Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas 1961 reissue lobby card set image courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

Director Michael Curtiz and Paramount Pictures delivered White Christmas to movie theaters in 1954. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play the hotshot entertainers, with Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen as the singing Haynes Sisters.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Origins

White Christmas owes its origins to Irving Berlin (1888-1989), America’s legendary songwriter who composed over 1,500 popular tunes during his remarkable career. According to Irving Berlin: A Daughter’s Memoir by Mary Ellin Barrett, her father began sowing the seeds for the song “White Christmas” while working in Hollywood in December 1937. But it wasn’t until 1942 when “White Christmas” was officially introduced, with Bing Crosby doing the honors in the movie musical Holiday Inn.

With the United States now fully engaged in World War II, “White Christmas,” winner of the 1942 Academy Award for Best Song, became a huge hit, touching many on the American home front whose loved ones were now in service and far from home. In 1946, Bing Crosby once again rendered his version of “White Christmas” for Hollywood, this time in the Paramount Pictures musical Blue Skies.

Michael Curtiz Directs White Christmas

Robert Emmett Dolan produced White Christmas for Paramount Pictures. Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank wrote the screenplay and Michael Curtiz (Yankee Doodle Dandle, Casablanca, Mildred Pierce) directed. Joseph J. Lilley served as musical director, Loyal Griggs as cinematographer and Robert Alton as choreographer, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin.

Bing Crosby (Bob Wallace), Danny Kaye (Phil Davis), Rosemary Clooney (Betty Haynes) and Vera-Ellen (Judy Haynes) head the fine cast. Other players include Dean Jagger (General Waverly), Mary Wickes (Emma Allen), John Brascia (John), Anne Whitfield (Susan Waverly), Herb Vigran (Novello), Sig Ruman (Landlord), Johnny Grant (Ed Harrison), I. Stanford Jolley (Station Master), Barrie Chase (Doris Lenz), Percy Helton (Train Conductor) and George Chakiris (Dancer).

White Christmas Filmed in Hollywood

Filming for White Christmas was to have initially begun in January 1953. But when 40-year-old Dixie Lee Crosby, Bing’s wife, died on November 1, 1952, the production schedule was pushed back to mid-August 1953.

White Christmas was primarily shot on Stage 9 at Paramount Pictures. The train station scenes were filmed at Twentieth Century-Fox Studios in Century City.

Irving Berlin penned the musical’s entire soundtrack: “White Christmas,” “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing,” “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Mandy,” “Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army,” “Snow,” “Choreography,” “The Minstrel Show,” “Let Me Sing,” “What Can You Do with a General?,” “The Old Man,” “Abraham,” “Blue Skies,” “Heat Wave” and “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me.”

Trudy Stevens provided the singing voice for Vera-Ellen in practically all of her numbers.  

White Christmas in Vermont

White Christmas opens on Christmas Eve 1944 in war-torn Europe. Captain Bob Wallace and Private First Class Phil Davis are staging a show in a forward area. Putting in a surprise visit is Major General Thomas F. Waverly, who is being replaced as the division’s commander.

An enemy bombing raid hits the forward area, whereby Pvt. Davis saves Captain Wallace’s life. At the hospital, Davis informs Wallace that he has a song the latter might be interested in, and proposes that the two get together as a team.

Fast forward ten years, where ex-servicemen Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are now the hottest musical act in the country. As a favor to Benny Haynes, a.k.a. “The Dog-Faced Boy,” Bob and Phil check out a sisters act playing The Florida nightclub in the Sunshine State. The Haynes Sisters are headed to Vermont for the holidays, with the infatuated Bob and Phil deciding to forgo their trip back to New York and join the girls in Pine Tree instead.

The Haynes Sisters are booked at the Columbia Inn, which happens to be owned by the boys’ old division commander, General Waverly. Unseasonably warm weather, however, has put the damper on snow skiing and other winter activities and threatens to financially ruin the retired general.

As a favor to General Waverly, the boys bring the entire Wallace & Davis show to Vermont. Bob then goes on The Ed Harrison Show, asking that all former members of the 151st Army Division report to the Columbia Inn for a surprise reunion on Christmas Eve.

White Christmas Opens in New York City

White Christmas opened at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on October 14, 1954.

“Director Michael Curitz has made his picture look good. It is too bad that it doesn’t hit the eardrums and the funnybone with equal force,” reported Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (10/15/54).

“Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, along with VistaVision, keep the entertainment going in this fancifully stage production, clicking well,” observed Variety.

White Christmas Box Office, Academy Award Nomination, Trivia, DVD

• White Christmas grossed $12 million at the American box office, earning the #1 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1954.
• One Oscar nomination: Best Original Song “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.”
• Donald O’Connor was Paramount’s first choice for the role of Phil Davis. But when he had to withdraw because of an injury, Danny Kaye was brought in as his replacement.
• White Christmas was the first movie to be filmed in VistaVision, Paramount’s answer to Twentieth Century-Fox’s CinemaScope.
• Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer plays homely Benny Haynes in the photo Vera-Ellen produces at The Florida.
• Playing Around is the title of Wallace and Davis’ two-year hit on Broadway.
• The cost of Bob and Phil’s last-minute train tickets to Vermont which enable them to sit in the dining car all night: $97.24.
• The four deceased stars: Bing Crosby (1903-1977), Danny Kaye (1913-1987), Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002), Vera-Ellen (1921-1981).
• On DVD: White Christmas (Paramount, 2007).