Have yourself a very noirish Christmas…
After recently hearing about this film, I was optimistic that I had found a gem for the holiday season, a film noir with a Christmas setting directed by one of the masters of dark cinema, Robert Siodmak. To say the least, it sounded intriguing. When the DVD arrived in the mail, I watched it that same night staying up later than I should, considering it was going to be rise and shine at 5AM the following morning.
With the title, “Christmas Holiday” and the two stars Gene Kelly and Deanna Durbin, on the surface this sounds like a festive holiday film along the lines of “White Christmas” or “Holiday Inn.” However, with Robert Siodmak directing you know you are not in for bright fluffy musical extravaganza. The film is more fascinating in spots than a first-class work overall. Sad to say the two leads offer rather flat performances, though Durbin has one shining moment. The script by Herman J. Mankiewicz is written with an uneven storyline. Deanna Durbin, best known for light musicals, is unconvincing in what was supposed to be her big dramatic breakthrough. A nervous Universal threw in two songs for her to sing, Frank Losser’s “Spring Will Be Late This Year” and the Irving Berlin classic, “Always” just to cover their bases.
The film is set on Christmas Eve and day, though you would not know it from the opening scene. It is graduation day for a group of new cadets at West Point. Now consider what was just said, Christmas Eve, December 24th at West Point in upstate New York. It should be cold; freezing, instead the weather and the clothes all are wearing make it seem more like June in Florida. You also have to question the validity of a cadet class graduating on Christmas Eve. I won’t even mention the oddity of there being a Christmas tree in the barracks…oops I just did. I thought this was all a bit sloppy and quickly put me off. More important is the rest of the opening sequence that introduces secondary character, Lt. Charles Mason (Dean Harens) to the story. After the ceremony, Mason receives a cruel “Dear John” letter from his fiancé and decides to catch a plane for San Francisco to try and convince her the breakup is a mistake. Inclement weather, forces his plane to land in New Orleans (an indirect route, to say the least, going from West Point, New York to San Francisco but this is 1944 and I have no idea what air travel was like in those days). Anyway, in New Orleans, the young officer meets Jackie Lamont (Durbin) a “hostess” at a sleazy nightclub run by Valerie de Morode (Gladys George). This is arranged by sleaze bucket newspaper reporter, Simon Fenimore (Richard Whorf). We find out Jackie Lamont is really Abigail Manette who has had a rough go of it. She unloads on Mason, and us in flashbacks, her tale of woe. She first meets Robert Manette (Gene Kelly) at a concert and is quickly charmed by the young handsome man. Quicker than you can say “Gotta dance!” they marry, however it soon becomes apparent there are hidden secrets; a domineering mother-in-law (Gale Sondergaard), and a husband with a gambling addiction who cannot pay off his debts and eventually murders his bookie. Despite mother covering up for her son’s crime, (she burns a pair of his blood-stained pants) Manette is caught, put on trial and sent to prison. Blamed by her mother-in-law for not helping Robert enough with his problems, Abigail’s dream marriage has turned into a nightmare of the darkest proportions. Back to the present, we soon learn Robert has escaped from prison and is seeking revenge.
Based loosely on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, the location was switched from Paris to New Orleans. The nightclub where Jackie/Abigail works, a bordello in the novel was turned into a nightclub in the film, though you can easily read between the lines and realize Durbin’s character is working there as a prostitute, and that newspaper reporter Fenimore has a sideline pimping for the Madam, club owner de Morode.
As a film, it is better in parts than as a whole. Director Robert Siodmak does the best possible with an uneven script and to his credit he does gives us one of his most visually startling sequences in the film. This occurs when Lt. Mason and Jackie go from the nightclub/whorehouse she works at directly to this cathedral size house of worship where midnight mass is in progress. Siodmak lingers on the ceremonial proceedings, the music, and the prayers before closing in on our couple in one of the crowded pews. Here we see Jackie breaking down and crying, overcome with the emotional pain and guilt life’s ugly events have bestowed on her. Definitely, Durbin’s one shining moment in the film.
