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Christmas in Connecticut

Play trailer Poster for Christmas in Connecticut Released Aug 11, 1945 1h 41m Holiday Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) grows familiar with the Diary of a Housewife column written by Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck). Jeff's nurse arranges with Elizabeth's publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), for Jeff to spend the holiday at Elizabeth's bucolic Connecticut farm with her husband and child. But the column is a sham, so Yardley hastens to arrange a publicity ploy by setting up single, nondomestic Elizabeth on a country farm.
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Christmas in Connecticut

Critics Reviews

View All (18) Critics Reviews
THR Staff The Hollywood Reporter Played strictly for laughs, belly type, it's an audience winner from way back in the balcony. What can you lose? Dec 15, 2021 Full Review TIME Magazine Thoroughly moth-eaten. Dec 5, 2008 Full Review New York Times Peter Godfrey, the director, has a good deal to learn about the art of telling a boudoir joke in the parlor and getting away with it. Rated: 2.5/5 Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) It's nothing that's going to change your life or anything but if you want a pleasant and romantic comedy that has some good laughs and some good chemistry it's a... really entertaining little Christmas movie. Jun 18, 2019 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid Barbara Stanwyck uses every acting muscle in her body to redeem this silly holiday romance. Dec 25, 2009 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com If this mildly amusing screwball comedy about mistaken identity has a conservative slant of glorifying housewives it's due to the zeitgeist: It was made in 1945, at the end of WWII, when men were coming home and women sent back to the kitchen. Rated: B- Jan 12, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Matthew D A cozy Christmas classic starring a charming Barbara Stanwyck! Director Peter Godfrey’s romantic screwball comedy film Christmas in Connecticut (1945) is a delightful holiday feature. Godfrey’s direction effortlessly goes from hysterical joke to joke into tender romantic scenarios. It looks like an old film noir, but with vibrantly cozy farm sets with the prettiest tinsel covered Christmas tree. Christmas in Connecticut is a wonderful picture that I’m sure I’ll rewatch as a Christmas classic. Writers Adele Comandini and Lionel Houser deliver tons of quaint and silly jokes for this screwball comedy. The romantic scenes get all these discussions about the virtues of married life as a housewife versus satisfaction from employment. Each character has a distinct personality and purpose for comedic effect. I think Aileen Hamilton’s original story is very clever in which a cooking columnist has to fake her farm life as a housewife for her boss and a sailor returning from the war. Barbara Stanwyck is quite funny as the hopelessly inept cook and popular writer Elizabeth Lane. Stanwyck feels made for screwball comedies besides her skill in film noir pictures as a femme fatale. She brings a sweetness and playfulness as Elizabeth alongside a zany humor. Dennis Morgan sings beautifully and is very helpful as the returning war hero sailor Jefferson Jones. He’s got romantic chemistry with Stanwyck as all their scenes are charming together. Sydney Greenstreet is amazing as the amiable and portly boss Alexander Yardley. He’s a riot like S.Z. Sakall’s skilled chef Felix Bassenak, who helps Stanwyck by cooking all the lavish meals. Reginald Gardiner is great as the stuffy bachelor John Sloan, who wants to marry Stanwyck, so he poses as her husband. Robert Shayne is excellent as the pushy editor Dudley Beecham. Una O’Connor’s ever complaining Irish maid and cook Norah is a scream. Frank Jenks is amusing as the affable sailor survivor Sinkewicz in the opener. Dick Elliott is a real laugh as Judge Crothers. Editor Frank Magee’s smooth editing keeps you in the moment, so the tension builds up the jokes and the romance is all the sweeter. Cinematographer Carl E. Guthrie’s shadowy wide shots look spectacular. Art director Stanley Fleischer’s stylish shadows and snow look so cozy for Christmas. Set decorator Casey Roberts’ lovely tree and holiday decorations look fabulous. Composer Friedrich Hollaender’s plucky film score really captivates. Every moment gets melodic accents to complement the comedy. Costume designer Edith Head crafts dazzling gowns for Barbara Stanwyck. Milo Anderson’s male outfits look snazzy. Makeup artist Perc Westmore does fancy looks for Stanwyck. Christmas in Connecticut is a swift and funny 102 minutes. It’s fit for families around the holiday. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Alec B Extraordinarily silly but Stanwyck is always convincing Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/26/24 Full Review Amanda P Wonderful movie☺️👌 a real Christmas Classic. A definite must see 👏 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Blobbo X The lead guy lacks charisma and recognition - at least to Blobbo. Movie ok, upbeat, Christmassy. A comedy, or so I've heard. This could have been better with a different director and with actors of a more comedic bent. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/23 Full Review notchurjelly The kind of movie that gives you unrealistic relationship expectations, the kind you know in your mind are ridiculous but hope with everything in you that one day they might just happen. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/21/23 Full Review Stephen C LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Christmas in Connecticut

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Movie Info

Synopsis While recovering in a hospital, war hero Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan) grows familiar with the Diary of a Housewife column written by Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck). Jeff's nurse arranges with Elizabeth's publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), for Jeff to spend the holiday at Elizabeth's bucolic Connecticut farm with her husband and child. But the column is a sham, so Yardley hastens to arrange a publicity ploy by setting up single, nondomestic Elizabeth on a country farm.
Director
Peter Godfrey
Producer
William Jacobs
Screenwriter
Aileen Hamilton, Lionel Houser, Adele Comandini
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Warner Brothers
Genre
Holiday, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 11, 1945, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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