oOoBarracuda What a way to realize you've never seen any Fred Astaire films! I have seen most of Ghost Story, but that's not your typical Astaire film. I, in no way, have been avoiding his work, I just apparently haven't been purposeful enough in seeing Astaire films. I was completely mesmerized by Astaire in this film, and will surely seek out more of his work going forward. Directed by Mark Sandrich in 1942, Holiday Inn stars, along with Astaire, Bing Crosby, Marjorie Reynolds, and Virginia Dale. When a trio unwittingly becomes a duo, an abandoned crooner decides to take his fortune to Connecticut and open an inn that only operates on holidays. A musical as a vehicle to show off the talents of Bing Crosby's singing, and Fred Astaire's dancing, Holiday Inn has become a staple for many through the holiday season. Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), and Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale) are a dancing and singing act playing in night clubs in New York. When Jim and Lila decide to be married, all is well as Jim thinks when he and Lila decide to move to Connecticut and adopt a simple farm life. Jim's dreams are about to come true until he realizes Ted has stolen Lila from under his nose and plans to keep her on the act as his dance partner and marry her himself. Broken and too far into the farm to back out, Jim leaves the new couple behind and begins a life that is much more work and much less relaxation than he thought it would be as he begins his new life in Connecticut. After several months of farming, Jim decides the profession is not for him, but the country life is. Jim devises a way in which he can remain on the farm, yet make a living as well and that is to open the farmhouse as an inn and to only operate the inn on holidays to satisfy his ample need for relaxation. Jim plans a menu and music around the 15 holidays a year that the inn will open for giving him a chance to sing again, as well. He hires Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds) a young girl desperate for fame and a chance to perform with him. Just as Jim feels safe to fall in love again, Ted happens upon his inn, drunk and dumped by Lila. Fearing that Ted will again steal his love interest away, which would, in turn, drown his business, Jim decides to hide Linda from Ted as he desperately searches for the "perfect new partner" he danced with the night he was drunk and happened into Jim's inn. There were brief moments I looked away from Fred Astaire long enough to notice there were other people in the film, but those moments were few and far between. Fred Astaire completely steals the show, regardless of Bing's top billing. I make a diligent effort to distinguish between the artist and the person, but I admittedly have a difficult time doing that with Bing Crosby. The alleged constant and horrific abuse of his own children by Crosby I've read about through the years badly sour my perception of the crooner, which made things especially difficult in this film when Crosby is the only likable character among the bunch. As much as I loved looking at Astaire, he was a complete jerk of a character and was given a lot more leeway from Jim than I ever would have given him. Both of the female leads came off quite selfish, and Ted was so self- obsessed the only shining light was Crosby's Jim who just wants a simple life doing what he loves. I struggle a bit when the characters aren't very likable, and Holiday Inn was no different, but for me, Fred Astaire and his dancing more than made up for the lackluster portions of this film.

Tracy Winters I was expecting more; this film has Fred Astaire and.... well, that's about it.Bing Crosby was just another lucky recipient of the Hollywood Dream, a person who could not act or dance, just sing.... I guess - I've never been a fan of his. I also don't know why so many people get "offended" by the blackface number. Who the hell cares? Remade in 1954 as 'White Christmas' with Danny Kaye, whom I have always loved. Danny makes Bing look like the chump he was. That film is ultimately the better film. I heard that this one was the one to see, but I know now that I own the 'good version' on video. Maybe I'll go watch it to wash this one out of my mind.OK as a time-killer. Don't let the blackface song bug you. The two little colored kids are cute.

derekfnord This film just has so many flaws. Aside from "White Christmas," the music isn't even that good; it's like the Irving Berlin junk drawer. All of the main characters are completely unlikable. The story's misogyny is only balanced by its misandry. You can't really "root" for anyone to get their way, because you want them all to get some sense smacked into them.The only character who exhibits good sense is the jaw-droppingly stereotypical maid, Mamie. In fact, everything related to race is horrifyingly cringe-worthy to modern audiences. In a better movie, perhaps that could have been forgiven as an unfortunate aspect of life in that era. But here, it's the final nail in the coffin.The film's only saving grace -- the only reason it gets a 2 rating from me instead of 1 -- is that you still get to hear Bing Crosby sing, and watch Fred Astaire dance with Marjorie Reynolds and Virginia Dale. If only they were singing and dancing to better songs in a better movie...

SanteeFats This is a great movie. Bing Crosby is part of a team of singers and dancers. When he decides to retire to a farm this splits up the team that happens to include his intended wife. She wants to keep entertaining so goes with Fred Astaire. When Bing comes to the realization that his farm is failing he goes to plan B. He only opens the inn only on the holidays. This leads to Astaire trying to find the girl he danced with the night he came there drunk. A black woman is finally cast in a decent, all be it still subservient, role. Her two kids are so precious, precocious, and cute that they rise above the unfortunate stereotypes of the era. This is a fun movie with lots of dancing and singing plus pretty good acting and excellent humor.