Christmas Movie Advent Calendar Day 5: Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn movie sceneFor No. 21 in our Top 25 Christmas movies list, we have a true classic: 1942’s Holiday Inn.

The Oscar-winning film (best original song for “White Christmas”) has quite a pedigree for a classic musical: It stars Fred Astaire (Easter Parade), Bing Crosby (White Christmas, Anything Goes) and Marjorie Reynolds (TV’s The Life of Riley) and was conceived by legendary film songwriter Irving Berlin (Annie Get Your Gun).

In the movie, an inn that’s open only on holidays is the setting for a love triangle. From Christmas Eve, through Valentine’s Day, Washington’s Birthday and other holidays to the next Christmas Eve at the Holiday Inn, Ted Hanover (Astaire) and Jim Hardy (Crosby), two parts of a musical act, vie for the affections of Linda Mason (Reynolds), who wants to be a performer. Virginia Dale (Dragnet) also stars as a second lady complicating the picture.

The film was the introduction for the perennial Christmas song “White Christmas” and, reportedly, the inspiration for the name of a line of hotels. You guessed it: Holidan Inn.

The Holiday Inn movie is available on DVD from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Check out the rest of the Disc Dish Christmas Movie Advent Calendar.

About S. Clark

Sam Clark is the former Managing Editor/Online Editor of Video Business magazine. With 19 years experience in journalism, 12 in the home entertainment industry, Sam has been hooked on movies on since she saw E.T. then stared into the sky waiting to meet her own friendly alien. Thanks to her husband’s shared love of movies, Sam reviews Blu-ray discs in a true home theater, with a 118-inch screen, projector and cushy recliners with cup holders.