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Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, Dean Harens, Gale Sondergaard, Gladys George ... see more see more... , Richard Whorf , David Bruce

Don't be fooled by the title. Christmas Holiday is a far, far cry from It's a Wonderful Life. Told in flashback, the story begins as Jackie (Deanna Durbin), marries Southern aristocrat Robert Monette ... read more read more...(Gene Kelly). Unfortunately, Robert has inherited his family's streak of violence and instability and soon drags Jackie into a life of misery. When her husband commits murder, Jackie is compelled by Robert's equally degenerate mother (Gale Sondergaard) to cover up the crime. When Robert is arrested, Jackie, tormented by the love she still holds for her husband, runs away from the family home, changing her name and securing work as a singer in a New Orleans dive. Robert escapes from prison and makes his way to Jackie's dressing room. Holding a reporter hostage, he threatens to kill both Jackie and the waylaid sailor who has been listening to her story. An astonishing change of pace from Deanna Durbin's usual lightweight musical fare, Christmas Holiday (based, believe it or not, on a story by W. Somerset Maugham) is one of the bleakest film noirs of the 1940s. Durbin is merely adequate in her role, but Gene Kelly gives a disturbingly convincing portrayal as a man virtually devoured by his inner demons. Robert Siodmak directs with his usual flair, using a taut, suspenseful screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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64% liked it

466 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: W. Somerset Maugham, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Robert Siodmak, Gene Kelly, Richard Whorf

Release Date: June 7, 1944

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Flixster Reviews (22)

  • tombowling49
    February 12, 2007
    tombowling49
    Durbin and Kelly team up well in this satiric movie, as with Rodgers as a co-star in previous and later films - Kelly stands out well as a corrigible old fellow, but don't underestimate this movie, one of his best......

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Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce
November 16, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Dark elation, double lives, a variety of musical cathedrals Full Review

Jeremy Heilman
July 13, 2008
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com

A sharp departure into salacious territory for sugar-and-spice star Deanna Durbin Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
October 26, 2004
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A compelling film noir despite not digging into even darker depths. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
October 30, 2004
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

June 24, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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