Saturday, December 14, 2013

Going My Way/Holiday Inn



Outstanding transfers
This DVD release of GOING MY WAY and HOLIDAY INN is purely OUTSTANDING! As both of these films have been perennial favorites for sixty years, I need not comment on their merits. I will say that these are some of the best DVD transfers of older films I have ever seen. The pictures for both films (in black and white) are crisp and clear, black levels are solid and well defined, and there is no graininess to speak of. Age-related artifacts are virtually non existent. The soundtracks of both films are beginning to show their age, but still sound beautiful and clear. Other than theatrical trailers for both films, there are no other extras, but we get two great films in outstanding transfers for less than the price of one, so we have absolutely no right to gripe.
In my opinion, these two films aren't the obvious choices to pair together (Holiday Inn paired with White Christmas, and Going My Way put on the same disc as The Bells of St. Mary's would have been the most obvious...

A Bing Crosby Holiday Double Feature including White Xmas
Bing Crosby's Oscar performance in "Going My Way" and singing the Oscar winning song "White Christmas in Holiday Inn" is only the beginning of two grand holiday treats. Remembering the war years and the theme of God and Country brings an assembly of American Patriotism to the screen. Hollywood War years role provides a generous dose with song and dance. For "Holiday Inn" (1942) a story based on an Inn only open during the 15 major holidays (1940's) with grand scale entertainment being the main attraction. Crosby and Astaire were the top stars and could guarantee almost any movie to be a success. Irving Berlin's grand song writing style proved he the needed ingredient for just about any holiday song. Proving the match of "White Christmas and Bing Crosby" to be the most popular holiday song teaming ever. Going My Way (1944) was Crosby's launch into the Dramatic Actor role with his crooner abilities and witticisms carry him all the way to an...

Holiday Inn
Bing Crosby in one of his better roles, sans any of the "Road" pictures he did with Bob Hope. Set in Connecticutt in the 1930's, Bing along with Fred Astaire sing, dance and romance their way through this Irving Berlin orchestrated film. Don't take anything in this movie too seriously, as this is a light hearted romp through the holidays. Although a tad dated now (there's a reference in one part showing Thanksgiving bouncing from the 3rd Thursday of the month of November, to the last Thursday and back, and photos of old bi-wing airplanes), this movie does touch on some really nice moments that today in our hurried state of mind, we seem to forget. The best song of course is "White Christmas" which was release originally in this film. Bing gets the lady in the end (altough Fred Astaire does also), and the supporting cast had a flair for comedy and timing long before today's artists were even thought of. This film does make you wish for the simpler days of...

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