One thing that's always sure to give me a brief respite from the Christmas blues is to watch the movie White Christmas. Now that is an odd thing because I really detest Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, and to think of either one of them as a romantic lead is beyond ludicrous. And yet, I love that movie. I have loved it since I was a kid. I can remember singing the songs from it with my brother Thomas as we did the dishes. He must have liked it, too, because he would even sing Sisters with me.
As much as I dislike the male leads, I love Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. I think Rosemary Clooney is lovely in a fresh, natural way, and her voice has always been one of my favorites. When she sings Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me, she is stunning. But this year, I have been noticing Vera Ellen especially. What a spectacular dancer she was! She had such a tiny waist, and her legs went on forever. I just can't take my eyes off her in the production numbers. This was the first year I noticed George Chakiris as one of the dancers in Mandy because I have always been so busy watching Vera Ellen dance. And the clothes she wore! I just loved her outfits when I was a kid. She seemed like a Barbie doll without the gross, over-inflated boobs.
The music is just fantastic, but I love the story, too, and I always tear up when General Waverly walks into the darkened dining room, the lights come up, and he sees his troops assembled there. Then they all begin to softly sing We'll Follow the Old Man. What a finale! Unfortunately, no one in my family shares my passion for this movie so I generally watch it for a bit on my own while I am knitting. AMC has been showing it this year, but I generally have to click away during their ridiculously long commercial breaks. Hm-m-m. Wonder if it's too late to add it to my Christmas list?
2 comments:
i've long wondered how it was that we watch so much of this every year, since you always say you don't like either of the main guys in it. this makes some sense, though! and who doesn't love the part where they open the barn doors and you can see the snow? :)
You just like that part because it is the end of the movie. ;)
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