"Holiday Inn" is a film which showcases Irving Berlin's holiday music and first introduced the song "White Christmas".
Synopsis
Songman Jim Hardy, having lost his fiancee Lila to his partner, dancer Ted Hanover, decides to retire from show business. However, running a farm leads him to a mental breakdown. When he recovers he decides to repurpose the farm as an inn. It will be open only on Holidays, and thus be called Holiday Inn. He writes the song "White Christmas" and hires Linda Mason to join him as a dancer and singer.
Meanwhile, Lila has jilted Ted as well. Ted arrives at the Inn for New Year's Eve, and instantly falls for Jim's new partner, Linda Mason. He wants her to be his new dance partner, but Jim is determined to keep her for himself. While honestly preferring Jim, Linda is angry to discover he has tried to block her chance at a bigger career with Ted.
She and Ted go to Hollywood to make a movie about the Holiday Inn. Rumors soon fly that the two are romantically involved.
Jim travels out to Hollywood himself to watch the end of the filming, where Linda Mason comes to the farmhouse and sings "White Christmas". Ted tries to keep Jim from seeing Linda, but Jim turns the tables and keeps Ted from getting onto the soundstage. During the scene he appears on set and wins Linda back for himself.
Cast
- Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy
- Fred Astaire as Ted Hanover
- Marjorie Reynolds as Linda Mason
- Virginia Dale as Lila Dixon
- Walter Abel as Danny Reed
Songs
- "I'll Capture Your Heart Singing"
- "White Christmas"
- "Lazy"
- "You're Easy to Dance With"
- "Happy Holidays"
- "(Come to) Holiday Inn"
- "Let's Start the New Year Right"
- "Abraham"
- "Be Careful, It's My Heart"
- "I Can't Tell a Lie"
- "Easter Parade"
- "Let's Say It With Firecrackers"
- "Song of Freedom"
- "I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For"
Trivia
- "White Christmas" won an Academy Award for Best Song
- Marth Mears singing voice was used for Marjorie Reynolds' character