Alone on Christmas Day? 10 movies to watch plus their perfect snack pairings

Holiday Inn invites the most tasteful of elegant edibles

Want to have company on Christmas Day? Invite Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby into your living room to brighten your holiday and spend some time at Holiday Inn. Astaire plays Ted, who has a musical act with Jim (Crosby) and Lila (Virginia Dale) in New York. Jim’s got a great plan: He’s going to tie the knot with Lila and head off to a Connecticut farm.

Just one problem arises as Jim gets ready for his final performance. Lila is in love with Ted, and plans to stay in New York with him. Off goes Jim alone to try to survive farm life. It’s not a success, and he hatches a new plan to create an entertainment spot named Holiday Inn that makes money by opening every holiday. Love gets complicated, with Lila planning to exit her act with Ted in favor of a Texas millionaire. That motivates Ted to head off to Holiday Inn.

Bring in a talented woman named Linda to add conflict to the plot, brilliant dancing and singing from Astaire and Crosby, and you’ve got a film that’s become a holiday classic for a reason. Just one warning: You won’t be able to get the song “White Christmas” out of your head for the rest of the day!

“White Christmas” first became popular during World War II, according to TCM.  For servicemen who were homesick, the movie meant something special, and they often requested the song on the Armed Forces Radio. The film Holiday Inn also has an unusual claim to fame. The hotel chain Holiday Inn is named after it!

To serve during your viewing of Holiday Inn, we recommend elegant and tasteful foods. To celebrate the smooth grace of Fred Astaire, how about a creamy spinach dip with hot French bread? For the rich voice of Bing Crosby, we’re dreaming of a white chocolate pudding with macaroons.