Holiday Inn

  • Review Date: September 18, 2005
  • NR
  • Genre: Classic
  • 1942
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Classic musical with some controversial material.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids will see a musical number performed in blackface. Crosby tries to lure his so-called friend's girlfriend away -- twice! And Astaire dances drunk -- literally!

  • The movie is lighthearted and well-meant overall, but modern audiences are likely to be very taken aback by the Lincoln's Birthday number, which is performed in blackface and is decidedly not politically correct. Plus, Astaire's character tries -- twice! -- to seduce a girl away from his supposed friend.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

When singer Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) finds out that his fiancée is in love with smooth-talking dancer Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), he skulks off to milk cows and lick his wounds on the farm he now owns. While his pride heals, a swell idea occurs to him: Why not turn the farm into an inn that's only open on holidays, with live entertainment and a homemade breakfast in the morning? A girl (Marjorie Reynolds) looking for her big show business break helps Hardy bring his daydream to fruition. Not only is his Holiday Inn a success thanks to her singing and dancing, he's falling in love to boot. But trouble's right around the corner. Hanover's girl has dropped him, it seems, and his search for a new dance partner has him once again courting Hardy's girl.


Is it any good?

 

Thirteen Irving Berlin numbers. Exploding peach preserves. Fred Astaire dancing drunk -- and not faking it! Yes, HOLIDAY INN has it all, including a lamentable scene in which Bing Crosby, in blackface and stovepipe hat, performs a tribute to Abraham Lincoln. My, oh my, things have certainly changed since 1942.

In spite of a few awkward numbers and a meager plot, Crosby and Astaire slap plenty of life into this black-and-white classic. In one number, Astaire spins across the stage with firecrackers popping at his feet. Seeing him maneuver clumsily across the dance floor with Marjorie Reynolds is another treat -- to play it convincingly drunk, Astaire took a hefty belt between each take. Crosby is the real charmer, though, as a decent, easygoing fellow whose idyllic life is threatened not just by a girl-stealing cad, but by his own awkwardness in expressing love. Worry not. As with most musicals, in the end it all works out for the best.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about the blackface performance, both before and after the show. Why didn't white people consider black face performances to be offensive in the 1940s? Do you think African Americans were offended? Why or why not? How have attitudes changed since then? Why?


This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
Parent of 8 and 12 year old
December 17, 2011
 
Love this movie
I love this movie and watched it many times as a child with my father. I watched it last night and the black face dance scene was left out. What???? They shouldn't do that these days, take out scene just because someone might get offend. It's part of the movie and it was a OK thing to do back in that time.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Mark Sandrich
Cast:Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds
Genre:Classic
Run time:101 minutes
Theatrical release date:August 4, 1942
DVD release date:November 9, 1999
MPAA rating:NR

This review was written by Scott G. Mignola
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Holiday Inn?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it