Holiday Inn (1942)

100% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(10,919 ratings)

Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star in Holiday Inn as a popular nightclub song-and-dance team. When his heart is broken by his girlfriend, Crosby decides to retire from the hustle-bustle of big city showbiz. He purchases a rustic New England farm and converts it to an inn, which he opens to the public… More Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire star in Holiday Inn as a popular nightclub song-and-dance team. When his heart is broken by his girlfriend, Crosby decides to retire from the hustle-bustle of big city showbiz. He purchases a rustic New England farm and converts it to an inn, which he opens to the public (floor show and all) only on holidays. This barely logical plot device allows ample space for a steady flow of Irving Berlin holiday songs (including an incredible blackface number in honor of Lincoln's Birthday). Oddly enough, the most memorable song in the bunch, the Oscar-winning White Christmas, is not offered as a production number but as a simple ballad sung by Crosby to an audience of one: leading lady Marjorie Reynolds. Fred Astaire's best moment is his Fourth of July firecracker dance. Ah, but what about the plot? Well, it seems that Astaire wants to make a film about Crosby's inn, starring their mutual discovery Reynolds. Bing briefly loses Reynolds to Astaire, but wins her back during the filming of a musical number on a Hollywood soundstage (eleven years earlier, Bing enjoyed a final clinch with Marion Davies under surprisingly similar conditions in Going Hollywood). As with most of Irving Berlin's "portfolio" musicals of the 1940s, the song highlights of Holiday Inn are too numerous to mention. This delightful film is far superior to its unofficial 1954 remake, White Christmas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Mark Sandrich
Written By: Claude Binyon, Elmer Rice
Genres: Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1942 Wide
On DVD: Nov 2, 1999
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
Crosby's easy, casual banter is just the right foil for Astaire's precision acrobatics, his wry, offbeat humor.
Variety Staff, Variety
Loaded with a wealth of songs, it's meaty, not too kaleidoscopic and yet closely knit for a compact 100 minutes of tiptop filmusical entertainment.
Theodore Strauss, New York Times
Holiday Inn offers a reason for celebration not printed in red ink on the calendar.
Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media
Classic musical with some controversial material.
Fran Hortop, Film4
Not the best film for either of the film's stars, but Astaire proves that he can dance even without Ginger.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film's highlight is a bang-up July 4th 'Let's Say It with Firecrackers' that finds Astaire in fine form.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The Irving Berlin score, including 'Easter Parade' and 'Let's Say It with Firecrackers' (which gives Fred his best moment) makes up for the thin story.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Want more? Stir in the first singing of Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' and 'Happy Holidays.'
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
True to type, Crosby plays nice and Astaire shallow… The story writes itself, careful never to get in the way of big production numbers for every holiday on the calendar.
Christopher Varney, Film Threat
Call it old-fashioned or old Hollywood fluff, Holiday Inn is a sweet, pleasant slice of another time in pop entertainment.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Great songs and stars and a pretty good script, too
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
One of Astaire's low points, but with a sensational 4th of July dance number.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

If you love Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Irving Berlin, you need to see this movie. If not, you'll be annoyed with all the song and dance numbers going on. Only see this if you're a fan.
moon r

you know all the songs...it's all about a life you never knew...but they want you to BE THERE and you want to be there too...don't you? sing the songs and miss the place you never were at...one of the most in-your-face fantasies hollywood ever did, about that most sacred of… More
you know all the songs...it's all about a life you never knew...but they want you to BE THERE and you want to be there too...don't you? sing the songs and miss the place you never were at...one of the most in-your-face fantasies hollywood ever did, about that most sacred of holidays: all of them. enjoy
Sarah P

I enjoyed this a lot! It was charming and funny.
Erin C

This was pretty cute and very entertaining. I wish the DVD hadn't kept skipping, but what I saw was good!
Marion R

Shallow and bore. Come On people there are far better musicals out there!
Alice S

Delightful dancing and music, as I expected.

Read all 6 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Bing Crosby as Jim Hardy

            Fred Astaire as Ted Hanover

            Virginia Dale as Lila Dixon

            Marjorie Reynolds as Linda Mason

            Walter Abel as Danny Reid

            Louise Beavers as Mamie

            Marek Windheim as Francois

            Jacques Vanaire as Waiter

            Judith Gibson as Cigarette Girl

            Shelby Bacon as Vanderbilt

            Joan Arnold as Daphne

            Edward Arnold Jr. as Man

            Irving Bacon as Gus

            Leon Belasco as Flower Shop Owner

            James Bell as Dunbar

            Karin [Katharine] Booth as Hatcheck Girl

            June Ealey as Specialty dancer

            John Gallaudet as Parker

            Lynda Grey as Girl

            Oscar G. Hendrian as Doorman

            Robert E. Homans as Pop

            Bud Jamison as Santa Claus

            Kitty Kelly as Drunk

            Lora Lee Michel as Girl

            Reed Porter as Director

            David Tihmar as Specialty dancer

            Harry Barris as Orchestra leader

            Barbara Slater as Girl

            Laurie Douglas as Girl

            Louise LaPlanche as Girl

            Ronnie Rondell as Orchestra leader

            Bob Locke Lorraine as Dancer
See full cast