• It’s a gorgeous film—the first “Vistavision” film with opulent trademark Crane tracking shots by Curtiz, Costumes from Edith Head and a talented cast
  • Love the opening crane shot in the War—ends with another one of the show at the end with the camera slowing moving in and out with the tree, costumes, and background opening up with snow. It’s an effective shot and certainly one we see again and again through Curtiz’s career
  • Crosby, Clooney, Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye are all supremely gifted performers who do good work here even if nothing is particularly revelatory and much of the film is more than a little soppy—and the rest is no better than a light -hearted romp
  • Charming film- biggest hit of 1954
  • If you are going to be overly mawkish—Dean Jagger is a pretty good actor to withstand those scenes- he doesn’t revel in it- he’s a good actor
  • Mary Wickes is very good in support as the caretaker Emma
  • Another crane shot to start the minstrel show number
  • One of three films to feature Bing Crosby singing the title song— other two are holiday inn (1942) and blue skies in 1946
  • Recommend but not in the top 10 of 1954