Rupert, I absolutely agree with your assessment of "Christmas in July" as "a forgotten gem." I saw this for the first time a couple of years ago, and I immediately asked myself why it isn't better known. It is possibly the most Capra-like of Sturges' films, but more satirical and as you say not sappy or saccharine, as it might have been if Capra had made it. I watched "Sullivan's Travels" the other night, and at one point somebody criticizes Capra to Joel McCrea (who plays a movie director). "What's wrong with Capra?" he asks. The difference between Capra and Sturges is that Capra too often drowned out the comedy with his sledgehammer messages, whereas Sturges always kept the comedy and the comic predicament of his characters up front, and you can sure see that in this movie. I hope your apt summing up of "Christmas in July" will inspire people who haven't seen it to seek it out. It's a comfort to know that even if you think you've seen all the major movies of a major director like Sturges, there still might be a little-known gem like this lurking somewhere.

Great choice for a review. Even though Sturges would go on to write & direct other more complex classics, this one holds up very well. I like the Capra/Sturges comparisons too. Both men tell tales of the "common man" with Capra taking a more overt reverential tone. Sturges make take a satirical route & portray his characters as buffoons but in the end they are held in high regard --just like Capra.

This is a movie that I always wanted to see totally all the way through. I have always seen bits and pieces of it and not all of it, probably a half hour or so in all. Not through fault of my own. I always wanted to see it and now with your review I want to see it even more. Sturges the Lady Eve is one of my favorite movies and there are a few others of his movies I like Sullivan's Travels, Palm Beach Story, etc. I think this is one of the next movies on my list, thanks for the great review.

I completely agree with this assessment, Rupert! Definitely a film to warm the heart, but with the ingenuity of Sturges to keep it from being stodgy.

Sounds like a wonderful little gem that passed under my radar. I can't believe I did not know about it. I'll definitely be looking for it on TCM. Thanks, Rupert.

Sturges only made great films and greater films and this is one of the great ones!!! And how much did Dick Powell change after the war when you see him in this film and then later in films like To the Ends of the Earth.... excellent review Rupe!!!