Christmas in Connecticut!
Because it’s December, and we’re heading up to Christmas, I’m going to talk about my favorite Christmas movie of all time, the Warner Brothers classic, Christmas in Connecticut which was released in 1945 just as the Second World War was drawing to a close.
Because I value you all so highly, I made myself watch this again on the weekend. I hope you appreciate my sufferings on your behalf! It’s such a charmer – and I always laugh, even though I must have seen it at least twenty times.
One of the things I love most about this movie is that it manages to have all the charm of a period piece, while still seeming rather modern. I think at the heart of this dichotomy is the Barbara Stanwyck character, who is an independent woman who can’t cook and works for her living and wouldn’t ever think of bowing down to a man. Even better, her strength of character and intelligence are viewed as admirable qualities!
It’s a relationship of equals that our heroine wants – and I’m delighted to say it’s a relationship of equals that she gets!
The story is rather silly but very clever, with some wonderful slapstick and a gorgeous central romance. Barbara Stanwyck plays Elizabeth Lane whose column in Good Housekeeping magazine has made her one of the most popular writers in America. Unfortunately, her tales of an idyllic life with her husband and her new baby up on her beautiful farm in Connecticut are all completely fictional. The mouth-watering recipes she includes in her columns are thanks to her delightful friend, cuddly restaurateur Felix (the wonderful S.Z. Sakall who comes pretty close to stealing the show – and he’s got a Christmas dinner-sized mountain of competition when it comes to that!).
But all her subterfuges come undone when overbearing magazine proprietor, and Elizabeth’s boss, Alexander Yeardley (Sydney Greenstreet, another scene stealer!) arranges for her to host war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) for Christmas, now he’s just recovered from drifting in a raft for 18 days after his ship was torpedoed. Yeardley is so desperate for a family Christmas that he invites himself along, too.
What is Elizabeth to do? Her job is on the line, but so is that of her editor who has colluded in the deception. Rather against her instincts, she accepts the proposal of pompous architect, John Sloan (Reginald Gardiner) who actually does have a farm in Connecticut. She invites Felix up to do the cooking and she and John are set to marry on Christmas Eve, ready to present a picture of perfect family life to the naval officer and Mr. Yeardley when they arrive. But unfortunately (or perhaps not!), the best-laid plans go astray.
And the baby? I won’t spoil this for you. But the baby subplot always has me in stitches.
So does Elizabeth marry John? What do you think? Especially when Jefferson Jones is absolutely lovely, funny and sweet and kind and ready to fall in love at first sight with Elizabeth. Which causes a few problems because as far as he knows, she’s married, and he’s a fine upstanding young man, you know! There’s a lovely detail early in the film that tells you all you need to know about Elizabeth’s two suitors. John tips the sleigh driver a dime and thinks he’s been very generous. Jeff gives him a couple of bills, enough to impress him. Mr. Stingy versus Mr. Generous – you know who’s the right one from that moment on.
But before Jeff and Elizabeth get their happy ending (I love the end of this film – it’s just so romantic and sweet and true to the characters!), there’s much mayhem and hilarity, a lot of it based on Elizabeth’s fumbling efforts to act like the accomplished housewife of her magazine pieces.
This is the perfect Christmas film. It’s not overly saccharine although it’s definitely got its heart in the right place. It has wonderful, memorable characters and a great female lead. The script is witty, there’s a subtle but very appealing sexiness, and the setting is lovely. And really, the baby plot is hilarious!
So what are you waiting for?
