White Christmas (1954)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Norman Krasna (written for the screen by) &
Norman Panama (written for the screen by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 October 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

First and unforgettable picture in VISTAVISION

Plot:

A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Plot Keywords:

General | Song And Dance | Vermont | Snow | Sister Act

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Bing Crosby	...	Bob Wallace
Danny Kaye	...	Phil Davis
Rosemary Clooney	...	Betty Haynes
Vera-Ellen	...	Judy Haynes (as Vera Ellen)
Dean Jagger	...	Major General Thomas F. Waverly
Mary Wickes	...	Emma Allen
John Brascia	...	John
Anne Whitfield	...	Susan Waverly
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bea Allen	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joan Bayley	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Mae Bruce	...	Lady in Depot (uncredited)
Tony Butala	...	Child Dancer (uncredited)
Glen Cargyle	...	Jeep Driver (uncredited)
George Chakiris	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Barrie Chase	...	Doris Lenz (uncredited)
Les Clark	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Lorraine Crawford	...	Rita (uncredited)
Robert Crosson	...	Albert (uncredited)
Marcel De la Brosse	...	Carousel Club's Maitre d' (uncredited)
Sayre Dearing	...	Ex-Staff Officer (uncredited)
Mike Donovan	...	2nd Conductor (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Gavin Gordon	...	General Harold G. Carlton (uncredited)
Johnny Grant	...	Ed Harrison (uncredited)
Percy Helton	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
I. Stanford Jolley	...	Station Master (uncredited)
Richard Keene	...	Carousel Club's Stage Manager (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Vivian Mason	...	Rehearsal Blonde (uncredited)
Peggy McKim	...	Child Dancer (uncredited)
Leighton Noble	...	Bandleader (uncredited)
James Parnell	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Joe Ploski	...	Ex-Soldier (uncredited)
Sig Ruman	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Richard Shannon	...	Joe, Adjutant Captain (uncredited)
Dick Stabile	...	Band Leader at the Carousel Club (uncredited)
Grady Sutton	...	Mr. Herring, General's Party Guest (uncredited)
Hal Taggart	...	Carousel Club Extra (uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Novello, Nightclub Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Curtiz

Writing credits
Norman Krasna		(written for the screen by) &
Norman Panama		(written for the screen by) &
Melvin Frank		(written for the screen by)

Produced by
Robert Emmett Dolan	....	producer

Original Music by
Gus Levene		(uncredited)
Joseph J. Lilley		(uncredited)
Van Cleave		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Loyal Griggs		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Bracht

Art Direction by
Roland Anderson
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Grace Gregory

Costume Design by
Edith Head

Makeup Department
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Andrew J. Durkus	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)
Curtis Mick	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John R. Coonan	....	assistant director (as John Coonan)
Bernard McEveety	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Dorothea Holt	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Cope	....	sound recordist
Hugo Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Lyle Figland	....	stage engineer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography
John P. Fulton	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Alton	....	stager: dances and musical numbers
Joseph J. Lilley	....	music director
Joseph J. Lilley	....	vocal arranger
Troy Sanders	....	music associate
Van Cleave	....	orchestral arranger
Michael Behan	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Bernard Mayers	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Gloria Wood	....	background singer: Vera-Ellen (uncredited)

Other crew
Richard Mueller	....	technicolor color consultant
Bob Fosse	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1954) (USA) (theatrical)
• AFEX (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Paramount Films (1954) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1954) (France) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1961) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (1985) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Park Circus (2008) (UK) (theatrical) (re-issue)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

"Irving Berlin's White Christmas" - Australia, USA (complete title)

Runtime:

120 min | UK:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording) | Perspecta Stereo (optical prints)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Australia:G | USA:Approved (PCA #16919) | West Germany:12 (f) (fr.nf) | Netherlands:AL (original rating) (1954) | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | Norway:7 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

An myth persists that all of Vera-Ellen's costumes, down to her robe and sleepwear, were designed to cover her neck, which had been damaged by anorexia. This is untrue. Seeing her in the premiere footage for A Star Is Born (1954), she is wearing a low cut gown and her neck is clearly visible.

Goofs:

Continuity: The firewood that Susan carries into the inn after the Haynes Sisters and Wallace & Davis arrive has one piece of wood sticking out at the bottom, but is gone seconds later.

Quotes:

[first lines]
General Harold G. Carlton:Stop the jeep, Sergeant. What's this all about, Captain?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Untamed Youth (#2.11)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Choreography

This Is Definitely My Favorite of the Classic Holiday Films!

I know, we've heard it all before, how the film, Holiday Inn is superior to this offering, but you'd never convince me of that! I adore this film, it's fun, innocent, lively, has wonderful tunes and a top-notch cast. My holiday viewing will never be complete until I've watched this film at least a half dozen times and probably more during the holiday season. It's one of those 'feel good films' and this Christmas fanatic highly recommends settling in with some good snacks and simply enjoying yourself and this true holiday classic. The DVD is a must-have, as it offers a wonderful commentary with the late-great Rosemary Clooney.