Holiday Inn Reviews

1942

Rated:
70
from 1262 members

Two retiring showmen (Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire) start up a New England country inn with the unique and, one would think, self-defeating idea of being open only on national holidays. However, in this delightful fluff-fest, they achieve instantaneous success. Conflicts arise when they fall for the same woman (Marjorie .. Read more

Starring	Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Walter Abel
Director	Mark Sandrich
Genres	Music/Musical

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Critics' reviews (3) of Holiday Inn
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This classic musical paired Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire for the first time. The ingenious but wafer-thin plot has them as a song-and-dance team that splits up when Crosby goes off to run an inn that only opens on public holidays, but this is basically a vehicle for some wonderful Irving Berlin songs and magical Astaire dance routines. Most of the songs celebrate the aforementioned public holidays, but one in particular — Crosby's rendition of White Christmas — really caught the public imagination, making his version of the song one of the most successful recordings of all time. Crosby would team up with Danny Kaye for the similarly themed White Christmas more than a decade later.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Plain, simple-minded musical which provided a peg for pleasant performances and good numbers. It hit the box-office spot, especially as it introduced 'White Christmas'.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Despite opportunities for some fine dancing from Astaire at his most energetic, he's lumbered not only with Crosby,... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Holiday Inn
View all
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Holiday Inn (1942)

If you've lost your Christmas spirit rent this classic.

To rid the Scrooge in you for good then I can also recommend 'Its a Wondeful Life' and obviously 'White Christmas'
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 21 Nov 2005 14:39
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

great songs

Great rainy day movie for all the family
- - A customer from scotland
  - Posted 01 Apr 2005 13:48
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Good Comedy, wrong reasons

I wouldn't class this as a good smas scene, as the film is set around all the holidays. There are a few cozy xmas scenes, but all in all, it's just too bright and happy, and not dark enough for an xmas film. Let me just say, this geezer can dance... Forget Justin Timberlake, and remember Fred Astaire...
- - Anonymous from Worcestershire
  - Posted 09 Dec 2004 09:47
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Holiday Inn
View all
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

great songs

Great rainy day movie for all the family
- - A customer from scotland
  - Posted 01 Apr 2005 13:48
Good idea badly directed

Nowhere near as good as the remake "White Christmas" but still has a certain flair mainly ruined for me by the jingoistic pro war songs foisted on Bing plus the crass b/w minstrel slush.

As usual Astair's dancing is impecable and a marvel to watch.
- - johnpaint from North Yorkshire
  - Posted 11 Feb 2005 19:30

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Holiday Inn (1942)

If you've lost your Christmas spirit rent this classic.

To rid the Scrooge in you for good then I can also recommend 'Its a Wondeful Life' and obviously 'White Christmas'
- - A customer from London
  - Posted 21 Nov 2005 14:39
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

great songs

Great rainy day movie for all the family
- - A customer from scotland
  - Posted 01 Apr 2005 13:48
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Good Comedy, wrong reasons

I wouldn't class this as a good smas scene, as the film is set around all the holidays. There are a few cozy xmas scenes, but all in all, it's just too bright and happy, and not dark enough for an xmas film. Let me just say, this geezer can dance... Forget Justin Timberlake, and remember Fred Astaire...
- - Anonymous from Worcestershire
  - Posted 09 Dec 2004 09:47
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

[Highly rated reviewer]

Holiday Inn

If you like old black and white musicals this is for you. Wonderful music, dancing and a corny, predictable but oh so watchable story. Lovely Christmassy scenery - with White Christmas and Bing Crosby, guess you couldn't ask for much more than that. Really great viewing - especially on a cold winter's night - thoroughly recommended.
- - Junie from Didcot
  - Posted 19 Jan 2008 21:23
Great musical

One of my favourite movies ever, absolutely brilliant, I'm going to buy the DVD so I can keep watching it! Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby make a fantastic team, and the songs are great.
- - A customer from Scotland
  - Posted 28 Sep 2004 09:05
One of the all time classics, what more can be said about this amazing movie and the stars that worked so well of each other..
- - A customer from MANCHESTER
  - Posted 14 Jul 2004 11:46
Good idea badly directed

Nowhere near as good as the remake "White Christmas" but still has a certain flair mainly ruined for me by the jingoistic pro war songs foisted on Bing plus the crass b/w minstrel slush.

As usual Astair's dancing is impecable and a marvel to watch.
- - johnpaint from North Yorkshire
  - Posted 11 Feb 2005 19:30
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

Bing and Freddie are fantastic. The trio of entertainers split after Fred's character "steals" his partners girlfriend. Bing goes to start his Holiday Inn in the country and is quite happy and he has found a beautiful young talent to help out with the Public/Bank holidays. Bing wants to steal this girl away too but Bing tries to keep her away.

Funnie, great dancing and singing.

Enjoyed the film I am sure you will too.
- - PrincessImp from New Malden
  - Posted 04 Dec 2005 unknown
forget it

unless your a die hard bing crosby fan then avoid this one white christmas was good but this is just sits in its shadow yer white christmas is from the film but thats the only good thing about it
- - filmgoer
  - Posted 09 Dec 2007 17:30
Holiday Inn

Not the best film from either Astaire or Crosby but its not a turkey either. The usual silly corny plot that all hollywood musicals of the time had to have. But just enjoy Crosbys voice and of course the perfection of Astaires dancing.
- - Warlokk from England
  - Posted 28 Sep 2008 10:21

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Critics' reviews (3)
This classic musical paired Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire for the first time. The ingenious but wafer-thin plot has them as a song-and-dance team that splits up when Crosby goes off to run an inn that only opens on public holidays, but this is basically a vehicle for some wonderful Irving Berlin songs and magical Astaire dance routines. Most of the songs celebrate the aforementioned public holidays, but one in particular — Crosby's rendition of White Christmas — really caught the public imagination, making his version of the song one of the most successful recordings of all time. Crosby would team up with Danny Kaye for the similarly themed White Christmas more than a decade later.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Plain, simple-minded musical which provided a peg for pleasant performances and good numbers. It hit the box-office spot, especially as it introduced 'White Christmas'.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Despite opportunities for some fine dancing from Astaire at his most energetic, he's lumbered not only with Crosby,... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008

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- Holiday Inn
  
  Two retiring showmen (Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire) start up a New England country inn with the unique and, one would think, self-defeating idea of being open only on national holidays. However, in this delightful fluff-fest, they achieve instantaneous success. Conflicts arise when they fall for ...