More Than Just Snow

Irving Berlin's 1954 film, "White Christmas" starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and Vera Ellen has become my latest obsession over the holiday season. When I heard we were watching a musical about a white Christmas from the 1950s when I was in eighth grade, I was more than unenthused. To my surprise, the film was about more than just Christmas, it was actually a very smart, entertaining comedy and musical starring some knockout stars. The production scale for this film is massive, with huge dance numbers, catchy tunes, big name singers and lavish sets. For the 1950s, the film is beautiful, sharp and saturated with color.

Looking past the technical aspects of the film, this film will leave anyone who loves classic, broadway-esque song and dance acts smiling and singing along. Bing Crosby, one of the top crooners of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, brings his level-headedness to the film and sings one of the most well-known Christmas songs of all-time, also the film's title, "White Christmas". Rosemary Clooney, a stunningly beautiful singer, who was at the top of her game around the time of the film, brings stubbornness and morals to the film. The tunes she sings are some of the most well-known in the film, and her voice is also doubled when her and co-star Vera Ellen are in the same acts. Danny Kaye's comedic timing is spot on in this film, the jokes he cracks, voices he uses, and even his facial expressions and actions bring a wonderfully bright humor to the film. Vera Ellen, although her singing talents are very limited and not used in the film, brings the wild and energetic dance numbers to life.

The story of the film is much deeper than someone reading the title would think. The planned relationships, major miscommunications and emotionally charged scenes are complex yet simple at the same time. Yes, the film is called "White Christmas", and yes, the film does revolve around Christmas for a large portion, but the film reaches much further than that, and can be enjoyed anytime of the year, by almost anyone.