ISSUE #81
BEAM FROM THE BOOTH | GRAND RAPIDS FILM SOCIETY
[EDITED BY: GRIFFIN SHERIDAN & SPENCER EVERHART]
Hello and welcome back to an all-new, very special installment of BEAM FROM THE BOOTH brought to you by GRAND RAPIDS FILM SOCIETY!
Even as 2024 comes to a close, we aren't slowing down on the fun! Our final two events of the year are still to come, the first of which is happening NEXT SUNDAY. Join us for yuletide cheer at our special MATINEE SCREENING of WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) on 12/22 at 2:00pm!
For some holiday-themed behind-the-scenes — and the perfect intro to the film — check out this next piece by Breana Malloy...
THE IMPACT AND HISTORY OF IRVING BERLIN’S SONG “WHITE CHRISTMAS”
[BY: BREANA MALLOY]
As evening falls, snowflakes cascade from the sky, their many intricate and unique shapes slowly and silently drifting to the ground. The fire crackles, warming me as I sit bundled under a blanket hand-knit by my grandmother and passed down from my mother. A mug of hot chocolate, warm in my exposed hand, is at the perfect drinking temperature — its aroma wafting to my nose. When I think of Michael Curtiz’s White Christmas, that is what I envision: a cozy evening indoors, warm, comfortable, and at peace. Once a year, I prepare my evening in this fashion before settling in to watch my favorite Christmas classic, White Christmas.
When composing White Christmas, I highly doubt Irving Berlin could have foreseen its immense impact. After eighty years, the song still consistently charts, it inspired an Academy Award-winning film, and it has led to a Tony-nominated musical. Through one three-minute song, Berlin has brought families together, given hope and joy to millions, and left a legacy that endures.
It has been a little over seventy years since the world was introduced to one of its most iconic holiday films. Since its premiere at Radio City Music Hall in 1954, Crosby, Kaye, Clooney, and Vera-Ellen have become household names during the holiday season. Not only is it a Christmas film, but also a musical with music written by one of the most accomplished composers of his time: Irving Berlin. He is the man behind “Blue Skies,” one of the first songs to be featured in a ‘talkie’ (The Jazz Singer directed by Alan Crosland), among many other popular pieces. And, of course, he is the creator of the holiday classic “White Christmas,” which gained popularity long before the film’s release. Bing Crosby sang the song for over ten years before performing it in the film we know and love today.
The song itself inspired the 1954 film, which went on to win Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Decades later, the song and its legacy are still making waves. In 2008, the musical version of White Christmas made its Broadway debut. Written for the stage by David Ives and Paul Blake, the production enjoyed a successful run from 2008 to 2009 followed by a U.S. tour. To this day, the musical is still performed by many theaters across the country each year. Bing Crosby’s 1942 release of White Christmas has charted on Billboard’s surveys almost every year since its original release. It’s remarkable to think that a simple three-minute song could have such a lasting legacy, bringing people together across generations. From its humble origins to its cultural significance today, White Christmas reminds us of the power of music and film to create traditions, evoke emotions, and connect us to one another.
All of that — from one song.
ECHOES
[BY: SPENCER EVERHART]
Echoes is an exclusively-visual column based on the MUBI Notebook series of the same name - a fun way to find the repetitions, reverberations, and recapitulations in images throughout cinema history.
The Church (Michele Soavi, 1989)
My Winnipeg (Guy Maddin, 2007)
UPCOMING EVENTS
WHITE CHRISTMAS (Curtiz, 1954)
WHAT: MATINEE SCREENING! Two singing acts join together to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont to plan a yuletide miracle: a fun-filled musical extravaganza! Join us for this holiday classic.
WHEN: Monday, December 22nd, 2:00pm
WHERE: The Wealthy Theatre
EYES WIDE SHUT (Kubrick, 1999)
WHAT: After Dr. Bill Hartford's (Tom Cruise) wife, Alice (Nicole Kidman), admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met, Bill becomes obsessed, discovering an underground sexual group and attending one of their meetings -- only to quickly discover that he is in over his head.
WHEN: Monday, December 30th, 7:00pm
WHERE: The Wealthy Theatre
HEAT (Mann, 1995)
WHAT: Kick off 2025 with our MICHAEL MANN-UARY series!
Master criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is planning one last big heist before retiring. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Hanna (Al Pacino) attempts to track down McCauley as he deals with the chaos in his own life. McCauley and Hanna discover a mutual respect, even as they try to thwart each other's plans.
WHEN: Friday, January 3rd, 7:00pm
WHERE: The Wealthy Theatre
And so we’ve arrived at the end of another BEAM FROM THE BOOTH! We appreciate you taking the time to read it and truly hope you’ll continue to do so. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to get each issue in your inbox every week, and stay up-to-date on all things GRFS.
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Until then, friends...
