CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

MOVIE INFORMATION:
Universal Studios – 1944
1 Hour, 32 Minutes
Black & White

MAIN CREDITS:
Producer…Felix Jackson
Director…Robert Siodmak
Screenplay…Herman Mankiewicz
Music…H.J. Salter

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Jackie Lamont…Deanna Durbin
Abigail Martin...Deanna Durbin
Robert Manette...Gene Kelly
Charlie Mason…Dean Harens
Simon Fenimore…Richard Whorf
Mrs. Manette…Gale Sondergaard
Valerie De Merode…Gladys George

MOVIE SYNOPSIS:
In late December, a group of soldiers are graduating from artillery school at Camp Davis, North Carolina. One of the soldiers, Charlie Mason is going to San Francisco to marry his fiancee. When he receives a telegram from her saying that she has married another man, he decides to go to San Francisco to confront her. Charlie’s flight is forced to land in New Orleans due to bad weather and all the passengers are taken to a hotel to spend the night. While in the lobby, Charlie is asked by a reporter, Simon Fenimore about the emergency landing, but Charlie tells him nothing major had happened. Charlie goes to get something to eat and encounters a drunken Simon who takes him to a nightclub. The manger is Valerie De Merode and she asks the club’s singer, Jackie Lamont to keep Charlie company. While Jackie and Charlie are talking, Valerie hands him a card from Simon about a religious service at midnight. They both go to the service where Jackie sobs uncontrollably. After the service, Jackie confesses to Charlie that her real name is Abigail Manette and that she has a husband named Robert who is serving time in jail for murder. She recalls the morning after the murder that Robert and his mother were talking about there being nothing in the papers. When Abigail notices a stain on Robert’s trousers, Mrs. Manette immediately takes them away. She then removes a large sum of money from one of the pockets. Robert tells them both that the money came from gambling winnings. Afterwards, Mrs. Manette burns the trousers, but later tells Abigail that it was just an old dress. Then a police officer arrives at the door and asks Mrs. Manette to tell Robert to call the station. When Robert returns home that night, Abigail asks him what he and his mother are trying to hide from her which causes him to get very angry. The next morning Robert tells Abigail to use a cover-up story if anyone asks about the trousers and money. At that point, Charlie interrupts Jackie’s story and suggests she stay the night at his hotel. The next morning, Jackie tells Charlie how she first met Robert at a classical concert. Robert tells her that he comes from a distinguished family and eventually introduces Abigail to his mother who takes an instant liking to her. Mrs. Manette tells Abigail that Robert has some bad traits, but together they can make him strong. Robert then takes Abigail to a gambler’s joint to show that his past is now behind him. While there, he points out a bookmaker named Teddy Jordan and chats with Simon. Robert and Abigail get married and things are fine until the night of the murder. Two days after Mrs. Manette burns the trousers, the police arrest Robert for murder. Abigail tells Mrs. Manette that they both know that Robert is guilty, but Mrs. Manette accuses her of being a traitor and a failure as a wife. At the trial, Robert is found guilty and sent to Angola Prison. Afterwards, Mrs. Manette accuses Abigail of "killing" Robert and slaps her in the face. Mrs. Manette then moves to New York to work as a housekeeper. Jackie finishes her story and leaves Charlie at the hotel. Soon Charlie receives a phone call from Simon who is looking for Jackie. What Charlie doesn’t know is that Robert has escaped from prison and is at that very moment with Simon. Robert thinks that Abigail has been unfaithful to him so he insists on seeing her. When Charlie discovers that Robert has escaped, he goes to the nightclub to find Jackie. Robert finally arrives and Jackie rushes into his arms, but he starts accusing her of being unfaithful. Jackie tells Robert of her undying love for him, but he doesn’t believe her. Robert then pulls out a gun to shoot her, but a police officer shoots him first. Robert dies in Jackie’s arms and now she no longer has to be consumed by her love for him.

Spring Will Be A little late This Year sung by Jackie Lamont (Deanna Durbin) at a nightclub in New Orleans was written by Frank Loesser.



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NOTE: Deanna Durbin has three role names in CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY: Jackie Lamont, Abigail Martin, Mrs. Robert Manette!!!

