Christmas Holiday (1944)
Genre: Filmnoir
Duration: 93 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Robert Siodmak
Stars: Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly and Richard Whorf
IMDb score:
6,4 (1.859)
Releasedate: 31 July 1944
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
Christmas Holiday plot
"Durbin... In her most dramatic glory."
Jackie marries the Southern aristocrat Robert. Unfortunately, it turns out that Robert has not forgotten his family's violent pranks and he pulls Jackie into a life of misery. When Robert commits a murder, Jackie is instructed by her mother-in-law to shut up.
Actors and actresses
Jackie Lamont / Abigail Martin
Robert Manette
Simon Fenimore
Charles Mason
Valerie de Merode
Mrs. Manette
Gerald Tyler
Reviews & comments
ToNe
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- 2865 messages
- 2336 votes
An inconsistent film by noir master Robert Siodmak. Scripted by Herman 'Citizen Kane' Mankiewicz nb the film muddles along too long in melancholy, which reinforces the 'Christmas framework'. Because Christmas Holiday is a frame story, which actually pays too little attention to the causes of the 'Christmas blues' of Deanne Durbin, who as a nightclub singer may also provide other services.
In this frame story we see the real story of an innocent young lady, who falls in love with a man, but gets his domineering mother on top of it. The mother, a strong role by Gale Sondergaard, gets too little playing time to show her devilish traits. We don't even know what's wrong with her husband (gambling addict, violent, Oedipus complex?) Then it comes down to the final chord, which seems to come out of the blue, but does correspond to the melancholic tone of the film.
A funny note: Gene Kelly, who became famous through his musicals, asks Durbin to dance. They walk down the stairs, towards the dance floor. When they want to start dancing, the song is over. Gene Kelly doesn't get around to dancing.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2301 messages
- 2092 votes
Judging from the title and the casting of Gene Kelly, you would think that this is a jolly Christmas film, but nothing could be further from the truth. The film is somewhere between melodrama and noir. Buckets of rain, shadowy photography and a story largely told in flashbacks support the noir theme. However, the film only gains its tension at the end and during the film you dare to wonder what the big deal is in this film. I have nothing to complain about the acting performances. Interesting to see Kelly at work in a drama.
This film is recommended for lovers of atmospheric oldies with a dark edge.
Translated from Dutch · View original
clubsport
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- 3890 messages
- 6992 votes
Charles has just gone on leave and can't wait to marry his love Mona, but just before he leaves for leave he receives a telegram from her that she has already married someone else.
He decides to look for her anyway, but gets stranded halfway due to a storm.
Here the story takes an unexpected turn when he meets Abigail in a night club whose husband is in prison for murder.
Initially thinking that Charles is the main character, Abigail now more or less takes over the story and tells Charles about her past with her husband.
In this way we are somewhat misled, but that is not disturbing at all, we get to see her story through flashbacks.
Because of all this, Charles' story is actually completely pushed into the background and that is a bit of a shame, I had also seen this drama end more or less as a drama but a new plot twist gives the film a somewhat violent ending, I wondered if that was a good choice as an ending.
Despite this, the film remains strong with good acting, especially from Deanna Durbin.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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