Christmas in July is a 1940 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges based on his 1931 play A Cup of Coffee. It was Sturges' second film as writer-director, after The Great McGinty, and stars Dick Powell and Ellen Drew. Jimmy MacDonald 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 . 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. Wishing to be... done with the contest, Dr. Maxford , the owner of Maxford House Coffee, accepts that Jimmy is the winner and hands him the check of $25,000, without realizing that the judging committee is still deliberating. 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 check, Jimmy is given credit to buy an engagement ring for Betty, a luxury sofa-bed for his mother, and presents for many of the poor families that live on his street.
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| Release date: | October 18, 1940 |
| Directed by: | Preston Sturges |
| Runtime: | 67 Minutes |
| Producer: | Paul Jones, Buddy De Sylva |
| Cinematography: | Victor Milner |
| Screenplay by: | Preston Sturges |
| Adapted from: | A Cup of Coffee |
| Genre: | Comedy |