GManfred
Enjoyed "Christmas In July" as it was funny but not uproariously so. The hero, Dick Powell, thinks he has won a 25,000 dollar prize for submitting the winning slogan for Maxford House coffee, but he really didn't - it was the result of a practical joke by some co-workers. The story hinges, then, on a mean-spirited prank, which for me took some of the fun out of the movie.Dick Powell and Ellen Drew were the couple who had great plans but were brought down to earth when the hoax was uncovered. The best role in the picture went to Raymond Walburn as the bombastic, harried President of Maxford House and who had some of the best lines. Powell's character turns out to be a big-hearted, generous sort, with presents for as many neighbors and acquaintances as he could think of, which I felt made the joke even more heartless. I know, it was only a movie, but that's the way it struck me. De gustibus non est disputandum, as they say.
Martin Teller
Short but sweet comedy about a working schnook who gets pranked into thinking he's won a big pile of cash. I really enjoyed how this movie played out, with some heartfelt turns and nice character moments that made it feel a bit more Capra-esque than your typical Sturges. It doesn't really get too manic, and just has a pleasant vibe to it. This could have been a wackier movie, or a more cynical one, but I appreciate that it didn't go in those directions. I also appreciate that it doesn't torment the audience by dragging out the misunderstanding too much. Dick Powell and Ellen Drew are terrific together, they make a charming couple, and the film sports a roster of enjoyable character actors too. The ending is a bit predictable, but other moments aren't.
Michael Neumann
This early Preston Sturges satire suffers by comparison to his later films, but even if it never reaches the dizzy heights expected of a Sturges comedy it still presents an enjoyable (if at times too predictable) farce. The earthbound scenario offers none of the director's usual madcap flights of fancy, following an unlucky entrant in a marketing slogan contest (Dick Powell) who mistakenly believes himself the winner of a $25,000 grand prize. It's all the result of an innocent practical joke, but the gag backfires when everyone else, including the contest sponsor, believes it too. The unsuspecting Powell suddenly finds the world off his back and at his feet, and the consumer frenzy that follows shows glimpses of the classic Sturges brand of anarchy, sadly lacking from the rest of the film. Lots of running around and shouting at double-quick speed can't really camouflage the lack of belly laughs, but the cast works up plenty of enthusiasm, and the final image (look quick) is wonderful.
matusekpres
Could this be one of Preston Sturges's most profound comedies? In addition to being one of the funniest and most underappreciated. In "Sullivan's Travels," Preston Sturges has theJoel McCrea character speak admiringly of fellow director FrankCapra. In "Christmas in July" possibly Sturges was trying to teachCapra how to handle sentiment without falling into sentimentality --the scene where Dick Powell is handing out presents to hisneighbors, and he gives a doll to a crippled girl in a wheelchair --a remarkably tender moment in the midst of a hectic scene -- donewith just the right touch, One of my favorite lines occurs whenbug-eyed Raymond Walburn sarcastically tells contest-winnerPowell, "I can't wait to give you my money!" Sturges also showsthat you can have plot complications without resorting to villains --no Capraesque class warfare here -- rich and poor are equallylovable -- even gruff William Demarest.
AD
