Screening @ Academy, Holiday Inn

A precursor of sorts to the beloved Technicolor classic White Christmas Protected content , Holiday Inn marks the first on-screen pairing of crooner Bing Crosby and hoofer Fred Astaire. The two play versions of themselves and compete for the affections of a young singer at a winter resort. On view in the museum’s exhibition Stories of Cinema: Identity is a lavish satin costume with gold embellishments designed by Edith Head for Astaire’s character to wear in a number celebrating George Washington’s birthday, one of many holiday-themed musical performances. The film earned Oscar nominations for Scoring of a Musical Picture and for Story, and won for Original Song for “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin.