Customer Reviews

Christmas in July [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of Preston Sturges' best but least known films stars Dick Powell as an ordinary guy who becomes the victim of a prank and thinks he has won a slogan-writing contest. Altho the events are fairly predictable, this does not detract from the laughs. As with all Sturges films, plenty of fine old character actors (including, as always, William Demarest) are on hand. Why doesn't anyone make 67 minute movies anymore?

I've always loved this film. Other reviewers have described it in detail, so I won't repeat. The comic foil characters have more humanity than similar characters in better known, and more highly regarded, Sturges films. And it's a terrific spoof of the PR industry.

At the Soho Repertory Theatre, my coartistic director Marlene Swartz and I came across Sturges's original playscript for the story, entitled A Cup of Coffee, when we were producing a series called "The Lost American Play" in the late 1980s.

Surprised that the play had never been produced on the stage, we obtained permission from Preston's son Tom and his widow Sandy for Soho Rep to premiere it at the Greenwich House Theatre in 1988, where it played to capacity houses and came close to being optioned for Broadway.

Our production provoked media interest in Preston Sturges's career and resulted in a book deal for Sandy Sturges, who published Preston's writings as his posthumous autobiography. Sandy and Eddie Bracken subsequently presided over a book signing at a Sturges festival at the Film Forum in New York.

As a result of this rewarding experience, I continue to be attached to Christmas in July for reasons beyond the film's merits, but I still trust my original reactions to it, and for me it shares with The Lady Eve the status of favorite among so many Preston Sturges masterpieces.

Not only is "Christmas in July" one of the funniest films ever made, it is also one of the sweetest, most lovable films of all time -- I think Preston Sturges was trying to show Frank Capra how to make an unsentimental Capra film -- more precisely, how to make a Capra film where the sentimentality doesn't become cloying by the third viewing. There are no villains in this film -- plot complications arise from innocent misunderstandings or pranks, never from deliverate cruelty. Sturges indulges in none of Capra's class warfare -- here, the rich are just as warmly human as the poor. A film teeming with great character actors. Read James Harvey's book "Romantic Comedy in Hollywood from Lubitsch to Sturges" -- his high praise for "Christmas in July" makes for inspired reading -- he mentions scenes in this film where the screen is jampacked with Hollywood's best character actors -- at least, they were at their best when directed by Preston Sturges. Another book (a book of movie "bests" ) suggests that this film has the best happy ending of any film because only the audience realizes that it is a happy ending -- the characters in the film do not yet know that the gods have smiled down on them and that a great reversal of fortune is about to befall them -- a black cat runs in front of Dick Powell and Ellen Drew -- they ask a black janitor if this portends good luck or bad luck -- he tells them that all depends on what happens next -- and what will happen next is sweetly wonderful, but only we, the audience, know it. What a whirlwind finale!

Sturges continued to refine his madcap style with this, his second directorial feature. But to me, this movie is not about the nominal shopping spree. Nor is it about the indictment of societal greed. It's not even about seeing that vaunted Sturges supporting cast continue to evolve and grow.

It's about the quieter scenes, such as: A simple, salient, sublime rooftop conversation between Powell and his love Drew, with evening stars and city lights sparkling behind them, as he speaks of his desires to be someone really BE someone someday; His delight, when he thinks he has "made it"; the climax, when he realizes that all his success has been a sham; and the very end, which reassures even us cynics that there will be a happy outcome for him some time down a road we do not get to travel together in this film.

The fact that there are laughs interspersed should not detract from the subtle yet powerful statements this movie makes. Besides, the comedy doesn't always work; some is dated, and some just isn't all that comical. The serious moments work better, and make us appreciate the lightheartedness more.

CIJ is innocent and heartfelt and tells the Everyman's small story of big dreams. Parts of it were as moving to me as a hundred of The Philadelphia Story's "lit from within" speeches.

One of Preston Sturges's earliest movies for which he both wrote and directed, and it's a beauty. William Powell is the victim of a practical joke pulled by his fellow employees and believes he's won $25,000 in a jingle contest. He spends the money on presents for all the people and kids in his poor tenement neighborhood and then learns of the hoax. His self-confidence suffers more than anything. The comedy is like quicksilver, and the jokes and wisecracks fly fast and furious. The funniest scene might be the one on the street where the store he bought everything from tries to get its stuff back - it's hilarious.

Sturges usually had a hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) message burried within the humor, and here it's all about what it means to be a success and whether money can bring happiness. Usually he's pretty subtle about these messages, but unfortunately here he beats us over the head with it by ending the picture with a two-minute speech about "giving the unknown little guy a chance": no one wants a lecture after laughing your head off for an hour. Still, I hope somebody's put a statue up someplace in Hollywood for the great Preston Sturges: no one deserves one more than he.

HEY YOU STUDIO KNUCKLEHEADS, WHERE'S THE DVD?!

"Christmas in July" is among the finest and yet unappreciated comedies of Hollywood's golden age. Dick Powell, a newcomer at Paramount studios, portrays Jimmy MacDonald who has entered a coffee company's slogan contest with the grand prize being $25,000. Some of his co-workers play a joke on him with a fake telegram. Jimmy and his fiance, Betty Casey (Ellen Drew) become excited as Jimmy is thought by his boss as being such a genius at writing slogans that Jimmy gets his own office and Betty is his private secretary. After they pick up the check (surprising to Dr. Maxford of Maxford House Coffee who doesn't know of anybody selected), they go on a shopping spree buying something for everybody in their neighborhood. Probably the only reason for the film's title is because Ellen Drew gives the line "It's like Christmas, in July." When Dr. Maxford finds out nobody was selected and the check was supposedly fake, Shindel Bros., the department store of which they went on a spree, starts to take everything back until the pompous Dr. Maxford steps in. Shindel is convinced when the townspeople take Jimmy's side and not Dr. Maxford's. Later, as they view Jimmy's new office, his boss is still impressed with his slogan-writing ability until when he hears Jimmy didn't really win and it was a joke. His boss goes into a fury, but Betty takes Jimmy's side by saying that he belongs in his own office becuase he thinks he has ideas and gives a short speech to him. In Maxford House, Dr. Maxford gets into a huge fit when he is distressed at the contest and that his workers have finally selected a winner. Guess who? Quite likely, the cycle will start again. Amazing film, and quite amazing what you can fit in a short 67 minute film.

Preston Sturges is one of the best directors -- ever -- and this is one of his very best. Unlike some of his later films, Sturges keeps the film moving quickly. He packs it with thoughtful lessons about love, friendship and success. The film is warm and sincere but also sharply observes human failings and the humor they generate.

Sturges' later brilliant comedies often cause this one to be overlooked. It is fully their equal, and deserves a much broader audience.

Christmas in July is the story of a man (Dick Powell) who struggles to make ends meet every day. He enters a slogan contest for a coffee company hoping to win the $25,000 prize. Some co-workers hear of his dreams and decide to play a joke on him; they forge a telegram congratulating him on winning first place. He goes into a frenzy buying things left and right being truly happy for what seems like the first time in his life. Eventually the bubble bursts, but even the ending of the film is fun rather than sad.

Dick Powell is wonderful here. It is great to see him outside of his light musical role; here he is much more realistic, less innocent and happy. It is interesting that the screen illustrates how poor the characters are and how dull their lives are; it is unglamorous and more realistic than one might expect.

then you'll enjoy this VHS. It's typical Sturges. Very predictable but enjoyable, nothing spectacular, though.

It's a great movie about the american idea of success and the problems with it. A real shame more people don't watch it.