Christmas In Connecticut
starring
Barbara Stanwyck ■ Dennis Morgan ■ Sidney Greenstreet
(1945)
It's the fun show that's the one show to see!
| Journalist Elizabeth Lane is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an unmarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor will spend his Christmas on *her* farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do? I will start off by saying that Barbara Stanwyck has never been a favorite of mine. There have been a few movies that have been definite exceptions such as The Mad Miss Manton, Witness To Murder, Roustabout, I even thought Remember The Night and Ball Of Fire were OK, but this movie, Christmas In Connecticut is one of my two favorites, The Mad Miss Manton is the other, and I absolutely love watching them both when I get the chance. Every year when December rolls around my family drags out our favorite holiday movies, and, since we've seen them way too many times It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street are out, however Christmas In Connecticut is definitely in. I hadn't even heard of Christmas In Connecticut until I was a given a set of 4 classic black/white Christmas movies. We fell in love with this romantic comedy from an era when movies could be comedic without being crass and romantic without being trashy. Sure, it's a bit cheesy in spots but it is still so much fun! One of the things that I really like about this movie is the chance to see Sidney Greenstreet, who will forever be 'The Fat Man' Mr. Caspar Gutman in my mind, in a comedy role instead of the usual film noir. And then there's one of my favorite secondary role actors, S.Z. Sakall as 'Uncle' Felix, who is so lovable in this movie. I still frequently quote him from this film by calling something bad a 'catastroff' (catastrophe) and then there is the funny scene between him and Norah the cook when he turns her Irish stew into Hungarian Goulash. So, get out those popcorn balls, frosted cookies, or that pan of fudge and have a little WWII era style Christmas fun with a good movie!  1 hour 41 minutes | Principal Cast Barbara Stanwyck...Elizabeth Lane Dennis Morgan...Jefferson Jones Sydney Greenstreet...Alexander Yardley Reginald Gardiner...John Sloan S.Z. Sakall...Felix Bassenak Robert Shayne...Dudley Beecham Una O'Connor...Norah Frank Jenks...Sinkewicz Joyce Compton...Mary Lee Dick Elliott...Judge Crowthers Filming Location(s) Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA Quotes Felix Bassenak: That coat! What's the meaning? Elizabeth Lane: Don't worry, I'm paying for it myself. It'll take my next six months' salary. Nice, isn't it? Felix Bassenak: Six months' work for a coat? Elizabeth Lane: All my life I promised myself a mink coat. You know, Felix, it's very important to keep promises, especially to yourself. Felix Bassenak: Do you have to promise so expensively? Elizabeth Lane: But I need it! Felix Bassenak: You need it? Nobody needs a minks coat but a minks. Dudley Beecham: Liz, don't waste time with him. You have to decide what you're going to say to the old man. John Sloan: What old man? Elizabeth Lane: Oh, it's Yardley. He's sending me a sailor for Christmas. John Sloan: Oh, how nice... A sailor? Really, Elizabeth! Elizabeth Lane: Don't you come near me, you seawolf, after the way you deceived me... Jefferson Jones: I deceived you? Elizabeth Lane: Yes! You're engaged! Jefferson Jones: You're married! Elizabeth Lane: That has nothing to do with it! Elizabeth Lane: [Getting fed up with Mr. Yardley, who won't let her speak] Suppose you listen to me for a change?... I said listen to me! I'm tired of being pushed around. Tired of being told what to do. Tired of writing your god-darned articles. Tired of dancing to everybody else's tune. Tired of being told whom to marry. In short... I'm tired! Alexander Yardley: What a Christmas! Ho, ho, what a Christmas! |
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