Acting kudos go to Gale Sondergaard’s performance as the overprotective mother, Gladys George as the nightclub owner and Richard Whorf as the slimy newspaperman. If you find yourself overdosing on the saccharine coated festive fare, you may want to try this dark holiday treat and have yourself a very noirish Christmas.
Twenty Four Frames 
This turned up many years ago on AMC, if I remember right, and I recall being stunned by the discrepancy between title and content — though it is the title of Maugham’s original story. The concept of Gene Kelly as a sort of psycho kept me intrigued even if his performance doesn’t live up to anticipation. But I remember liking it better than posterity says I should have. The idea of a noir musical probably impressed me more than the actual execution, but I would like to see it again for old time’s sake.
LikeLike
Samuel,
Seeing Kelly as someone with a dark side intrigued me, as did the idea of Durbin, who admittedly, whose work I am not familiar with except for this film and Lady on a Train, another non-musical she made. I think they were working with a bit of a clunky script to the film’s overall detriment. It’s worth seeing but for me ultimately disappointing.
LikeLike
[…] at “Twenty Four Frames” where his most recent post is on the film Christmas Holiday: https://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2009/12/20/christmas-holiday-1944-robert-siodmak/ Troy Olson’s torrid pace continues with excellent extended capsule reviews of The […]
LikeLike
John: I got a good laugh over some of those astounding inaccuracies, particularly the graduation on Christmas Eve and the warm weather. Robert Soidmak is a talented director, and as you note his forte is the darker material. I think my favorite of his is THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, which featured Dorothy Maguire and Ethel Barrymore as an aging matriarch in an old dark house with a killer lurking.
Your description of that one effective scene in the pew is very vivid, and as you suggest, it has issues but it may be worth a visit, at least for Sondergaard’s performance.
LikeLike
Sam,
I like Siodmak’s work especially The Killers and Phantom Lady. I haven’t seen The Spiral Staircase in many, many years and admittedly do not remember too much about it. I recorded off TCM and it is there on the pile waiting to be plucked.
LikeLike
great site and some nice information
LikeLike
During the War there were accelerated graduations in many colleges, plus with some cadets missing semesters, graduating in December in not an inaccuracy. As far as the weather, it’s not uncommon to not have snow in December. I’ve lived outside the gates of West Point all my life. This year although we had early snow, recent rains have washed most of it away and the lakes are not frozen. Nobody sneezed at the lack of snow in Vermont, much farther north, in “White Christmas”.
LikeLike
Ultracat,
thanks for your thoughts and yes it does not have to snow to show winter but generally it is cold at that time of year. As for the graduation that is interesting information and I do not doubt they had graudating classes in December but in the movie it was December 31st, Christmas Eve and that I do doubt, I may be wrong but it seems unlikely. And then there is that Christmas tree in the barracks. No way would that happen.
LikeLike
“but in the movie it was December 31st, Christmas Eve”
Just to nitpick, Christmas Eve is December 24th. Do you mean New Year’s Eve? Or the 24th?
No biggee…just looking for clarification. Though I suppose I’d be better off watching the movie and then finding out…
LikeLike
Fred,
That was a bone head mistake on my part. It was Christmas Eve, December 24th. Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed it in the article.
LikeLike
John, having discovered your CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY review while reading Grand Old Movies’ current post made for an interesting and enjoyable compare-and-contrast. Both posts were enjoyable and interesting and well worth reading, but I must admit your quips and remarks about apparent bloopers cracked me up!
Again, great post, and Happy New Year to you and yours from your pals here at Team B.!
LikeLike
Thanks again Dorian. The film is worth watching and I know GOM liked it more than I did. I am a big fan of director Robert Siodmak so there are some interesting shots going on. The whole Chirstmas graduation thing just seemed bogus.
LikeLike
You actually don’t need to fret about Siodmak being “sloppy” regarding the depiction of locale in the opening scenes: as the telegram Lieutenant Mason receives indicates, he is graduating from Anti-Aircraft Artillery School at Camp Davis, North Carolina.
LikeLike
Jan, I guess i was the one who was being “sloppy!” I completely missed that. Appreciate you bringing it up and will have to take another look at the film especially with the holidays coming soon. Thanks!!!
