Christmas in July
Year: 1940
Film Studio: Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
Length: 67 Min.
DirectorPreston Sturges (1898)
WritingPreston Sturges (1898)...Writer
ProducerPaul Jones (1901)
CinematographerVictor Milner (1893)
MusicJohn Leipold (1888)...Composer
Leo Shuken (1906)...Composer
StarsDick Powell (1904) as Jimmy MacDonald
Ellen Drew (1915) as Betty Casey
Raymond Walburn (1887) as Dr. Maxford
Alexander Carr (1878) as Mr. Shindel
William Demarest (1892) as Mr. Bildocker
Ernest Truex (1889) as Mr. J.B. Baxter
Franklin Pangborn (1889) as Don Hartman (radio announcer)
Harry Hayden (1882) as Mr. E.L. Waterbury (office manager)
Review Basically, Preston Sturges’s second film is more or less, his way of making a
‘Capraesque’ type movie, and probably besting Capra as Sturges shows sentiment without being cloying in his approach. Jimmy McDonald (Dick Powell) is a young man with big dreams and big ideas. Sadly, his dreams are still un-fulfilled and no one hears his ideas. That is, until an office prank sets in motion, a series of events that will change not only his, but his fiancé’s life forever. Jimmy’s dream is to win a slogan contest being sponsored by the Maxford Coffee Company, who is looking for a new slogan to pitch their product. The prize is $25,000, and Jimmy sees his future as rosy when he wins with his sure fire slogan:
“If you can’t sleep at night, it’s not the coffee- it’s the bunk!” But tiring of his endless bellowing about the contest, three co-workers decide to send him a phony telegram stating that he has won the first prize.
Now the film sets off at frenetic pace as Jimmy’s situation begins to spiral favorably, but uncontrollably forward. His boss thinks that if he can win such a contest against odds stacked so clearly against him, then he must be of executive quality. Jimmy is offered an office and a raise to create slogans for his company, and then he is given the day off to collect his winnings. When he arrives at the Maxford building he shows them the fake telegram, the owner of the company believes him and writes him a check. Jimmy and his fiancé then relocate to Swindell’s Department store to buy presents for all their friends and family. Upon returning to their neighborhood they dole out the many gifts for a grateful group of neighbors who congratulate Jimmy on his newfound success.
Later that evening as Jimmy is formulating his future while sitting on his front porch, one of the office pranksters, steps up and divulges the truth behind the telegram. Being the honest young man that he is, Jimmy decides to make things right with everyone involved. But events will spiral out of control before he has a chance, when the owner of the coffee company realizes his mistake. What follows is pure Sturges madcap mayhem, with everyone in the end coming out clean.
Ratings Criterion5 Stars - The pinnacle of film perfection and excellence.
4 ½ Stars - Not quite an immortal film, yet a masterpiece in its own right.
4 Stars - Historically important film, considered a classic.3 ½ Stars - An entertaining film that’s fun or engaging to watch.
3 Stars – A good film that’s worth a Netflix venture.
2 ½ Stars - Borderline viewable.
2 Stars – A bad film that may have a moment of interest.
1 ½ Stars – Insipid, trite and sophomoric, and that's its good points.
1 Star – A film so vacuous, it will suck 2 hours from the remainder of your life.
½ Star - A gangrenous and festering pustule in the chronicles of celluloid.
