7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Two talented song-and-dance men team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. One winter, they join forces with a sister act and trek to Vermont for a white Christmas. Shot in VistaVision.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Dean Jagger (I), Vera-EllenRomance | 100% |
Comedy | 100% |
Musical | 95% |
Holiday | 73% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital Mono (Original) (224 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital Mono (224 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital Mono
English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
We're doing it for a pal in the army.
There may not be a more beloved specialty genre than the Christmas picture. Whether outright classics that deal with the importance of family and
the spirit of the season (A Christmas Story), laugh-a-minute Comedies (Christmas Vacation), modern computer-generated special effects
extravaganzas (The Polar Express), sappy Hallmark Channel tearjerkers (Angel in the Family), or touching throwback Dramas (It's a Wonderful Life), there's a Holiday picture for every mood and
occasion. The leader of the pack in the Christmas Musical department is one of the quintessential Christmas films, Irving Berlin's White
Christmas, a touching story of love, understanding, camaraderie, friendship, and the spirit of the season. The picture is rightfully remembered
for its exemplary
songs -- including the Oscar-nominated "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" and the enduring classic "White Christmas" -- but is additionally a
fantastic movie that's sugary sweet but from the heart and perfect for the entire family. Directed by Casablanca's Michael Curtiz and starring several of the 1950s top acts,
White Christmas represents all that's good and pure about the Christmas movie spectacle, even if the film finds a deeper meaning by using
Christmas as but a figurative backdrop rather than an element central to the greater themes the film explores.
Red is the new white.
White Christmas -- the first picture ever released in Paramount's VistaVision process back in 1954-- looks fantastic on Blu-ray. Paramount's 1080p transfer dazzles with most every frame, offering impeccable detailing and bold, vibrant colors that leap off the screen with regularity. The film opens in war-torn Europe where viewers will note the pinpoint detailing scattered all over the screen, whether in the rubble strewn about the frame; the texturing of military uniforms including canvas belts, thick caps, ammo pouches, and the like; and even dents and general wear on the smooth helmets and the wooden stocks of various rifles. The image here and through the rest of the film is immaculately sharp and sports tremendous depth. Detail remains even in distant objects and even through the darker World War II color scheme that's made up primarily of green uniforms and cold, gray backgrounds. As the film moves along, the exemplary detail remains, as evidenced by the feathery blue props seen during the two performances of "Sisters," the various objects scattered around the Columbia Inn, or even a close-up shot of a napkin serving as makeshift snow-covered Vermont terrain where viewers will see the finest of stitches and seams during a performance of "Snow." Colors prove remarkably strong throughout, and particularly once the action moves back to the United States. Reds and blues, among others, pop straight off the screen, but the entire palette is handled remarkably well by the amazing technicolor presentation. For as good as the movie's fine detailing looks, those colors just might be the main attraction. They're that strong, that handsome, that noteworthy. There are a few soft shots here and there and the image features a fairly consistent barrage of light white speckling, but neither prove much of a distraction. Supported by a fine layer of grain, White Christmas has never looked anywhere close to this good for home viewing; what a remarkable job by Paramount!
One might reasonably expect a Musical like White Christmas to feature a big, spacious, maybe even exemplary soundtrack. However, this is an aging film of meager origins, limited resources, and originally released with monaural sound, so needless to say that it never reaches the same level of excellence as do modern-day musicals with large, room-filling sound. Paramount has included the original mono soundtrack for this releases alongside a remixed DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless track that adds some space and a fair bit of additional clarity to the experience without sacrificing the integrity of the original presentation. The 5.1 mix draws out a little more in the way of absolute clarity, though White Christmas still features something of a chunky, indistinct tenor. The limited wartime sound effects heard during the film's open -- distant explosions, crumbling buildings, and a plane flying overhead -- come up lacking in clarity, instead playing with a crunchy, indistinct flavor. Likewise, music and lyrics come up well short of equalling the crispness and natural precision of the best lossless soundtracks. Surround channels are barely, if it all, active, and the track plays at a slightly lower than expected volume at reference level. None of these observations make this a "bad" soundtrack. Quite the contrary, given the age and the source of the original elements, what Paramount has achieved with this 5.1 mix is probably the pinnacle of the White Christmas audio experience. The studio has given the track a little room to breathe in 5.1 -- music and a few effects spred off the the sides for a slightly more encompassing and natural feel -- while retaining the old-world charm of the admittedly cramped and muffled original elements. Even considering the limitations of the source, both the 5.1 and mono tracks are a pleasure behold in their own ways.
