No I’m not wishing for snow – anyone who knows that would be shocked if I were! Although….a little bit of snow on Christmas Eve is always lovely. In any case, I’m talking here about White Christmas, the movie. Last night, my daughter and I went to see a stage production of White Christmas at our local community theatre. I have always loved White Christmas – it’s a 1950s classic with big song and dance numbers. When my daughter was little, I could never get her to sit down and watch it with me but the play has turned her into a fan as well.
How about some White Christmas trivia?
White Christmas was intended to be a sort of remake of the 1942 movie, Holiday Inn. The plan was to have the same stars, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, in this movie as well but Fred Astaire wasn’t interested. The inn used for White Christmas was the same as the one for Holiday Inn.
1) In what year was the movie White Christmas released?
2) Once Fred Astaire turned down the role, who was originally supposed to play the part of Phil Davis?
3) This was the third film in which Bing Crosby performed the song White Christmas. What were the other two?
The movie is noteworthy as being the first one produced in VistaVision. This was a new wide screen process reducing the graininess of the film. It was the most successful movie of the year, coming ahead of The Caine Mutiny.
4) In what year was the movie White Christmas released?
5) In what year does the majority of the movie take place?
6) In what place does the majority of the movie take place?
The song “Snow” was written well before the movie was being made but actually was called “Free” and had nothing to do with snow. It was reworked for the movie. In the song, “Gee I Wish I was Back in the Army”, it says “Jolson, Hope, and Benny all for free”. The original lyrics were “Crosby, Hope, and Jolson all for free” but had to be changed since Crosby was in the movie and this would have been considered “breaking the fourth wall”.
7) What song in the movie was nominated for an Oscar?
8) The song Sisters is sung by the Haynes sisters in the movie. Who actually sang this song in the movie? Who sang it on the soundtrack album?
The “Sisters” comedy act performed by Crosby and Kaye wasn’t part of the original script. They were joking around on set and the director found it so funny that he had it written into the movie. The midnight snack scene where Bob talks about what foods he believes cause certain dreams was one that was nearly all improvisation. Many of Bob’s unique phrases were written in based on Crosby’s own speech patterns.
9) Who wrote the music for the movie White Christmas?
10) What war was going on at the very beginning of the movie and what rank did Bob and Phil each have in the army?
Answers tomorrow!
Update: Check out this post about White Christmas: http://www.designsponge.com/2011/12/living-in-white-christmas.html
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