With no new films to review for the foreseeable future, Reel Speak will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week. Not just for the sake of filling time, but to hopefully introduce some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. Now comes the conclusion to this year's Holiday Series.
Christmas may be over, but the decorations are still up, there’s always leftover cookies and nogg to get through, and there’s no reason to drop the Christmas spirit just because the calendar says so. There’s still plenty of time to get in some holiday movies, and one great choice is Peter Godfrey’s 1945 romantic comedy, CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT.
Elizabeth (Barbara Stanwyck), is a popular food writer for a large publication, writing about her fictitious farm, husband, family, and her non-existent cooking skills. When her publisher Mr. Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet) receives a letter from the nurse of a wounded sailor, Jefferson (Dennis Morgan), he insists that she host Christmas dinner with himself and Jefferson. Now facing the possibility of scandal, Elizabeth asks her would-be-suiter John (Reginald Gardiner), to pretend to be her husband for a Christmas Eve dinner.
CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT spends its time with Elizabeth trying to pull off one gigantic ruse in order to save her career. Fear is a great motivator, and she is deathly afraid that the revelation of the life she has been writing about would ruin her. This prompts her to accept John’s marriage proposal (even though she doesn’t love him), to recruit her uncle, chef Felix (S.Z. Sakall), to prepare the meals. She has a lot to juggle, including bringing in a judge to secretly perform a marriage ceremony under the noses of Yardley and Jefferson, and borrowing a baby (or two) to complete her fictious family.
Romance is ultimately the core of the film, and while hilarity is going on with sneaking judges and babies around, Elizabeth and Jefferson immediately fall for each other. It’s an early courtship that is complicated by the ruse of Elizabeth being married with a family, but the feelings are so strong that Jefferson seems to have no issue with having an affair; a bit shocking, for a 1945 film.
Director Peter Godfrey keeps the pacing tight, and the action, which mostly involves characters sneaking around, very funny to see. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and sometimes it’s a challenge to keep up. Godfrey gets great performances out of his cast. Barbara Stanwyck lights things up and her chemistry with Dennis Morgan leaps off the screen. The show is nearly stolen by S. Z. Sakall.
As a holiday film, CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT carries a message of love and generosity, and is a fun reminder of the type of chaos that can come to any family during those holiday dinners and gatherings. Before the lights come down and the last drop of nogg is dropped, be sure to have a look at a CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT.
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S.K. Sakall had a career that spanned 30 years. His most memorable role came in 1942 as Carl the waiter in CASABLANCA. Barbara Stanwyck’s career spanned 60 years. She would earn an honorary Oscar in 1982 before her passing in 1990.
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