held the musical numbers together well. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire portray two entertainers dueling for the same girl. Crosby woos with his voice and Astaire courts them with his dancing. I was pleasantly moved by Crosby's singing, especially of "White Christmas," and was astonished, even as a non-dancer, by Astaire's marvelous moves. The supporting actors and actresses are also classy and capable.
This film deserves its status as a classic and is a great choice for the Christmas season or for any time during the year.
One of the greatest movies ever! December 8, 2008
RICH (Louisiana)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must say that when i was younger (not too long ago since i am only in my 30's now), black & white movies were something i would never even consider watching. Then i met my wife. She got me started with movies like the Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. Then i caught this movie on TMC one night and the next day i had to go out and buy it. Not excatly an all out Christmas movie, but i feel the need to watch it every Christmas anyway. Did not get this one from Amazon, but still a great movie. Fred Astaire is an amazing performer and you need to open your mind to new things if you have never considered watching a movie like this. It is rare to find a perfomance like this and getting rarer by the day. There is no one to fill the shoes of Fred Astaire or even the more modern Gregory Hines these days. We are stuck with silicone implants and dubbed over tracks made for lipsyncing to...
Add this to your collection because 20 years from now your grandchildren will be watching Britney Spears videos thinking that was the best talent America had....
White Christmas November 22, 2008
Asil Inge (Hamden County, MA USA)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
What a fabulous movie! Take the night off, slip in the disc and enjoy family movie night. You'll watch over and over
 5 star August 26, 2008
D (Anchorage)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
The more I see Bing's Dumbo ears, the more I think Hollywood sold out. Bing sounds great but he looks bad. Would Rosemary Clooney really want to be with a old guy like Bing? Throw in the song, "Abraham",
and you have a true wonder. So you have the typical Black cook and her two" cute" kids
Watch this movie and then think about White Actors painting their face Black. Ask this question of yourself, did any Black actor's do, "White Face",?
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