Irving Berlin's White Christmas will be shown in high definition at Edmond Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, December 18, at 4 and 7 pm.

As a special holiday treat, all tickets for the screenings of the 1954 feature will be free of charge, courtesy of Ingersoll Automotive of Danbury. The town hall is at 45 Main Street.

The matinee will be screened with subtitles for the benefit of deaf and hearing impaired patrons.

Just like the song that inspired it, White Christmas is a beloved holiday classic. The film stars Bing Crosby as Bob and Danny Kay as Phil, a Broadway song-and-dance team who become attracted to Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen), who have a sister act.

Before long, the four of them are on the train to a Vermont ski resort inn, owned by Bob and Phil's former WWII commanding general (Dean Jagger), where the sisters are hired to perform. Unfortunately, the unusually warm weather is keeping the patrons away, which means the general is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Bob and Phil then decide to bring their entire show from New York to the inn in hopes that people will come regardless of the lack of snow.

Bing Crosby smoothly croons "White Christmas" early on in the film, followed by several Irving Berlin favorites including a duet of "Blue Skies" by Crosby and Kaye, the signature song "Sisters" by Clooney and Vera-Ellen, the beautiful four-part harmony of "Snow," and Crosby and Clooney's duet "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep."

Of course, the finale reprise of "White Christmas" by the full cast, dressed in crimson and white, is by far the most memorable segment of the film, making a perfect debut for Paramount's new higher resolution, widescreen VistaVision technology.

The December 18 screenings are being sponsored by Marvin and Jan Happel, and presented by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.

Visit the Sunday Cinema Series page on Facebook, and newtownartscommission.org/Sunday-Cinema-Series for upcoming announcements about the 2017 season.

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