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Christmas in July

Play trailer Poster for Christmas in July Released Oct 18, 1940 1h 7m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
When the coworkers of Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell) play a prank and trick him into thinking that's he's won the grand prize money in a slogan contest for a coffee company, he is thrilled and makes plans to marry his sweetheart, Betty Casey (Ellen Drew). To everyone's surprise, the coffee company owner, Dr. Maxford (Raymond Walburn), also falls for the prank and awards the prize check to Jimmy. Eventually the ruse is discovered, jeopardizing Jimmy and Betty's newfound happiness.

Critics Reviews

View All (21) Critics Reviews
Otis Ferguson The New Republic It is fairly light-weight but it is more fun than many of the year’s prouder efforts in comedy; and it is the work of a director who makes hard things seem like doing it the easy way, rather than vice versa. May 23, 2024 Full Review TIME Magazine Produced for a paltry $325,000, it once again gives the lie to the arbitrary Hollywood assumption that a film's quality is in direct proportion to its cost. Dec 5, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety A mildly diverting programmer, Christmas in July lacks both the overall spontaneity and entertainment impress of Sturges' first picture. Nov 13, 2007 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...a briskly-paced endeavor that boasts, at its core, a tremendously appealing lead performance by Powell... Rated: 3/4 Oct 20, 2024 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills There’s no space here to extol the individual glories... Jul 31, 2023 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row A breeze to watch, and Sturges packs the brief running time with plenty of his trademark wit, skewering corporate vanity and overconfident male bluster in equal measure. Rated: 3/4 Jan 4, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Valquria G Me surpreendeu de verdade 🤩🤩 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/25/23 Full Review andy m This one got lost in the mad, brilliant run of Sturges' 1940-47 winning streak but it is no less significant than any of them and is, in fact, better than some (Unfaithfully Yours, Hail The Conquering Hero). Ellen Drew and Dick Powell are joined at the hip in almost every scene and they make a very agreeable coupe. At under 70 minutes it has a breezy air about it, despite the skewering of slogans, popularity contests and corporate America at the centre of the plot. Sturges directs with an impish, creative eye and there is a surrealism to some of the shots and setups here that would not be seen again. Plus it has those wonderful stock company of actors Demerest, Pangborn, Conlin, etc.) popping in to kick every scene up a notch. Unjustly ignored. On YouTube. Watch it. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Matthew R A really cute and hopeful movie! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/03/22 Full Review Audience Member Lovely film, me gustò màs que Lady Eve. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member In some ways, I feel Christmas in July may be my favourite Preston Sturges picture. Its short, to the point, and wonderfully told. Its about a day dreaming contest participant Jimmy MacDonald, who thinks he can make it big by entering contests. His girlfriend Betty is by his side, regardless of his many losses. When his co-workers play a little prank and send him a telegram saying he`s won, he goes on a huge shopping spree, and even has the President of the contest fooled. What follows is a quaint and enjoyable little comedy with a lot of themes of perception and ambition, and it works quite well. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Christmas in July

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Christmas in July

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Movie Info

Synopsis When the coworkers of Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell) play a prank and trick him into thinking that's he's won the grand prize money in a slogan contest for a coffee company, he is thrilled and makes plans to marry his sweetheart, Betty Casey (Ellen Drew). To everyone's surprise, the coffee company owner, Dr. Maxford (Raymond Walburn), also falls for the prank and awards the prize check to Jimmy. Eventually the ruse is discovered, jeopardizing Jimmy and Betty's newfound happiness.
Director
Preston Sturges
Producer
Paul Jones
Screenwriter
Preston Sturges
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 18, 1940, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Nov 21, 2006
Runtime
1h 7m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Flat (1.37:1)