Christmas in July: Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Raymond Walburn, Alexander Carr, William Demarest, Ernest Truex, Franklin Pangborn, Harry Hayden, Rod Cameron, Adrian Morris, Harry Rosenthal, Georgia Caine, Victor Milner, Preston Sturges, Ellsworth Hoagland, Buddy G. DeSylva, Paul Jones, William LeBaron: Amazon.ca: Video

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Released the same year as his directorial debut, Preston Sturges's second feature, Christmas in July, streamlines and supercharges the writer-director's visual and narrative styles. Sturges again tackles a ripe satirical target (in this case, advertising), and dramatizes it with a hyperbolic plot and over-the-top characters, all clocking in at a blink-and-you'll-miss-it 67 minutes.

Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell), an underling at the mammoth, bureaucratic Maxfield House Coffee company, dreams of his big break through an entry in his employer's radio sweepstakes for a new slogan. Jimmy's would-be tagline ("If you can't sleep at night, it isn't the coffee--it's the bunk!") may be inscrutable to all but its author, but when coworkers engineer a phony victory, even the company president swallows the bait. For a moment, at least, Jimmy and his sweetheart (Ellen Drew) are $25,000 richer. How they spend, then lose, that fortune occupies the rest of the slender story line, setting up Sturges's fable as a comment on greed and community.

Even with Sturges's hectic pacing to push characters and wisecracks at a furious clip, the feature feels more like a fast-food snack than a full meal, and specifics of the plot feel very dated. The director's fans will probably find the biggest Christmas present is the evident expansion of Sturges's still embryonic repertory company, which adds some key players in Franklin Pangborn, Ernest Truex, and Raymond Walburn. --Sam Sutherland

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Just Picture A Pent-House Way Up In The Sky!, Nov 30 2003

By

Alex Udvary (chicago, il United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas in July (VHS Tape)

It's hard for me to say who's films I enjoy more Preston Sturges or Ernst Lubitsch, both to me are masters of the sophisticated comedies. It's like asking someone who do you like more Chaplin or Keaton, both are so good you'd hate to chose one or the other. But of all the Sturges films I've seen I have to admit "Christmas in July" I think is his weakest. If judge purely on it's own merits it's a fine lighthearted enjoyable comedy. But when you consider the other films Preston Sturges made, "Christmas in July" doesn't hold up as well. It doesn't seem to have the bite movies such as "The Great McGinty" (Sturges' first film as dirctor), or "The Palm Beach Story" and my favorite "Unfaithfully Yours" had. It seems as if Sturges missed a few marks with this one. I didn't laugh as much as I usually do when watching one of his films. Though there is one great scene dealing with Powell after he thinks he won a contest and goes to the office of Dr. Maxford (Raymond Walburn). That scene made me laugh. And I promise not to give it away.

"Christmas in July" has Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell, this was at the time Powell wanted to break away from the musicals) as a poor but in love young man trying to make it big. Currently he has tried out in a contest created by Dr.Maxford (Walburn) who is looking for a new slogan for his coffee. Jimmy has entered in many contest before and naturally has lost them all. But, the way he figures it, one of these days he's bound to win one. So he and his sweetheart, Betty (Ellen Drew) hope for the best. If Jimmy wins they can finally get married. But everything will not work out so fine.

While at work some co-workers over-hear the news of Jimmy entering the contest and they decide to have a little fun at his expense. They tell him he's won the contest and a prize of $25,000!

Sturges' comedy starts to take off at this point, but I just can't help but feel the movie leaves much to be desired. And I only say this because I've truly enjoyed Sturges' past films. But this one is just not quite up to par with the rest of them. If you've never seen a Preston Sturges comedy, please do not start here.

So is there anything good to say about this movie? Yes. As I said before it is a cute old-fashioned comedy that has one of those happy endings we've come to expect from Hollywood. It does have a few funny scenes and is a harmless silly comedy. I would only suggest that fans of Sturges watch this one.

Bottom-line: One of Preston Sturges weaker comedies. Not to say this is a bad movie. Has a few bright spots but doesn't live up to Struges' other films such as "Unfaithfully Yours", "The Palm Beach Story" & "The Lady Eve".

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4.0 out of 5 stars A comic gem from Sturges., July 22 2002

By

Marc Russell (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas in July (VHS Tape)

One of Preston Sturges' best but least known films stars Dick Powell as an ordinary guy who becomes the victim of a prank and thinks he has won a slogan-writing contest. Altho the events are fairly predictable, this does not detract from the laughs. As with all Sturges films, plenty of fine old character actors (including, as always, William Demarest) are on hand. Why doesn't anyone make 67 minute movies anymore?

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2.0 out of 5 stars Not a masterpiece, Dec 28 2001

By

D. Domingo-Foraste (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Christmas in July (VHS Tape)

This film combines a rather dull, predictable and contrived plot with inconsistent characters. William Demerest plays a minor role in the movie, but "Uncle Charlie" is by far its highlight. A couple of slapstick scenes including a fishfight (yes, a fishfight) prevent the movie from having no redeeming aspects. Potential purchasers, beware! This is not a Christmas movie. Set in July, it takes its title from one line in the movie. Not worth the price of admission or even rental.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars IF YOU'RE A PRESTON STURGES FAN
then you'll enjoy this VHS. It's typical Sturges. Very predictable but enjoyable, nothing spectacular, though.

Published on Nov 22 2001 by Greg J. Sandie

5.0 out of 5 stars Underappreciated Sturges masterpiece
Not only is "Christmas in July" one of the funniest films ever made, it is also one of the sweetest, most lovable films of all time -- I think Preston Sturges was trying... Read more

Published on Nov 20 2001 by George Matusek