{"id":26070,"date":"2012-06-07T14:31:35","date_gmt":"2012-06-07T21:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26070"},"modified":"2021-02-04T10:00:46","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T17:00:46","slug":"christmas-holiday-1944","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26070","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Holiday (1944)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;They said it was shameful that I should love him &#8212; as if you could stop loving because it&#8217;s shameful to love.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Poster-300x228.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-26071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Poster-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Poster-128x97.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Poster.jpg 535w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA jilted G.I. on leave (Dean Harens) encounters a depressed nightclub singer (Deanna Durbin) who proceeds to tell him the sad story of how she met her troubled husband (Gene Kelly), who was eventually sent to jail for murder.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deanna Durbin Films<\/li>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Gene Kelly Films<\/li>\n<li>Robert Siodmak Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nRobert Siodmak&#8217;s <em>noir<\/em>-tinged <em>Christmas Holiday<\/em> &#8212; loosely based on a novel by W. Somerset Maugham &#8212; possesses both an incongruously misleading title (Christmas has little to do with the proceedings), and a mind-boggling choice of romantic leads. Having recently rewatched Universal Studios&#8217; chirpy songbird Deanna Durbin in two of her best-known early films &#8212; <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25855\"><em>Three Smart Girls<\/em> (1936)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=25804\"><em>100 Men and a Girl<\/em> (1937)<\/a> &#8212; I was shocked to see her cast here as a world-weary chanteuse with a shadowy past (though a bit of background reading reveals that she was eager to take on this persona-busting role, and worked tremendously hard to perfect her character). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-1024x763.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"477\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-1024x763.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Kelly-Durbin.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Kelly (early in his career) seems equally cast against type in a slippery role as a charming husband who turns out to be not only a Mamma&#8217;s boy but a convincing liar. <\/p>\n<p>The storyline starts slowly and somewhat mysteriously, leading us to believe that we&#8217;ll be watching a film primarily about Harens&#8217; cruelly jilted G.I.: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-1024x764.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Christmas-Holiday-Harens.png 1387w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>instead, Harens turns out to be merely a side-note in the much darker tale told by Durbin in flashback. At this point, viewers discombobulated by Durbin&#8217;s jaded initial appearance on screen may be temporarily renewed to see her as a familiarly fresh-faced young woman falling for Kelly, who only gradually realizes that he&#8217;s not all he seems to be. Gale Sondergaard is quietly menacing as Kelly&#8217;s deceptively inviting mother, and Durbin herself reveals surprising depth and nuance while portraying her character&#8217;s mounting confusion and suspicion. Atmospheric cinematography and a firm directorial hand by Siodmak make this unusual flick worth checking out once, if simply to see its stars in the most atypical roles of their careers. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deanna Durbin as Jackie\/Abigail<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Durbin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Durbin.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26075\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Durbin.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Durbin-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Durbin-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Gale Sondergaard as Mrs. Manette<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Sondergaard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Sondergaard.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Sondergaard.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Sondergaard-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Sondergaard-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Woody Bredell&#8217;s atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"512\" height=\"384\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-26074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography2.png 512w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Christmas-Holiday-Cinematography2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, simply as a most unusual outing by Siodmak. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0036711\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1944\/06\/29\/archives\/the-screen-christmas-holiday-presenting-deanna-durbin-in-serious.html\">NY Times Original Review (spoiler alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2472&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review (spoiler alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.noiroftheweek.com\/2006\/12\/christmas-holiday-1944.html\">Film Noir of the Week Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mubi.com\/notebook\/posts\/tuesday-morning-foreign-region-dvd-report-holiday-repeat-edition-christmas-holiday-robert-siodmak-1944\">Tuesday Morning Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chicagoreader.com\/chicago\/christmas-holiday\/Film?oid=1050721\">Chicago Reader Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/christmas-holiday\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;They said it was shameful that I should love him &#8212; as if you could stop loving because it&#8217;s shameful to love.&#8221; Synopsis: A jilted G.I. on leave (Dean Harens) encounters a depressed nightclub singer (Deanna Durbin) who proceeds to tell him the sad story of how she met her troubled husband (Gene Kelly), who was eventually sent to jail for murder. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Deanna Durbin Films Flashback Films Gene Kelly Films Robert Siodmak Films Review: Robert&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26070\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26070"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68561,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26070\/revisions\/68561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}