Holiday Inn (Special Edition) | 
 enlarge | Director: Mark Sandrich
Actors: Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $14.99
You Save: $4.99 (25%)
New (37) Used (10) Collectible (2) from $12.85
Avg. Customer Rating:  93 reviews
Sales Rank: 542
Format: Black & White, Dolby, Full Screen, Original Recording Remastered, Special Edition, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 101
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: MCAD21484D
UPC: 025192148422
EAN: 0025192148422
ASIN: B000I0QL82
Theatrical Release Date: 1942
Release Date: October 10, 2006
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 10/10/2006
Amazon.com
In 1942, Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby teamed up at Der Bingle's Paramount Pictures for Holiday Inn, a black-and-white musical that proves more entertaining than Crosby's color semi-remake White Christmas in 1954. Astaire and Crosby play partner/rival song-and-dance men who compete for the hand of their performing partner, played by Virginia Dale. After Crosby loses, he moves to the Connecticut countryside where he creates a resort that is only open on holidays and puts on the shows with the help of Marjorie Reynolds. Dumped by Dale, Astaire makes a drunken arrival at the inn on New Year's Eve and dances with Reynolds. He decides she'll be his new partner, but doesn't remember what she looks like, setting off a frenzied search at every subsequent show while the once-bitten Crosby does his best to steer him off track. The theme gives Irving Berlin an excuse to craft or recycle a number of holiday-themed songs, such as (in the former category) "Washington's Birthday" or (in the latter) "Easter Parade." The most famous of the new material, of course, is "White Christmas," which became one of the bestselling songs of all time and the title song of Crosby's 1954 film. Astaire and Crosby also team up for "I'll Capture Her Heart," which playfully contrasts the stars' specialties, and Astaire's "It's So Easy to Dance with You" became one of the signature songs of his post-Ginger Rogers career. Astaire and Crosby teamed up again for Blue Skies in 1946. --David Horiuchi
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| Customer Reviews: Read 88 more reviews...
 Spooky, Fooled Me Once, Green Leaves, etc. January 4, 2009
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
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
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
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
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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