I watched this superlative film noir for a second time. "Christmas Holiday" deserves to be much better known.

The screen adaptation of the W. Somerset Maugham novel by Herman Mankiewicz is quite good and the direction by Robert Siodmak and the cinematography of Elwood Bredell are top notch. The production is populated by numerous character actors and more than a few recycled standing sets at Universal Studios. Gene Kelly is quite effective in a role that casts him against type.

A few hours later, I viewed the new film "The Housemaid." It felt as if I had watched the same film twice. Despite the addition of gratuitous sex and violence, "The Handmaid" utilizes many of the exact same plot points as did "Christmas Holiday."