A Zoomer Reacts to the Classic Movie “Holiday Inn”

December 10, 2024 by Nicole Vogler

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This week: Zoomer reviews the classic Holiday Inn Hotel.

Holly-Jolly Scale: 7/10 (except for one terrible scene)

Holiday Inn Hotel Intensive course

To refresh yourself, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn Hotel (1942) is about Jim (Bing Crosby) and Ted (Fred Astaire), who work together in show business and seem to slip in and out of love triangles with Lila (Virginia Dale) and Linda (Marjorie Reynolds). Jim opens a hotel in Connecticut, designed only to be open on holidays, where show business drama ensues.

This film gave birth to the hotel chain made famous by Pitbull’s “Hotel Room Service.” I had no idea. Why didn’t anyone tell me? This is also what made the song “White Christmas” popular before the White Christmas movie. That the film was shot 12 years later on the exact same set. Again, with Crosby.

“Merry Christmas, buddy” is the first line in this movie. There’s lots of snow, bells and general joy. Drama, show biz and love. A horse-drawn sleigh taxi. What more do you want?

Watching Fred Astaire smoke, light firecrackers and smoke at the same time was a real treat. I felt like a kid in a candy store.

Love lies… Is it snowing?

Holiday Inn Hotel it’s honestly the original Challengers (2024). The love triangle that turned into love square was so much fun.

“She ran away tonight with a Texan from Texas with Ted’s engagement ring on his finger. But what does it matter! » The way relationships are handled in this film is absolutely ridiculous.

“Be careful, it’s my heart” it’s cinema. Dramatic irony. The dance! THE tension!

Maybe I would be I was a good baby boomer. They seem obsessed with the breathtaking stories of performers performing love stories on the show.

The difficult scene to watch in Holiday Inn Hotel

We must not forget the difficult to watch scene for which this film has a bad reputation. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday performance (Where do we draw the line on what constitutes a “holiday?”) performed in blackface is the most excruciating and pointless five minutes I’ve ever had to watch.

Honestly, going from 43 minutes to 48 is the way to go. Other than the weird scene where Jim proposes to Linda while putting brown paint on her face, you’re not missing much.

The Granny, The Myth, The Legend

The best scene in this entire movie is when Jim listens to the unfortunately timed song “I’ve Got Plenty To Be Thankful For” while eating Thanksgiving alone…after Ted steals his girlfriend for the movie. second time. He looks at the turkey and says she’s doing better than him. Then, Mamie (Louise Beavers) comes in and clocks him, saying he’s the problem! Come on Grandma! Call him out for being pretentious and whiny!

My main obvious problem with this film is the racial unconsciousness, which isn’t even subtext; it’s a abovetext. Mamie’s character is subscribed to the criminal, which I’m sure is not an opinion unique to myself. She brings a warm sense of trust and security into Jim’s life, giving her virtually no screen time.

However, considering the year this film was released, I’m unfortunately not shocked by the way his role is written. Although she is the catalyst that causes Jim to pursue Linda, this is really the only time she contributes to the plot. I would have loved to see her relationship with Jim explored more.

To send you some fire advice from Granny: “You could melt his heart to butter if you only lit the fire. »

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