Christmas in Connecticut

 

 

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This feature film is the type of movie that puts a smile on my face. It is one of my favorite Christmas movie that I watch in the last two weeks prior to Christmas day. It is light hearted and does not pretend to be an oscar contender. It simply lifts your spirit and make you wish you would be part of the cast. If unsure try to rent it and decide if it worth buying it. You might end up making it part of your traditions during the holiday season. Also, Barbara and Dennis were so cute together.

Forget all the others that people think are "must sees" at Christmas time. This is the best and, seemingly, the least well known.

It is so funny to watch in light of today's Martha Stewart and other domestic "divas." A lot of the humor was probably risque for the day but, sadly, most youths today would have to have it explained to them.

The movie is a well written comedy of errors. The characters are interesting and not just one demensional as is so often the case in comedies. I found myself very involved with the story...cheering for my favorite characters.

If you only have time to see one Christmas movie this year do make it this one. You won't be sorry.

I have to admit, I don't really like most holiday movies. They tend to be too sugary and whimsical for my taste.

But "Christmas in Connecticut" is a delicious exception, being less a holiday movie than a romantic comedy that happens to be at Christmas. Sure, i it's a bit on the fluffy side, but it never dips into the sentimental or syrupy, and the country Christmas makes a delightful setting for a more grown-up Christmas story.

Navy officer Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) nearly starves to death after his ship sinks. While he's recovering, his nurse is convinced that if he spends Christmas at a "real home," he'll go all domestic and marry her. So she writes magazine mogul Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet) for assistance. Yardley decides to send Jones to stay with his hottest asset: perfect wife/mother/cook/columnist Elizabeth Lane (Stanwyck), on her farm in Connecticut.

Problem is, she's actually an urban singleton who can't cook to save her life. So to keep up the ruse, Elizabeth hastily accepts a proposal from an old friend, stuffy John Sloan (Reginald Gardiner) -- who happens to have a farm in Connecticut. But when she arrives at the farm, she's instantly smitten with Jones, and starts to rethink the whole marriage thing... especially when her charade starts to collapse.

"Christmas in Connecticut" is just a funny, romantic, heartwarming little Christmas movie. It straddles the fence between a screwball and a straightforward romantic comedy, and director Peter Godfrey keeps it all looking effortless. It's just fun, fun, fun, even when Elizabeth's secret inevitably comes out.

Instead, Godfrey deftly juggled the romantic and screwball aspects of the movie. A lot of the humor is centered on Sloan trying to marry Elizabeth, and always getting interrupted. There's also some gloriously embarrassing humor from baby-washing, snowdrifts, and pancake flipping.

It also has lots of funny dialogue; when Yardley yells, "I don't want anything to happen to that baby. It will ruin my circulation!," Felix chimes in with, "It won't do the baby no good, neither." But it also has some achingly romantic scenes, like Jones and Elizabeth's sleigh ride on a moonlight, snowy night.

Stanwyck and the boyishly sweet Morgan have solid chemistry, although it's restricted to G-rated flirting since he thinks she's married. We also get a wonderful performance from Greenstreet, who plays a more genial character than usual. And S.Z. Sakall steals the show as the wily chef Felix, who is determined to see "Lizka" live happily ever after with Jones.

The DVD also contains the Oscar-winning short, "Star in the Night." It takes place in the American west, with a young man and his pregnant wife (guess who!) arriving at an inn, where the embittered Italian innkeeper tells them that there's no room. When the young girl goes into labor, the cowboys and travellers around the innkeeper show him that human nature is not essentially selfish.

For anyone seeking a little Christmas story aimed at grown-ups, this might be the right balance of romance and sly wit. An enchanting little movie for the holidays.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas MUST!
The ORIGINAL "Christmas in Connecticut" is one of my favourite romantic comedies of all time, not just one of my favourite Christmas flicks. Read more

Published on Aug 30 2004 by coopermom27

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas Fare
I look forward to seeing this romantic comedy of errors each year at Christmastime. Barbara Stanwick is superb, and it's great to see Sidney Greenstreet in a comedy. Read more

Published on Jan 15 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Michele's First Review
This was a wonderfully comical and good hearted movie based on old fashioned values. It's a definite classic, in my opinion!! Read more

Published on Nov 10 2003 by Chelly

5.0 out of 5 stars Babs @ one of her best
I wanted to comment on this wonderful film. To me it is one of the most romantic holiday films around. Read more

Published on Jun 12 2003 by stanyfan

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Christmas Fun
I have a couple of holiday favorites, and this is one of them. I love the sets, the manners, the general tone of life in the 40's. Read more

Published on Jan 22 2003 by Margaret Plichta

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Stanwyck's better romantic comedies
My favorite female performer in the history of film is Barbara Stanwyck. Unlike many actresses, she could excell in sympathetic roles, comedic roles, and sinister roles. Read more

Published on Dec 22 2002 by Robert Moore

5.0 out of 5 stars A YEAR 'ROUND CHRISTMAS FANTASY!
Not many movies continue to delight me over the years as much as this Christmas classic filmed in 1945. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2002 by Judy Inman

5.0 out of 5 stars Where's the DVD?!?!?
It's funny, it's fast-paced, it blows the later version out of the water... but why, why WHY isn't it on DVD? I refuse to buy it on VHS.

Published on Jun 25 2002 by Keith

4.0 out of 5 stars It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without It
This one is right up there with Holiday Inn, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Bishop's Wife as must see every holiday. Read more

Published on Nov 19 2001 by Gordon James

5.0 out of 5 stars My All-Time Favorite Christmas Movie!
Christmas wouldn't be complete without this classic 1940's Christmas movie! It is a fabulous showcase for '40s enthusiasts: great clothes, classic old houses with CHARM, great... Read more

Published on Jan 22 2001 by Quinn Wyatt

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