Christmas Holiday (1944)

A young femme fatale-type woman realizes that the wealthy man she married is an incorrigible wastrel.

Director:

Robert Siodmak

Writers:

W. Somerset Maugham (novel), Herman J. Mankiewicz (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, Richard Whorf

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview:
Deanna Durbin	...	Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin
Gene Kelly	...	Robert Manette
Richard Whorf	...	Simon Fenimore
Dean Harens	...	Lt. Charles Mason
Gladys George	...	Valerie De Merode
Gale Sondergaard	...	Mrs. Manette
David Bruce	...	Gerald Tyler

Storyline

A young femme fatale-type woman realizes that the wealthy man she married is an incorrigible wastrel.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | reporter | airplane | flashback | church | 

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Taglines:

Durbin... In her most dramatic glory.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 June 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

W. Somerset Maugham's Christmas Holiday

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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.

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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".

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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

"Selections from 'Tristan und Isolde'"
(uncredited)
Music by Richard Wagner

User Reviews

Prepare to be Astonished!

The two stars are Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly so 1940's audiences seeing a title like "Christmas Holiday" may well have expected a musical. The surprise was a TKO, and people reeled under this somewhat cleansed version of the Maugham novel. A powerful drama, "Christmas Holiday" actually proves that Durbin could have been on the verge of a stellar adult career that would have included important dramatic roles. She is merely superb in this one as a 'dance hall singer-hostess' who is determined to suffer as much as her murderous, jailed, asocial husband, very well done here by Gene Kelly. Durbin sings two standards beautifully, but it is her ACTING here that boosts the attention. Robert Siodmak, one of our finest noir-ish directors, carries off this challenge with excellence. Dean Harens is an fine foil for Durbin in her quest for retribution. A Broadway actor, he sounds and acts in the Tom Drake-style, and that is a compliment. Gladys George, Gale Sondergaard, Richard Whorf work well under Siodmak. Perhaps the public wasn't ready for Durbin and Kelly as 'hostess' and 'psycopath', and that is a shame. Despite the whitewash of some of the novel's elements, this is a very very fine film, and Deanna Durbin, wherever you may be these days, you are to be sincerely commended. Thanks for this one!!