White Christmas gift wraps several extras. The largest package contains a feature-length audio commentary track with Actress Rosemary
Clooney. When Ms. Clooney speaks, she has plenty of interesting insights to share, whether discussing the style of Irving Berlin, speaking on the
quality
of the actors' performances, sharing her memories from the set, and more. She's clearly enjoying the experience of re-watching the film, laughing at
many of its lighter moments and chuckling as she remembers some of the sillier behind-the-scenes stories she recalls. Unfortunately, the
commentary has a rather choppy feel to it; Clooney allows long stretches of silence to permeate the track, but she makes up for it with a quality
commentary when she has something to share. Backstage Stories from 'White Christmas' (1080p, 11:56) features several individuals --
Critic
F.X. Feeney, USC Professor Drew Casper, Historian Larry Billman, Author Gary Giddins, and Dancer George Chakiris -- discussing the history and
success
of both the picture (including its VistaVision presentation) and its cast. This is a high quality supplement; it's not too often that so much great
information can be crammed into a
12-minute extra.
Rosemary's Old Kentucky Home (1080p, 13:26) takes viewers to Augusta, Kentucky for a look at the Actress' favorite place and the museum
that's sprung up there since her death. Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner (1080p, 14:16) looks at the Singer/Actor's legacy and impact on the
music and cinema of the Christmas season. The piece covers the Actor's love for Gonzaga University, his work with the troops, his honesty and tender
heart, his work in White Christmas, and his influence on some of the greatest musical talents of the second half of the 20th century. Next is
Danny Kaye: Joy to the World (1080p, 13:10), another piece that looks at the history and legacy of the White Christmas star.
Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' (1080p, 7:22) examines the history and staying power of the best-selling single of all time, along with a
glimpse into the life of Irving Berlin. 'White Christmas:' From Page to Stage (1080p, 4:21) looks at the film's transition to Broadway.
'White
Christmas:' A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney (480p, 16:46) is a retrospective piece that features the famed actress looking back at her
experiences in working at Paramount, with Bing Crosby, and on White Christmas. Finally, this disc features the White Christmas
original (1080p, 2:24) and re-release (1080p, 2:09) trailers.
White Christmas might be the best Christmas movie that's not necessarily about Christmas. The Holiday is little more than a backdrop for the film's bookend sequences, but the spirit of Christmas is evident throughout. Although the film is structurally transparent, it's more about the feeling and the message than it is any sort of real drama. All of the picture's drama is superficial and a means towards an end, but the reward for watching the movie lies in the experience and the appreciation not only of the great performances and memorable songs, but of the greater thematic purpose that suggests a spirit of togetherness and the importance of undying friendship and integrity through both the good times and the bad. White Christmas is an endearing classic suitable for any time of year, but the film has definitely earned the right to be considered among the elite of Christmas staples. Paramount has several wonderful Christmas movies in its diverse catalogue; the studio released It's a Wonderful Life last November to great success, and White Christmas is another timeless treasure that has this year made its way to high definition with fantastic results. This all-time classic has received the royal Blu-ray treatment; Paramount has delivered a fabulous 1080p picture, a fine lossless soundtrack alongside the original monaural presentation, and a nice assortment of extras. For both the Christmas season and anytime of the year, White Christmas comes very highly recommended.
Diamond Anniversary Edition
1954
Diamond Anniversary Edition
1954
1954
70th Anniversary
1954
80th Anniversary Edition
1942
1962
10th Anniversary Edition
2008
Rockin' Rydell Edition
1978
Sing-Along Edition
2018
1951
2-Disc Shake and Shimmy Edition
2007
2003
Extended Edition
2007
2006
Extended Edition
2008
2007
2008
2010
Fox Studio Classics
1969
Extended Rock Star Edition
2008
2016
1961
Extended Dance Edition
2009
1967