Celebrate 60 Years of White Christmas

I LOVE Christmas movies, especially the classics. I am ashamed to admit that I have never seen all of White Christmas. Soon that will be rectified though because On November 14, 2014 this beloved Christmas classic is coming to Blu-ray! My review of the Blu-ray and its bonus features will be coming in a few weeks but I wanted to make sure you knew the film was releasing soon so you could get a copy for yourself or as a Christmas gift for a movie buff on your list.

About the White Christmas Diamond Anniversary Blu-ray Combo Pack

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS Blu-ray will be presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English Restored Mono DTS-HD Master Audio, French Mono Dolby Digital, Spanish Mono Dolby Digital and Portuguese Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 televisions with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, English Restored Mono, French Mono and Spanish Mono, as well as English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes the following:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray):

Feature film in high definition
Feature film with optional Sing-Along Subtitle Track—NEW!
Commentary by Rosemary Clooney
Classic Holiday Moments—NEW!
o “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby on December 1, 1976
o “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby featuring Michael Bublé on December 10, 2012
o “Silent Night” by Bing Crosby on December 12, 1948
o “Jingle Bells” by Danny Kaye and Nat King Cole on December 25, 1963
o Danny Kaye reads from A Christmas Carol on December 22, 1965
Assignment Children—NEW!
o With introduction by Michael Bublé
Backstage Stories from White Christmas—The production boasted the #1 and #3 box office stars of its time and the director of Casablanca. It featured the most popular song in American history and became the highest-ranking film at the box office in 1954. From little-known production details to behind-the-scenes trivia, this segment offers insights about the timeless holiday classic.
Bing Crosby: Christmas Crooner—Crosby’s family members offer personal memories of the film and discuss the crooner’s Yuletide connection. The piece also includes film historians sharing rare stories about Crosby and White Christmas and a visit to Crosby’s hometown of Spokane, Washington.
Danny Kaye: Joy to the World—Some people only know him as the silver screen’s ‘court jester,’ but Danny Kaye was a true humanitarian who helped children around the world as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. This moving tribute sheds light on the multi-talented actor, who won two honorary Academy Awards®, including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and spread joy beyond the Hollywood spotlight.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas—Many people don’t know all of the lyrics to the most popular Christmas song of all time or that Irving Berlin wrote it while sitting poolside at an Arizona Resort. This fascinating feature sheds light on the genesis and enduring popularity of the best-selling single in American history.
Rosemary’s Old Kentucky Home—Take a tour of Rosemary Clooney’s home in Augusta, Kentucky, which has become a historical landmark.
White Christmas: From Page to Stage— The legacy of White Christmas continues with a hit Broadway musical, nominated for two Tony awards.
White Christmas: A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
White Christmas Photo Galleries—NEW! Including-Rehearsals, Behind-the-Scenes, Filming, and Publicity Shots.
Two Theatrical Trailers

Disc 2 (DVD):

Feature Film in Standard Definition
Commentary by Rosemary Clooney

Disc 3 (DVD):

Same special features listed above in standard definition with the exception of the optional sing-along subtitle track

Bonus Music CD

Winter Wonderland – Rosemary Clooney
Deck the Halls/Away in a Manger/O, Little Town of Bethlehem/The First Noel – Bing Crosby
Waltz Around the Christmas Tree – Danny Kaye
Marshmallow World – Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald
The Christmas Song – Rosemary Clooney
Just What I Wanted For Christmas – Bing Crosby
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Rosemary Clooney
Jingle Bells – Danny Kaye & Peggy Lee
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Bing Crosby & Judy Garland
Home For The Holidays – Rosemary Clooney
Some Children See Him – Danny Kaye
The Night Before Christmas – Bing Crosby

The film will also be available as a Diamond Anniversary Edition two-disc DVD set with Discs 2 & 3 above.

About the Charitable Donation

In honor of the 60th anniversaries of White Christmas and Danny Kaye’s appointment as UNICEF’s first Goodwill Ambassador, The Danny Kaye and Sylvia Fine Kaye Foundation and Paramount Pictures are proud to make a combined $100,000 donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF* to support UNICEF’s lifesaving work for children around the world. As UNICEF’s Goodwill Ambassador, Danny Kaye traveled to numerous countries in 1954 to see the work of the organization firsthand and appeared in and narrated a documentary entitled Assignment Children about his experience, which is included in the new Blu-ray Combo Pack along with a new introduction by Michael Bublé. Danny Kaye received an Honorary Academy Award® in 1955 for his work on this extraordinary documentary, as well as for his unique talents, his service to the Academy, the motion picture industry, and the American people.

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

I am so excited to watch the movie, the bonus features and listen to the CD. I was raised on classic Christmas music, my dad has such a large collection he starts playing it on October 1 of each year and he seldom gets to listen to it all even once through by New Year’s! I hope you are as excited as I am! What is your favorite Christmas movie? Let me know in the comments.