LikeLike
No problem! It seemed worth pointing out. I’ll be re-watching the film again myself; I think it’s remarkable and deserves to be more well-known. Cheers!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Twenty Four Frames and commented:
A little Christmas Noir.
LikeLike
This movie seems to get a lot of attention around Christmas, naturally. Several blogs have lately written about it. I consider it just short of a little gem.
I seem to like it better than most. It may not be Siodmak’s best but has a lot to recommend it. I was quite impressed with Durbin in the role. I thought she handled it extremely well considering it was completely against type casting. Kelly was still a bit rough around the edges.
Though of course the Code watered down a few things, the audience – unless obtuse – knows exactly what is going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your thoughts, Margot. I am a big fan of many of Siodmak’s films (Criss Cross, The Spiral Staircase, The Killers, etc.) so maybe I was expecting more. It’s an enjoyable film. And you’re right the Code, as it has for many films of the period, watered things down, but you can read between the lines. Thanks!
LikeLike
My response to your review has to come under the heading of “To Each Their Own”. While not perfect, tis film is the go to Christmas movie for my wife and I and for me in particular, the perfect antidote for all the saccharine schmaltz, like It’s A Wonderful Life, not to mention the musical horrors like Holiday Hotel and White Christmas that pollute the festive season. For what it’s worth then, a few highlight for me: (1) Dean Harens, with his wonderful dear caught in the headlights expression as he learns that he isn”t in Kansas anymore; (2) Richard Whorf, as the fast talking self hating pimp (as you correctly identify his character); (3) Gladys George as the thinly veiled bordello madam; (4) the St. Lous Cathedral scene (we agree here). While it was indeed the high point for Durban, Haren’s manages to look both concerned for the young woman and frustrated that he has gotten himself into this mess at the same time; (5) Siodmak’s direction which moves things along very well. The film unfortunately has a sappy ending but that only marginally detracts from the many cinematic joys of the film for my wife and I.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of point points. As you point out Siodmak’s direction moves things along. And we agree on this being a perfect antidote to the many saccharine schmaltz that passes for holiday fare. Appreciate your thoughts!
LikeLike
Unfamiliar with this one, John. It sounds like there was so much potential that–though not wasted–came up a bit short, just enough for a misfire. Or a near one.
LikeLike
Pam, it’s definitely worth watching if you get the chance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just would like to add another great Siodmak noir “Cry of the City” and wish John a wonderful Christmas and New Year and so many more. Cheers,Jay
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cry of the City is an excellent film! Hope you and yours have a happy holiday season!
LikeLike
I liked this while still being aware that it fell short in some key areas.
But there are several good things too. It’s surprising that a source novel so riven with allusions to sadism, prostitution, incest and general deviance would even be a choice that Universal was willing to put their number one draw into no matter how much she wanted the part. Even with the whitewashing required by the code those things are still easily ascertained and Siodmak works well with those elements. Deanna isn’t as forceful as one of the queens of noir would have been but your expectation of who she usually was and the fact that Jackie/Abigail was a sweet young thing before her husband and circumstances drug her down does add an extra level to her casting. Her soft vulnerability works better than the harder edge that a Barbara Stanwyck or Audrey Totter would have given the role.
The church scene is a highlight but I also liked her performance of Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year. The fact that it’s presented in a worn down way, Deanna’s voice is beautiful but the audience barely notices her singing and she seems enervated and disinterested. Just as it would be in a low down joint like this.
Gladys George and Gale Sondergaard do wonders with their parts and you wish they were in the film more.
The weakness for me came from the men. Harens is vapid almost to the point of evaporation but he really is just a plot device so his blandness isn’t fatal. The sore thumb is Gene Kelly. He was a very talented man but a menacing sociopath wasn’t in his skill set. He had a facile slickster oiliness at times as well as a smug confidence that fit his roles in For Me and My Gal, An American in Paris and so forth but Manette needed to exude a violence just below the surface that Kelly just isn’t capable of delivering. The part just cries out for John Garfield, or Robert Ryan but Garfield would have been a better match for Deanna. If he had been cast it would have been a radically different, and better, film.
LikeLike