Ah, snow - that requisite condition for a Christmas that truly reflects all those fun secular carols and some religious ones, too (I'm looking at you, Wenceslas). As a child of the Vancouver suburbs, this number spoke to me. I can relate to the highs of their snow dream and the subsequent lows of another decidedly unfestive, snowless Noel.
Any musical number involving the construction of a diorama is ace in my books, and the fact they're using tabletop items is reminiscent of the legendary work of that Art Attack guy.
Still, I sense some tension in this number. Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye seem rather insincere as they sing snow's praises. Clooney's apparent desire to engage in freaky snow ablutions and Kaye's expressed longing to shovel pavements just seem a tad ...off. Kaye makes some effort to muster up enthusiasm by noting the by-product of his path-clearing efforts will be a curvaceous and mirthful snowman. Of course, that amorous twinkle in his eyes suggests he could have busted out the snowman plans just to get into somebody's WAC slacks. Clooney reluctantly concedes she might enjoy throwing snow at people, possibly to channel her snow-rage. Her credibility is further hampered by the fact she goes back to talking about washing her hair with the shit like she thinks that sounds sane. I just don't trust testimony like that.
One of the most striking things about this musical film is its ability to generate suspense as to whether it will end up snowing... in Vermont. Dramatic irony! Unlike Vermont, Vancouver was not always so fortunate. White Christmases had to be savoured because there was an actual risk that next year your street may not be a marshmallow world made for sweethearts. Oh, of course there was snow a 40-minute drive up the mountains, or a few hours east or north, but that's just not the same.
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