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White Christmas
Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. In time they befriend and become romantically involved with the beautiful Haynes sisters who comprise a sister act.
1954 · Directed by Michael Curtiz · 120 min · Comedy · Music · Romance · Screenplay in the scene database · 14 frames
Tagline
THE MOST FABULOUS MUSIC-AND-MIRTH SHOW IN MOTION PICTURE HISTORY!
Plot
In Europe in 1944, at the height of World War II, Broadway star Captain Bob Wallace and aspiring performer Private Phil Davis entertain the 151st Division with a Christmas Eve soldier's show. Major General Thomas F. Waverly, who has been reassigned, delivers an emotional farewell. Shortly after Waverly departs, enemy bombers attack. Phil is slightly wounded when he pulls Bob away from a collapsing wall. While recuperating in the camp infirmary, Phil suggests he and Bob form a double act; Bob dislikes the idea but feels obliged to try.
After the war, the two become famous as song-and-dance team Wallace & Davis. Success follows in nightclubs and radio, prompting Phil to pursue their producing musical shows for the Broadway stage. While the team performs in Florida, Bob receives a letter from an army buddy asking them to review his sisters' singing act at a nightclub there. The two watch the Haynes Sisters' act and meet elder sister Betty and younger sister Judy after the performance. Phil, wanting to marry off Bob, hopes he and Betty are mutually attracted. While Phil and Judy are dancing, Betty apologetically confesses to Bob that Judy actually wrote the letter. Bob humorously admires Judy's resourcefulness though Betty thinks he is being cynical.
Learning the sisters' landlord is falsely suing them for damages and has called the police, Phil gives them his and Bob's train tickets to New York City. The group flees to the train station. The girls get Phil and Bob's sleeping compartment while the guys sit up all night in the club car, much to Bob's chagrin.
Plot summary from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
Crew
- Written by: Norman Krasna, Melvin Frank, Norman Panama
- Cinematography: Loyal Griggs
- Edited by: Frank Bracht
- Music: Van Cleave, Gus Levene, Joseph J. Lilley
- Produced by: Robert Emmett Dolan
Cast
- Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace
- Danny Kaye as Phil Davis
- Rosemary Clooney as Betty Haynes
- Vera-Ellen as Judy Haynes
- Dean Jagger as General Waverly
- Mary Wickes as Emma Allen
- John Brascia as John
- Anne Whitfield as Susan Waverly
- Bea Allen as Dancer (uncredited)
- Frank Baker as Anniversary Party Guest (uncredited)
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English
- Studios: Paramount Pictures
- Box office: $1,109,388
- Themes: sibling relationship, show business, musical, sister, matchmaking, post world war ii, song and dance, floor show, ski lodge, christmas
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