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Aug 29, 2016ThomasJWhiting rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
VERY GOOD 1954 color (first in widescreen VistaVision) musical romance film. Interesting WWII era army elements (in an opening scene in pre-VE 1944 war-time Europe) the general declares 'There is no Christmas in the Army' while Captain Bing is putting on a show for the troops. Lots of fun dancing/singing with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye - and I particularly enjoyed seeing Vera-Ellen (whose names appears without hyphen as Vera Ellen in opening credits). She does have an amazing tiny waist and apparently was a bit over dietary obsessed. The post-war plot after Bing and Danny make it big on Broadway involving the Haynes sisters is fun - if somewhat dramatically weak with a bit whack plot twist when fun actress Mary Wickes as housekeeper Emma listening partially in on phone call mistakenly believes that her beloved boss will be portrayed as a pitiable figure in a nationwide broadcast and tells Betty (Rosemary Clooney) Haynes. Of course, it all eventually works out and the film ends with the (especially amusing to me, a Vietnam Era veteran) song, 'Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army'. The Vermont setting/snow element adds a fun backdrop. The film does occupy a high spot in vintage film history, is quite entertaining, and I'm glad I've now seen it.