Gorgeous orchestrations

I've watched White Christmas countless times. It's not Christmas without White Christmas! There's so much talent on the screen that it's staggering to behold: Vera-Ellen and John Brascia apparently could do anything with their bodies and their dance numbers together are nothing short of electrifying. Danny Kaye wasn't too shabby of a dancer either and his charm and comedic talent is on full display. Bing and Rosemary are in luciously fine voice and Edith Head's costumes are stunning as usual. Supporting actors Dean Jagger and Mary Wickes are first-rate too. And that saturated Technicolor is a treat for the eyes.

But one thing that has caused me to be such an over-the-top, ardent fan of the film is the work of Nathan Van Cleave, who wrote the orchestrations. He's a reason we may get tears in our eyes at the end when they're all singing the title song, but the next time you watch, pay special attention to the dance number performed by Danny and Vera to the tune, "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing". If music can sparkle and shimmer, Van Cleave's orchestral arrangement is a perfect example. Notice the beauty of the wind instruments that are synchronized with the dancers' movements.

The brass and wind instruments in "Mandy" are outstanding too, and while Bob Fosse's usual erotic choreography is toned down compared to his later work in, say, Cabaret, the hip thrusts and swivels are there and the accompanying brass section is as sexy as a family film of that era would permit.