Review of Holiday Inn (1942) by Tom H — 19 Dec 2010

A musical from Irving Berlin that's a decent way to kill time, but not especially good. The premise of an inn open only on holidays is nice, but it's stretched too thin and the director doesn't take the material anywhere.

Also, it's dull, the performances are flat, and many significant holidays (St. Paddy's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Halloween, to name a few) are excluded. The plot is, well...

you know what to expect, all musical numbers, no storyline, and a 'it'll all work out' fate for our characters. To make up for that (substantially), Bing Crosby's crooning is on par, Fred Astaire's dancing is phenomenal, the songs are outstanding, and Irvin Berling's writing of the musical numbers is great.

The sets are meticulously designed, and the black-and-white camerawork is good. Probably worthy to show your elderly loved ones as you drink your [preferably alcoholic] eggnog and roast those chestnuts over an open fire.

Kids might be bored by it, and your other quirky relatives would be more in the mood for "A Christmas Story". However, some (as in Kanye West) will be offended by the racial stereotyping of blacks and a scene in where whites paint their faces black for their number.

But, that's just harmless, well-intended fun, I'm sure. If you're into old-fashioned musicals, enjoy. Otherwise... skedaddle the f--k out of the inn!