Holiday Inn (1942)
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A heartbroken performer attempts to build a holiday-only entertainment venue while navigating a complicated romantic rivalry.
The story
Jim Hardy, a popular New York City song and dance performer, is heartbroken when his partner Lila Dixon reveals she has fallen in love with their colleague, the charming Ted Hanover. After a failed attempt to retire to a farm, Jim returns to the city with a plan to open 'Holiday Inn,' an entertainment venue that operates only on holidays. He encounters Linda Mason, an aspiring performer, and the two begin a complicated dance of deception and romance as they navigate the competitive world of New York's nightlife and the unique atmosphere of Jim's new holiday destination.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Jim Hardy, Ted Hanover, and Lila Dixon are a popular New York song and dance act. On Christmas Eve, Jim discovers Lila has fallen in love with Ted; heartbroken, he bids them goodbye. After a failed stint on a farm, Jim returns to New York to open 'Holiday Inn,' a venue open only on holidays. He meets Linda Mason, an aspiring performer, and they engage in a series of deceptions to navigate Ted's social circle. On Christmas Day, Jim sings 'White Christmas' to Linda. On New Year's Eve, a drunken Ted stumbles into Linda at the Inn, and they perform a dance that the audience mistakes for a polished act. Throughout the year, Jim and Linda's romance blossoms amidst various holiday performances, including a minstrel show for Lincoln's Birthday and a fireworks dance for the Fourth of July. Tensions peak on Independence Day when Jim tries to keep Linda from auditioning for a film with Ted. After a series of mishaps, Linda joins Ted for a studio tryout, but Jim eventually confronts Ted in California on Christmas Eve. In a climactic scene on a movie set, Jim hides and joins Linda's performance of 'White Christmas' with his voice. The film ends with Jim and Linda singing a duet at the Inn on New Year's Eve, while Ted is reunited with Lila.
- First release year
- 1942
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Mark Sandrich
- Writers
- Claude Binyon · screenplay; Irving Berlin · story
- Cast and characters
- Bing Crosby · Jim Hardy; Fred Astaire · Ted Hanover; Marjorie Reynolds · Linda Mason; Virginia Dale · Lila Dixon; Walter Abel · Gus; Danny Reed · Danny
- Genres
- musical; comedy; drama; romance
- Themes
- Romance; Ambition; Artistic Rivalry
- Tone and mood
- Light-hearted; Affectionate; Musical
- Premise and plot tags
- Christmas; Musical; Romance; Holiday
- Source material / true-story basis
- Irving Berlin's idea
- Content notes
- Blackface
- Reception
- The film was a success in the US and the UK, becoming the highest-grossing film musical to that time. It was described as a 'completely satisfying musical' with 'sterling' performances and 'delightful entertainment.'
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Original Song · 1943 · Win; Academy Award · Best Score · 1943 · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Story · 1943 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The name of the Holiday Inn hotel chain was inspired by the film.; The song 'White Christmas' was conceived by Berlin on the set of the film Top Hat in 1935.; The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor occurred halfway through filming, leading to an expanded Fourth of July segment.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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