20 essential classic holiday films to watch this year

White Christmas (1954)

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,” croons Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace in the Michael Curtiz-directed feature White Christmas. The film follows Bob and his friend, Phil (played by Danny Kaye), who decide to help save a failing Vermont inn formerly owned by their commanding general. Along the way the two take on a sister act who become romantic foils for each of the performers. You might have seen an earlier version of the film. This originally started out with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as 1942’s Holiday Inn. White Christmas is a spiritual sequel of sorts.

White Christmas was filmed in VistaVision, which, back in the day, was one of many gimmicks employed in the 1950s to help movies compete with the burgeoning new landscape of television. Every frame of White Christmas is utterly breathtaking, employing a sense of scope that’s perfectly in tune with the sparkling Technicolor.

Crosby and Kaye were fan favorites for audiences, who use their gift for song to create several enduring Christmas classics. Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen play the sisters and threaten to steal the show from the leads. Vera-Ellen is specifically fantastic, and she’s one of the best dancers on-screen ever. The film is a touch too long, but next to It’s a Wonderful Life, it’s the must-see film of the season.

Stream now on Netflix.