After the war, they make it big in nightclubs and then on Broadway. They become the hottest act around and eventually become producers. While in Florida, they receive a letter from "Freckle-Faced Haynes, the dog-faced boy", a mess sergeant they knew in the war, asking them to audition his two sisters. When they go to the club to audition the act, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) reveals that her sister, Judy (Vera-Ellen) sent the letter. Using "his arm" again, Phil gets Bob to agree to travel with them to Vermont for the holidays. They discover that the Columbia Inn in Pine Tree, Vermont, is run by their former commanding officer, Major-General Tom Waverly (Dean Jagger), and it's about to go bankrupt because of the lack of snow and consequent lack of patrons.

Deciding to help out and bring business in, Wallace and Davis bring their entire Broadway show up and add Betty and Judy where they can. Bob discovers the General's rejected attempt at rejoining the army, and decides to prove to the General that he isn't forgotten.

Bob calls Ed Harrison, an old army friend, now host of a successful variety show (intentionally similar to Ed Sullivan's). When Bob wants to make a pitch on the show to all the men under the command of the General in the war, Harrison suggests they go all out and put the show on television, resulting in lots of free advertising for Wallace and Davis. Overhearing only this, the housekeeper, Emma Allen (Mary Wickes), tells Betty. Bob tells Ed that isn't the idea and that he only wishes to make a pitch to get as many people from their division to Pine Tree for the show on Christmas Eve. The misunderstanding causes Betty to leave for a job in New York, after Phil and Judy fake their engagement in the hope of bringing Betty and Bob closer together.

All is set right when Betty sees Bob's pitch on the Ed Harrison show. She returns to Pine Tree just in time for the show on Christmas Eve. Believing all of his suits had been sent to the cleaners, General Waverly concludes that he'll have to appear in his old uniform. When the General enters the lodge where the show is to take place, he is greeted by his division and moments later is notified that snow is falling.

In a memorable finale, Bob and Betty fall in love, as do Phil and Judy. The background of the set is removed to show the snow falling in Pine Tree. Everyone raises a glass, toasting, "May your days be merry and bright; and may all your Christmases be white."

Growing up in Florida I obviously never had a white christmas and even living in New York now doesn't guarantee that I will have one. But on those few lucky times that we did it was spectacular.

I think all of us can have a white christmas every single time we watch this movie.
For me it just isn't christmas without it.
No matter where you are, especially our brave men and women in Iraq and foreign lands this year at Christmas... "May your days be merry and bright: and may all your Christmases be white".

Strolling Down Memory Lane Main Page