Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas. Calvin Coolidge.

Monday 10 December 2012

WEEK 4: LET'S WATCH!



This week's movie is an old Christmas classic.



White Christmas

Year: 1954





Director:  Michael Curtiz
Writers:  Norman Krasna 
Stars:  Bing CrosbyDanny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney 



a 1954 American musical film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bing CrosbyDanny KayeVera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney. Filmed in Technicolor,White Christmas features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the title song, "White Christmas". Distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film is notable for being the first to be produced and released in VistaVision, a wide-screen process developed by Paramount that entailed using twice the surface area of standard 35mm film. This large-area negative was used to yield finer-grained standard-sized 35 mm film prints.



Watch the movie and leave your mini-review in the commentary to score 3-5 points.
Do not plagiarize!!!

You can also watch the films for WEEK 1-3
(the only options that are still active),
 but your reviews will get 4 points maximum.

8 comments:

  1. I watched this movie , maybe a year ago, during the pre-New Year's day period, on one of these unknown for me digital television channel . There were only those films, that are thematically related with the future holidays. And I really liked this film! Because it was the time of such bright and positive kinds of movie-making ( 1950-1960 , I mean ), which gives to us - ordinary people a eternal energy of Good. The history of two young musicians who have become very popular vocal performers in the US postwar period, gathering huge halls with the audience , striking us deep in the hearts with their unique vocals and artistry. And then, the appearance of two young ladies - the same vocal duo and their desire and ability to create a quartet ("American ABBA" , lol) - give a start to this unforgettable story of friendship and love. Their main aim is to hold a concert in the Pine Tree Ski Lodge, especially for winter athletes. The director of this private area is a former military man, who was some time earlier a chief about these brave men heads ( a retired general ). And then everything started to happen! You should watch this film, because it's a vivid picture of strength in the film industry of the US. Moreover, Crosby's (Robert "Bob" Wallace) trademark bass-baritone voice made you cry and smile, smile and cry !
    In conclusion, I'd like to say, that if want to raise your mood level , having only some hours - just watch this film ( And in this case, we can compare this US film with the Soviet cult film, that has many similar features - "The Carnival Night", that also has an ability to "level-up" your
    spirits.

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  2. “White Christmas” is a wonderful movie! It tells the story of the army men who become big time entertainers after the war and they decide to help their General friend that has been having financial difficulties with his Inn. Throughout the movie you get great songs and dance numbers by everyone in the movie. The stars, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney are all wonderful. The songs are great, the entertainment is great, and the story is touching. The ending brings a tear of pride and joy. I think “White Christmas” is the ‘must see’ for those who enjoy holiday movies. It gets you in the holiday spirit. All in all, “White Christmas” is a movie that is fun to watch with the whole family. It is a movie that can bring the whole family together and makes everyone happy and ready for Christmas.

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  3. The first thing I've got to say is that 'White Christmas' has left a good impression on me. You see, I'm a fan of musical films, and this one was just what I needed. The plot is quite simple,the war is over and two U.S. Army buddies Crosby and Kaye (really talented) team up and do their best to become a successful song-and-dance act. They perform a lot, and one day they get acquainted with sisters Betty and Judy "Sisters" duet. They unite and perform at a ski base, the owner of which is their General friend. The film cast is notable. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney are really talented actors, who managed to create that Christmas spirit, what is more, a great number of songs, gentle humour make this film really amazing!I'd recommend you to watch it, if you haven't done it yet!

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  4. White Christmas is one of those movies you can just enjoy without having to think about why the characters act the way they do. The plot is very thin, and seems to be written just to hold the musical numbers together, but it makes for a very enjoyable movie indeed. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney give great performances and Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best song in the film.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.

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  5. This movie is a Classic and a Treasure to own. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye brings back the fun and laughter, along with the great music and singing, that a movie should always have. The arrangements of the sets as well as the songs just makes you want to be a part of the movie, and before you know it, you might be singing right along with them. I know that this movie is not exactly all about Christmas, but the ending sure makes you feel what Christmas should be all about when the cast ends singing with the title "White Christmas".

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  6. First of all I would like to say that White Christmas is a sweet and charming film!

    This much beloved Christmas film from 1954, is the second Bing Crosby film to portray him as part of a group of entertainers, set in a hotel, and in which he sings White Christmas. The story opens during WWII, as two soldiers are putting on a Christmas Eve show near enemy lines. Flash forward a few years and the two soldiers (Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye) are now successful Broadway entertainers. They fall for a nightclub sister-act (Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen) and the foursome spend Christmas in Vermont at an inn that just happens to be owned by their beloved old colonel (Dean Jagger) who's down on his luck.

    This wonderful musical is my favorite Christmas movie NOW; it's sentimental and sweet and has four hugely talented stars. The Irving Berlin songs are upbeat and lovely and, of course, the classic "White Christmas" tugs at your heart. Bing plays the sensible, hard-working guy who funnyman Danny is always trying to marry off. Rosemary is a sensitive singer and Vera-Ellen is a dazzling dancer. They have such a good time together that viewers can't help but be carried away by the pure joy of it all.

    What I really love about a lot of musicals is the music, because a lot of the music in a lot of those old musicals are really great! Irving Berlin was totally a master at songwriting, I have not heard one of his songs that I did not like! If you really want to see a totally great musical with a ton of great acting and singing, then this musical is one that you totally should watch! If you watch this, you will probably be thinking that this is one of the greatest musicals that you have ever seen in your life!

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  7. Thank you for offering this film. It's a very nice one. The actors are great, the music is wonderful and the costumes are especially brilliant! One interesting thing I mantioned is that Bing Crosby has something similar to our Sergey Bezrukov, hasn't he?

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  8. Christmas is coming and to create Christmas mood it is necessary to watch this film! I liked it greatly. It is a classical movie with nice songs, dances, actors. Yes, actors Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney impressed me and made the film to be one of the best I have ever seen in this theme. “White Christmas” is full of holyday spirit, it is one of the film every family may watch together. The story is quite simple but interesting. With the end of the war the friends made a team, which song and danced, to achieve success. All the factors from the songs to the actors and the story made the film really great and necessary to be watched. I recommend everyone to see it especially in the Christmas period!

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