‘White Christmas’ now on stunning 4K

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

This month marks the 70th anniversary of the classic holiday musical Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. It is the quintessential Christmas movie that has entertained generations of viewers with its songs, dances, and tender stories.

The title song is a staple among Christmas playlists. Unbeknownst to many people, the song originally made its film debut a few years earlier in the musical Holiday Inn. Nevertheless, it is an important element in this movie.

To celebrate the milestone anniversary, Paramount has released a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital Code version of this classic film. For those who are not aware, 4K Ultra HD is the best and newest way to watch a movie. The colors are brighter, the visuals are crisper, and the audio is clearer. 

The story is about two song and dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) who meet up with a sisters act (Vera-Ellen and Rosemary Clooney) and set out to spend the holiday in Vermont where the sisters are booked as the entertainment at an inn. They expect full crowds in Vermont. After all, Vermont is famous for its snow and skiing. But when they arrive there is no snow and Vermont is in a drought.

They quickly discover the owner of the inn is the men’s former army commander, Retired Major General Waverly (Dean Jagger). To help him through this rough time, the men bring up their entire show which helps energize the inn. And the best part is they secretly invite their fellow soldiers to come up and surprise the General on Christmas Eve. 

There are so many wonderful musical numbers throughout the film and the ending puts everyone in the holiday spirit.

This movie has been an annual viewing event for families over the past decades. 

The women are first introduced when they sing their main number “Sisters” which Crosby and Kaye humorously try to duplicate.

Vera-Ellen and Danny Kaye delight viewers with their song and dance number “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing”  and Vera-Ellen is amazing to watch in the “Mandy” number.

Crosby sings a wonderful ballad to Clooney, “Count Your Blessings,” and the four sing the upbeat tune “Snow” when they are on the train waiting to arrive in snowy Vermont, which doesn’t happen after all due to the drought. Clooney’s standout number “Love Your Didn’t Do Right By Me” showcases her musical talent.

And the finale, when they all sing “White Christmas” is magical as Vermont is finally getting snow and a White Christmas after all.

Bonus features on this release are numerous. The Sing-Along is something the whole family will enjoy together, after all, everyone will be singing these songs for days after watching the film so singing them together is a fun way to enjoy the wonderful music of Irving Berlin.

  • Commentary by Rosemary Clooney
  • WHITE CHRISTMAS Sing-Along
  • Classic Holiday Moments
  • Assignment Children
  • Backstage Stories from WHITE CHRISTMAS
  • Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner
  • Danny Kaye: Joy to the World
  • Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS
  • Rosemary’s Old Kentucky Home
  • WHITE CHRISTMAS: From Page to Stage
  • WHITE CHRISTMAS: A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
  • Photo Galleries
  • Theatrical Trailers

There are two discs in this package. One has the feature film on 4k Ultra HD. The second has the film on Blu-ray along with the special features. Also included in the package is a Digital Code to watch the movie from a laptop, phone, or tablet. 

If you don’t have a 4K player, this is the time to purchase one. Watching White Christmas in 4K Ultra HD is amazing.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

 

The 4K disc package is available for pre-order. It hits the shelves November 5, 2024.

Photos: courtesy Paramount Home Entertainment