Christmas in November

“Holiday Inn”

Runtime: 100 minutes

Released in 1943

Black and White

November 12-13

“White Christmas”

Runtime: 120 minutes

Released in 1954

November 19-20

bowsley@thenewsenterprise.com

The Historic State Theater gets ready for Christmas this month by offering two classic holiday movies.

“Holiday Inn” (1943) kicks off the festivities Friday.

The film is the story of vaudeville partners Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby) and Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), who decide to break up as Hanover goes off on his own with Hardy’s girlfriend (Lila Dixon).

Hardy buys an inn in New England and meets Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds), and all is well until Hanover visits and sets his sights on Mason.

“Holiday Inn” was nominated for three Oscars and won for best song, “White Christmas.”

The movie is 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday.

Crosby returns to an inn in New England for the second holiday movie, “White Christmas” (1954).

This film features song and dance duo and army buddies Bob Wallace (Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye). They meet up with performing sisters Betty and Judy Haynes (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen).

All wind up in at an inn in Vermont and try to save the suffering inn and its owner, Wallace’s and Davis’s former commander, Gen. Waverly, by performing a Christmas show.

The film was nominated for a best original song Oscar for “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.”

“White Christmas” shows at 8 p.m. Nov. 19-20 with a 2 p.m. matinee showing Nov. 20.

The showing of “White Christmas” will encourage the audience singing along like last year, Heritage Council Director Dana Beth Lyddan said.

In coordination with Breakfast with Santa on the 20th, the theater will show cartoons from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. for $1 before a matinee showing of “White Christmas.”

Tickets for all showings are $5. For more information call (270) 234-8288.

Look for “Christmas in Connecticut” and “A Christmas Story” in December.

Becca Owsley can be reached at (270) 505-1741.