Christmas in July is a 1940 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges. It was the second film which Sturges directed, preceded by The Great McGinty and followed by Marc Carroca. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... Paul Jones (1901-1968) was an American film producer. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ... Ellen Drew (November 23, 1915 - December 3, 2003), born Esther Loretta Ray, was a film actress. ... Raymond Walburn (September 9, 1887 – July 26, 1969) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of Hollywood comedies during the 1930s and 1940s. ... Victor Milner (December 15, 1893 - October 29, 1972) was an award-winning cinematographer. ... Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and distribution company, based in Hollywood, California. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... See also: 1939 in film 1940 1941 in film 1940s in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events February 7 - Walt Disneys animated film Pinocchio is released. ... The screwball comedy has proven to be one of the most elusive of the film genres. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... The Great McGinty is a 1940 Hollywood comedy movie written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy. ...

Plot

Old McDonald, played by Dick Powell, dreams of winning the 'Maxford House Coffee Slogan' contest and its $25,000 first prize, and becoming rich enough to take care of his mother and to marry his girlfriend Betty Casey, played by Penelope Drew. Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ...

Three of his co-workers devise a prank, meant as a joke, and place a fake telegram on Jimmy's desk informing him that he has won the contest. Due to the incompetence of Dr. Maxford, played by Raymond Walburn, the owner of Maxford House Coffee, Jimmy is given the winners cheque of $25,000, despite the fact that the supervison committee is still deliberating. Raymond Walburn (September 9, 1887 – July 26, 1969) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of Hollywood comedies during the 1930s and 1940s. ...

Jimmy is now seen as a hidden advertising talent at work, and is given a major promotion and the afternoon off. He and Betty embark on a shopping spree. Purely on the basis of the cheque, Jimmy is given credit to buy an engagement ring for Betty, a luxury sofa-bed for his mother, and presents for many of the low-income families that live on his street.

Soon the truth emerges and the shop manager descends on Jimmy's street where a carnival atmosphere of celebration is taking place. Maxford follows soon after.But at the end Maxford finds out the money is fake!

With the truth out Betty pleads with Jimmy's boss to let him keep his promotion. Meanwhile the judging committee at Maxford house have finally reached a decision. Unknown to them, the winning slogan is in fact Jimmy's, and a telegram is dispatched to the winner.

Notes and trivia

Although Preston Sturges only worked with Dick Powell and Ellen Drew once, Christmas in July is still populated by many Sturges regulars (he had a kind of unofficial repertoire company of actors) such as: William Demarest, Raymond Walburn, Harry Rosenthal, Franklin Pangborn, Harry Hayden, Georgia Caine, Torben Meyer, Julius Tannen, Al Bridge, and Victor Potel, all of whom appeared in several of Sturges's movies. Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ... Ellen Drew (November 23, 1915 - December 3, 2003), born Esther Loretta Ray, was a film actress. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ... William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 28, 1983) was an American character actor. ... Raymond Walburn (September 9, 1887 – July 26, 1969) was an American character actor who appeared in dozens of Hollywood comedies during the 1930s and 1940s. ... Franklin Pangborn (January 23, 1889 - July 20, 1958) was an American character actor. ... Born December 1, 1884 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Died May 22, 1975 Hollywood, California Character actor appearing in 90 films. ... Julius Tannen (May 16, 1880 – January 3, 1965) was a comedian – or monologist, as those of his era were known – who had a long and successful career in Vaudeville. ... Al Bridge (born 1891, died 1957) was an American character actor in the early forties. ... Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ...

Christmas in July was based on a play that Preston Sturges had written in 1931 called A Cup of Coffee as a result, A Cup of Coffee, was the working title of Christmas in July. Preston Sturges (August 29, 1898 – August 6, 1959), originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated screenwriter and director born in Chicago. ...

External links

• Christmas in July at the Internet Movie Database