"He loved everything he did for the boys during Christmas and he said, 'If I never do anything else, I'll always take pleasure and satisfaction in knowing that I helped some of our troops relax for a few moments.' -- Kathryn Crosby, on husband Bing's World War II involvement.
Boy, I wish I could have interviewed Bing Crosby or Danny Kaye, stars of the perennial holiday film, White Christmas. Alas they had been gone for many years. So, with the assignment of producing documentaries for a new anniversary DVD release of the film, I opted to seek out family and friends, hoping they'd share some fascinating insights about the stars. My gamble paid off, as I evoked great soundbites from Kathryn (Mrs. Bing Crosby), son Harry, first-class Bing biographer, Gary Giddens, Deena Kaye (Danny's daughter), Robert Wagner and Leslie Bricusse (friends of Kaye), plus several other fascinating people who knew these subjects intimately. Too often, these pieces become gushing celebrity tributes. My goal was not merely to honor these great talents, but to enlighten viewers unaware of their backgrounds. I feel it important to point out to new generations performers who once dazzled movie audiences (but whose memories may have fallen into the shadows). In the case of Danny Kaye, his comedic prowess only covers part of his multi-talented life and career. First and foremost, Kaye became the first major Good Will Ambassador for UNICEF, bringing smiles and hope to thousands of unfortunate children around the world. For Bing, I wanted people to know the enormous impact he had on troops overseas during World War II (even to the point of crossing into dangerous enemy territory to entertain soldiers). The interview subjects I chose eloquently spoke about these men and their accomplishments, unabashedly showing their emotions (in the case of Kathryn, shedding tears at recalling Bing's war efforts). Beyond the interviews, I opened a glimpse into the lives of these men by touring the cities where they lived (for Bing we travelled to his hometown of Gonzaga; for Kaye, visited a New York school and theater named in his honor). Hopefully, I did my part to keep these men's legacies alive for others to enjoy.
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