Reel Jolly series: “White Christmas” and “The Family Man”

In the holiday classic “White Christmas,” 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.

The result is stuff dreams are made of.

This beloved 1954 classic delivers a nostalgic blend of heartwarming holiday themes, spectacular musical numbers, and its comforting, feel-good story about veterans helping their old general, creating a timeless escape with some very beloved songs.

“White Christmas” is as popular and loved as it was when it was first initially released. The film provides a cozy, innocent world, offering a comforting escape from reality, making it one of the most popular holiday staples for the whole family.

The core quartet of Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen make this film incredibly memorable. The comedic banter alone between Crosby’s dry Bob Wallace and Kaye’s high-energy Phil Davis are easily one of the best highlights of this film. Their on-screen chemistry together is simply remarkable and Crosby’s performance of the title track remains to this day a definitive cinematic moment for anyone who grew up with this classic.

To this day, “White Christmas” remains a pillar of seasonal tradition, noted for its technical innovations and enduring cultural footprint. A successful musical stage adaptation premiered in 2004 and continues to be performed globally.

MPA: Not Rated   (120 minutes) (available on AMC+ or can rent it through various PVOD services)

In the comedy-drama “The Family Man,” Jack’s lavish, fast-paced lifestyle changes one

Christmas night when he stumbles into a grocery store hold up and disarms the gunman. The next morning, he wakes up in bed lying next to Kate, his college sweetheart he left in order to pursue his career, and to the horrifying discovery that his former life no longer exists.

As he stumbles through this alternate suburban universe, Jack finds himself at a crossroad where he must choose between his high-power career and the woman he loves.

“The Family Man” delivers a heartwarming, and sometimes humorous, exploration of love, family, and life choices. This is a feel-good holiday movie with a thoughtful, “what if” scenario similar to “It’s A Wonderful Life,” resonating with its exploration of priorities.

Many viewers, like myself, can connect with the “road less traveled” premise, which encourages reflection on one’s own life choices regarding career versus family. “The Family Man” can also be viewed as a “fish out of water” comedy, particularly in scenes where Nic Cage’s character (Jack) struggles with suburban life (even if it’s changing a diaper or helping with the kids). The movie’s message that love and family are more valuable than material success can easily resonate with just about everyone.

“The Family Man” is a romantic-comedy/drama that explores the conflict between success and personal fulfillment, ultimately advocating for love, family, and community as the true source of happiness. The story, which draws comparisons to classics like “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Carol,” provides a “glimpse” into a different life path. Many viewers have considered it a modern holiday classic that makes them reflect on their own priorities and the true meaning of happiness. 

MPA: Rated PG-13 for sensuality and some language   (runtime 125 minutes)  (Peacock and Amazon Prime)

• According to Rosemary Clooney, the "midnight snack" scene in which Bob Wallace expounds on his theory of what foods cause what dreams was almost entirely improvised.

• According to Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye's "Sisters" performance was not originally in the script. They were clowning around on the set, and director Michael Curtiz thought it was so funny that he decided to film it. In the scene, Crosby's laughs are genuine and unscripted, as he was unable to hold a straight face due to Kaye's comedic dancing. Clooney said the filmmakers had a better take where Crosby didn't laugh, but when they ran them both, people liked the laughing version better.

• For the song "Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army," there is the lyric, "Jolson, Hope And Benny all for free." This is a reference to three wartime entertainers: Al Jolson, Bob Hope and Jack Benny. The original words were "Crosby, Hope and Jolson all for free," but the lyric was changed because with Bing Crosby in the cast the original lyric would break the fourth wall.

• According to Danny Kaye in a TV documentary on Bing Crosby aired after Crosby's death, Crosby was initially glum during filming White Christmas having just lost his wife Dixie. Kaye decided to try and lighten Crosby up by improvising the vamp during the "Sisters" number in which he repeatedly hits Crosby in the stomach with his blue feather fan. Crosby broke up and his laughter in the film is genuine. Kaye said that afterwards Crosby seemed more relaxed and more ready to join in the fun.

• Third of three films to feature Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas." The other two are Holiday Inn (1942) and Blue Skies (1946).

• This was 1954's most successful film. The second most successful was The Caine Mutiny (1954), which featured Rosemary Clooney's husband, José Ferrer.

• Originally, the plan was to reunite Crosby with his Holiday Inn (1942) co-star, Fred Astaire, but Astaire turned it down, as he had temporarily "retired" at the time. Donald O'Connor was cast as Crosby's co-star, in what was hoped to be a reprise of his successful dance partnership with Vera-Ellen from Call Me Madam (1953). But while filming Francis Joins the WACS (1954), O'Connor contracted a severe bout of Q-Fever from his co-star, Molly (who played Francis the Talking Mule), and had to pull out. Danny Kaye was cast as a last minute replacement.

• Percy Helton, who plays the railroad conductor, also appears in another holiday movie, playing the drunk Santa Claus at the beginning of Miracle on 34th Street (1947).

• According to the DVD commentary, the scene where Jack gets back into his minivan and the minivan won't start was a happy accident that wasn't supposed to happen. The director thought it was a perfect beat and left it in the final cut.

• The snow falling symbolizing the changes in Jack's life is an homage to It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

• At one time Nicolas Cage actually owned the Ferrari used in the film. He sold it about a year before filming began.

• When Kate is talking about how their lives changed, she says, "When you stepped in at the store" referring to when Big Ed had the heart attack, but it also refers to when Jack intervened with Cash at the convenience store, and his life changed.