talisencrw
I greatly loved this yuletide film, with excellent performances by Barbara Stanwyck and Sydney Greenstreet, and fine direction by Peter Godfrey. Had they a stronger actor in the lead than Dennis Morgan, it would be a perfect film, but it's still a wonderful Christmas perennial and favourite to watch. The Oscar-winning short Star in the Night, directed by Don Siegel and a bonus on this DVD, is even better...Very charming film is more a straight romantic comedy than a Christmas film per se, but any chance to see cinematic greats such as Barbara Stanwyck (especially at this vintage) and, one of the finest character actors ever in Sydney Greenstreet, together is definitely not a lump of coal in a cinephile's Christmas stocking, no-siree!
SimonJack
Some classical stories (novels) have been so popular for so long, that they are remade into movies every so many years. The stories remain virtually unchanged, but the cast, script and sets change. The most obvious of these is Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." That literary and holiday classic lends itself very well to new productions, much like the works of Shakespeare. On the other hand, some specific movies have become favorite classics or are so part of our annual traditions that the casts have become ingrained in the stories. One can't see anyone else playing certain roles. One of the most obvious of these is Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." We can't imagine anyone other than James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers playing the roles they had in that film. "Christmas in Connecticut" is another such film.Although it hasn't reached the stature of Wonderful Life, this film has become a holiday classic as well. It is a favorite of mine. Those of us who have seen it a number of times over the years can't imagine anyone other than those in its cast playing the roles in the film. Barbara Stanwyck is Elizabeth Lane, Dennis Morgan is Jefferson Jones, Sydney Greenstreet is Alexander Yardley, S.Z. 'Chuckles' Sakall is Uncle Felix, and Reginald Gardiner is John Sloan. Even beyond the main cast, some supporting actors are so good and right for their roles, that they have become 'ingrained' in the parts. These include Una O'Connor as Norah, Dick Elliott as Judge Crothers, and Robert Shayne as Dudley Beecham. This movie came out less than a month before Japan's surrender and the end of World War II. It was nearly 1 ½ years ahead of "It's a Wonderful Life." There are no war scenes in "Christmas in Connecticut," but the war had a strong influence and part in the plot of the film. The war that had ended had nothing to do with the plot of "It's a Wonderful Life." While both films have Christmas settings, their stories and intended audiences are quite different. "It's a Wonderful Life" is all family entertainment, with strong seasonal appeal to children as well as adults and strong moral and human overtones. "Christmas in Connecticut" is a very good romantic comedy that is adult all the way. It's approved viewing for children as well – very clean and proper. But the humorous script and sequences are written for adults. It doesn't have tremendously clever dialog with witty wisecracks and comebacks. Rather, it has clever lines that fit visual situations. The film has some hilarious sequences. Watch for Uncle Felix, Elizabeth and Sloan at the buffet table in the restaurant. Another is at Alexander Yardley's home, between him and Elizabeth – and then the butler and Elizabeth. Judge Crothers pops in and out of scenes in a funny sort of cat-and-mouse series of scenes. Then there's the Connecticut square dance. And Yardley's dialog with Sloan about the former's ability to detect lies and fraud. The farm cow plays in another humorous sequence. Elizabeth and Jones have a wonderful sequence, warm and funny, with the baby. Later, the baby switches lead to all sorts of mayhem and humor. There are more, from the opening scenes of two sailors adrift after their ship is torpedoed, to the very end. I noted some reviewers thought the plot was too contrived or silly. I think it's an excellent plot, very well contrived, with several specific twists that fit together perfectly to make it work. This is not an uproariously funny film. It's a warm, entertaining romantic comedy. Its turns with the truth, marriage, fidelity and other virtues are obvious to an adult audience. So, we don't take them as serious but as part of the humor of the plot. Nor is this a film of funny characters. Stanwyck, Greenstreet and Morgan are mostly straight characters, although Greenstreet has some very humorous dialog in a couple places. The only standout humorous role is that of Uncle Felix. To a lesser degree, Norah and Dud are comedic roles. The comedy is mostly in the lines of these three characters, and in the physical responses and scenes with the others. To that extent, Stanwyck and Greenstreet are especially good in their straight roles that lend to the comedy. Greenstreet is a riot as the prudent overseer of morals and propriety of his columnist employee, Elizabeth. This is a most enjoyable film. Its transparent plot seems very straightforward. Yet I seem to discover something new to enjoy each time I watch this movie. I heartily recommend it for anyone who hasn't yet seen it. One viewing should suffice to make it a part of your annual Christmas holidays list.Here are a few snippets of the fun and funny dialog that I enjoy. Elizabeth, "Dud, we're going to be married." Dud, "What? Hey, now, look here Elizabeth, it isn't that bad." John, "Oh, really, Beecham."Judge Crothers, "I suppose you'll give the bride away, Uncle Felix?" Felix, "Me – I don't give nobody away. Always, I keep my mouth shut."Butler, "Pardon me, Mrs. Lane. "I'm planning on having a farm in Connecticut myself one day. I'd like some good bottomland." Mrs. Lane, "Bottomland?" Butler, "Yes. That's the best for farming, isn't it?" Mrs. Lane, "Oh, some people say yes, and some people say no." Butler, "But what do you say?" Mrs. Lane, "Uh, I'm inclined to agree with them." Butler, "Oh, thank you very much."
writers_reign
Let's hear it for serendipity: In a shop specializing in Region 1 dvds I stumbled across one of those pantechnicon boxed sets, this one featuring four Christmas-themed movies. The selling point in my case was The Shop Around The Corner, which I have seen several times on TV but never owned and the set also boasted three other titles that were either new to me (It Happened on Fifth Avenue) or titles of which I'd heard of but hadn't seen, like this one. Okay the leading man was something of an acting joke, wooden as both Punch and Judy combined, but Barbara Stanwych seldom lets you down and if she was having an off-day here (she wasn't) Sydney Greenstreet, S. Z. Zackall, Regineld Gardiner and Una O'Connor were running interference and there was no way they could all be lousy at the same time. The premise was that Stanwyck plays a character based loosely upon Gladys Taber who, for several decades wrote a column in Family Circle in which she did little more than chat in a homely way - and/or dispensed 'Butternut Wisdom' about her farm in Connecticut, lacing the text with recipes, gardening tips etc. The twist in the film is that Stanwyck writes her column from Manhattan, couldn't boil water without burning it, would require an illustrated recipe to make toast and relies on the expertise of restaurateur Zackall to provide the cooking tips/recipes. She's doing all right if anybody asks you until the owner of the magazine, Greenstreet, decides not only to spend Christmas on the fictitious Stanwyck farm but also to bring war hero Morgan to supply the human interest angle. Luckily Regineld Gardiner, who has been pursuing Stanwyck unsuccessfully for years, just happens to have a farm in Connecticut which he is prepared to 'lend' Stanwyck should she agree to marry him, and naturally there is room also for Zackall to do the cooking. Now, of course, it's just a matter of waiting to see how long Stanwyck can keep the balls in the air, or how many near-misses she can survive. There's a lot of charm at work here and it's sobering to think that in 1945 this could have easily got lost in the shuffle at a time when they were churning out stuff like this at the rate of half a dozen a year whilst today it beckons like an oasis in a desert of mediocrity. Highly recommended.