Charlie Mason (Dean Harens) dances with Jackie at the nightclub.



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Robert Manette (Gene Kelly) explains to Abigail and his mother (Gale Sondergaard) the reason why he broke his promise not to gamble.



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Abigail is shocked by Robert's behaviour.

Jackie continues telling her sad story to Charlie.

Robert tells Abigail about the Manette Family.

After her marriage to Robert, Abigail sings Always written by Irving Berlin.



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Detectives search the Manette home, but don't find the money thanks to Abigail.

Mrs. Manette blames Abigail for Robert going to jail and then slaps her.

Simon Fenimore (Richard Whorf) phones Charlie while being watched by Robert who has just escaped from prison.



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Robert accuses Jackie of being unfaithful and he tries to murder her. But the police stop him by shooting him dead.

Jackie the torch singer dies with Robert - and Abigail is now able to live again.



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Deanna’s sister, Edith sat through the picture in horrified silence.

"Good heavens!!!" she exclaimed, "is that my little sister???"

Later Edith saw it again, and the second time, she admits, she enjoyed it tremendously because she looked at it from the standpoint of seeing a performance, not watching Deanna.

Only two mistakes found in CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

During the trial scene when the Judge reads out the guilty verdict, the shadow of the microphone boom can be seen on the Judge's chair.

The newspaper report of Robert Manette escaping from prison has his name misspelt "Mannette."

MEMORABLE LINES:

Jackie says to Charlie about Simon, "He's been drinking himself into the gutter for a long time - they're running out of gutters!"

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The scene showing Jackie and Charlie at the cathedral in New Orleans was the most difficult part of the movie for Deanna. The night before the shooting of that scene she didn't get any sleep at all because she wanted to make herself as tired as possible which would make it easier for her to cry. To keep herself awake, Deanna drank plenty of coffee and played loud music.

Wagner's Liebestod (Love/Death) is the ideal theme music for CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. It's played when Abigail first meets Robert at a concert and also when he is shot dead in the last scene.



Notice the trance like look on both Abigail and Robert when they were at the concert listening so intently to Wagner's Liebestod. Abigail had a dreamy look, but Robert seemed to be in another world. Even when the music stopped, Robert didn't clap at all. Then came the first eye contact (the love glance) and then it was curtains!!

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Many fans were shocked to see Deanna's character wearing glasses!

Deanna had the habit of reading a lot when she came home from working at the studio.

When her eyes were tired from the bright studio lights she would wear glasses when reading.

Deanna Durbin & Director Robert Siodmak look over the script of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Lights, Camera, Action - Deanna Durbin and Rober Siodmak make CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Deanna Durbin with Robert Siodmak during the production of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY is Deanna's favourite movie of the 21 she made with Universal Studios!

For Deanna's earlier movies she would never take her script home for long hours of study. She would read the day's scenes for 15 minutes under the studio hair dryer every morning. Then she would be ready for the camera. She strove for naturalness and preferred to let the dlrector do all the coaching.

But when she was preparing for CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, Deanna said the following: "I'll probably take the script home every night and rehearse every scene five million different ways. I'm really scared!"

Deanna Durbin sharing her birthday cake with her parents and crew during the production of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Deanna Durbin takes a short sleep break between shooting scenes in CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly on their way to lunch after a morning shoot on the set of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Gene Kelly clowning around with Deanna Durbin during a break in production of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Promotional photo of Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly:

Deanna Durbin preparing for a scene in CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

Deanna Durbin dancing with Dean Harens in real life after the making of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

MGM was making DRAGON SEED, a big production with Katharine Hepburn and Gene Kelly. But when they saw him in the Oriental make-up, everybody attending the rushes were laughing like crazy because it was so ridiculous. So they approached Universal to get the actor Turhan Bey who could play an Oriental. In order to get him, MGM loaned Gene Kelly over to Universal for CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS:
Best Scoring Dramatic/Comedy Picture

Here is the trailer for CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY:

When Somerset Maugham saw the screen version of his best seller he wired the producer, Felix Jackson and said the following: "Just saw CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY and thought it was great. In fact, if I had known how good it was going to be I would have charged you twice as much!!"