Is there a movie which you always enjoy watching, no matter what your mood is? “Rhythm on the River” from 1940 is such a movie, a little-known gem which belongs in every classic movie lover’s collection. This movie stars Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, Basil Rathbone, and Oscar Levant. This is only the second movie that…

Commentary I’m always on the lookout for hidden gems from the Golden Era of Hollywood. It’s amazing how many now-forgotten movies feature great performances from the early careers of famous entertainers. “Sing, You Sinners” is just such a film. Released in 1938, it’s the story of three brothers, played by Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray, and…

Are you looking for a New Year’s movie? How about a Christmas film? Perhaps a story with a Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or Independence Day scene? There’s probably only one movie which fits all these criteria, and it’s “Holiday Inn” from 1942. This holiday classic stars Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in their first of two…

SKOKIE, Ill.—When the song “White Christmas,” written by Irving Berlin (1888–1989) was originally performed in the 1942 movie musical “Holiday Inn,” it was overshadowed by “Be Careful, It’s My Heart,” also by Berlin. But it didn’t take long before “White Christmas” became the bigger hit. World War II had recently broken out, and soldiers overseas…

NR | 2h 6min | Drama, Comedy | 1945 Producer, director, and screenwriter Leo McCarey’s box-office hit “Going My Way” (1944) inspired his sequel, “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945). The films introduced Father O’Malley to audiences, a character McCarey created and dramatized. Rare even for those years, McCarey’s sequel won greater popular acclaim than…