An old Holiday Classic set in the coziest farmhouse covered in snow. In the distance you can hear sounds of jingle bells from the horse-drawn sleigh.
Jim, (Bing Crosby) a down-to-earth entertainer, turns an old farmhouse into an Inn that’s opened Holiday’s only.
Linda, (Margorie Reynolds), is a struggling entertainer just looking for a chance. She runs into a notable Agent at the florist shop she works in. She shrewdly convinces the Agent that it’s too late on Christmas Eve for his delivery, but she would be happy to make the delivery for a personal favor. The manager, to appease her, gives her Jim’s card telling her it’s a friend of his who is opening an Inn in Connecticut. The Agent also gives her a ticket to the show he’s having that evening.
That night when Linda arrives at the show she is seated at the band’s table where she meets Jim,. Jim was there to watch his friends’ performances before he leaves for Connecticut. There Linda and Jim both pretend to be more successful than they really are.
The following day, Linda who is thrilled at any chance of performing takes the train out to Connecticut on a snowy Christmas day When she arrives at “Holiday Inn, she runs into the owner, Jim. They both realize they were overstating their achievements when they met the night before at Ted’s, (Fred Astaire) and Lila’s, (Virginia Dale) show. They laugh together and Linda agrees that she doesn’t care if Jim pays her off in eggs, just give her a chance.
The Inn becomes a success, and Jim and Linda are very content and also are becoming very close. Until one New Year’s Eve when Ted gets a “Dear John” letter from Lila. Ted suddenly has no dancing partner, is feeling low and decides to go visit his old pal, Jim, in Connecticut. The competition then begins for the affections of Linda by Jim and Ted.
This is a movie of great dancing performances as it takes you through the year’s holidays as they are celebrated at the Holiday Inn. The best of course are the Christmas Holidays. The performances with Fred Astaire by both Virginia Dale and Marjorie Reynolds are outstanding! I especially love the Valentine’s Day performance.
Give this old flick another look. The farmhouse alone is enough to want to make you curl up with a nice warm cocoa, while watching twinkling lights and listening to Carrols.
Did you know that the Holiday Inn Hotel Chain is named from this 1942 classic?