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Christmas Holiday (1944)A young femme fatale-type woman realizes that the wealthy man she married is an incorrigible wastrel. Director:Robert Siodmak |
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Title: Christmas Holiday (1944)
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Nominated for 1 Oscar.
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Cast
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| Deanna Durbin | ... |
Jackie Lamont /
Abigail Martin
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| Gene Kelly | ... |
Robert Manette
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Richard Whorf | ... |
Simon Fenimore
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Dean Harens | ... |
Lt. Charles Mason
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Gladys George | ... |
Valerie De Merode
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| Gale Sondergaard | ... |
Mrs. Manette
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David Bruce | ... |
Gerald Tyler
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Storyline
A young femme fatale-type woman realizes that the wealthy man she married is an incorrigible wastrel.
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Durbin... In her most dramatic glory. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
30 June 1944 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
W. Somerset Maugham's Christmas Holiday See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Corporal: [to the soldiers] You are now about to become Officers of the Army of the United States.
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by Irving Berlin
Performed by Deanna Durbin (uncredited)
Copyright MCMXXV by Irving Berlin, Inc. (uncredited)
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Did You Know?
Trivia
"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 17, 1945 with David Bruce reprising his film role. See more »Goofs
After Robert breaks out of jail, the newspaper spells his last name as "Mannette", however the spelling of the last name in the end credits is "Manette". See more »Quotes
[first lines]Corporal: [to the soldiers] You are now about to become Officers of the Army of the United States.
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Soundtracks
"Always"by Irving Berlin
Performed by Deanna Durbin (uncredited)
Copyright MCMXXV by Irving Berlin, Inc. (uncredited)
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Hmmm, I wonder of Tennessee Williams saw this in 1945 and wrote SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER as a riff on this astonishing incestuous masochistic noir. Universal's 1944 "Christmas Holiday"is a startling dark film that is quite explicit in its adult themes of prostitution, self punishment, sexual manipulation, incest and some quite twisted emotional ideas. It even has scenes similar to that same 1959 Taylor Montgomery Hepburn drama. Cleverly, Universal cast music stars Gene Kelly as the handsome spoiled son with the demon mother (Gale Sondergaard) and cherubic Deanna Durbin as the adoring slavish young woman that Mother encourages he marries to keep his amoral unethical character in check. The idea that Mother enthusiastically endorses their marriage so she can control both of them by their sexual desire for each other is a rank idea as slimy as seen in the pre code shocker THE SILVER CORD. I personally found the film riveting and I very much liked the casting against type. For me it gave the film excellent surprise value. Kelly made a terrific seductive rat. Durbin's slide into willing prostitution to 'be with him' in a decadent lifestyle (while he was away) is a great downbeat storyline. Everything about "Christmas Holiday" is deceptive, right from the happy title to the handsome horror of Kelly's character. I will not spoil the story for you other than to say the whole film is a terrific ride, and with a ripe explicit tone, you will be seduced yourself. Plenty of flashback like SORRY WRONG NUMBER and equally as creepy. What a surprise! Hilariously, in Australia it was our Nationwide TV treat at 8.30pm on Christmas night! Haven't our TV programmers got a sly sense of humor.