Christmas Holiday, directed by Robert Siodmak and adapted by Herman J. Mankiewicz from a W. Somerset Maugham novel, features Deanna Durbin, Gene Kelly, Richard Whorf, Dean Harens, Gale Sondergaard, and Gladys George in its cast. The film’s music is composed by Hans J. Salter, with cinematography by Elwood Bredell. The title might mislead viewers; the casting of Durbin and Kelly feels like a deliberate distraction, and online descriptions note that the original story was softened for this adaptation. These factors contribute to Siodmak's film being an unusual work, one that should definitely appeal to admirers of film noir. Essentially, the plot unfolds as Durbin recounts her experiences to Harens through flashbacks, detailing how her life fell apart after marrying Kelly. She initially believed him to be a charming and affluent man, but she eventually discovers he’s more of a scoundrel with underlying problems—a situation not helped by his mother, portrayed by Sondergaard in a particularly unsettling way. If Siodmak had been given complete freedom to develop the characters, it's likely we would have witnessed one of his best dark noirs; after all, he was known for creating such morally ambiguous stories. Even though some of the more daring elements from Maugham’s writing are not explicitly present, a sense of darkness persists, with hints of prostitution, incest, and homosexuality just barely alluded to, testing the boundaries of censorship in that era. Siodmak and Bredell avoid heavy-handed noir visuals, but as the story shifts between shadowy New Orleans clubs and imposing churches, an unsettling atmosphere is created through lighting and smoke effects. The film's pacing feels uneven, and not every scene works perfectly, yet Siodmak’s skill in emphasizing themes through tone and his actors’ performances shines through. The overall mood is bleak; it presents a vision of a corrupted America where love and romance are deceptive illusions. From the opening scene—where Harens, having served in the war, receives a rejection letter—to the powerful conclusion, this film explores disillusionment and a country willing to accept corruption and human depravity. The strong performances from the main actors, along with Sondergaard’s memorable portrayal, and Salter's Oscar-nominated score are all significant strengths of Christmas Holiday. It won’t lift your spirits during the holiday season, and it isn’t flawless—the middle section drags a bit—but this is a very effective film noir, offering plenty of gloomy rewards for those who enjoy that genre. 7.5/10

Source on TMDB