Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

What Genre Is It?

Comedy/ Romance

Why Watch Christmas in Connecticut?

Get ready to laugh as columnist Elizabeth Lane (Barbara Stanwyck) prepares to spend the Christmas holiday in a way she never imagined. Elizabeth writes one of the most adored magazine columns titled the “Diary of a Housewife”. Housewives all over the country read this column for inspiration and wisdom. In fact, Elizabeth’s readers are so involved with her column, they rush to provide her with whatever it is she writes that she needs.

Another reason Elizabeth Lane is so popular is because of her kitchen skills. Her recipes make sailors dream of having a home cooked meal from her table. Yes, everything seems perfect for Elizabeth as she continues writing about her beautiful Connecticut farm, charming husband, and growing baby. As a matter of fact, Elizabeth seems like the prime example of domestic bliss.

What Elizabeth doesn’t know is that a wounded war hero, Jefferson Jones (Dennis Morgan), respects and admires her column. Jeff’s nurse notes this admiration. In addition, since this nurse hopes to convince Jeff that he needs to settle down, she arranges for Jeff to visit Elizabeth Lane in Connecticut to see what spending Christmas with a family feels like. Elizabeth’s publisher, Alexander Yardley (Sydney Greenstreet), thinks the visit is a wonderful idea. Besides practically demanding Elizabeth entertain Jeff for the holidays, Yardley also invites himself for the holidays.

There are just a few minor problems. Elizabeth does not have a baby. She does not have a husband, and she does not live on a farm in Connecticut. Then, there is one other misunderstanding; those recipes adored from one side of the country to the other, are not Elizabeth’s. Instead, those recipes are the result of her uncle’s culinary abilities. To make matters worse, her publisher does not know the truth, but her editor does. The laughs come to a boil when Elizabeth and her editor decide to find Elizabeth a farm, husband, and baby in time for the holidays–all the while, keeping the truth a secret from Elizabeth’s publisher.

Will Elizabeth be able to trick the dashing solider with this farm charade? What will happen if she falls in love with the solider she’s entertaining for the holiday? Equally important, will her publisher understand if she isn’t really the domestic housewife she claims to be in her column?

Behind The Scenes Fun

Memorable Quote

“Suppose you listen to me for a change. I said listen to me! I’m tired of being pushed around. Tired of being told what to do. Tired of writing your goldarn articles. Tired of dancing to everybody else’s tune. Tired of being told who to marry. In short…I’m tired.”

~ELIZABETH LANE