(swing music)

(prop planes buzzing)

- The most popularChristmas song of all time

was written on the eve of America's entry

into World War II.

In 1940, hit composer IrvingBerlin was commissioned

to write a Christmas songfor a new movie starring

Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.

(thoughtful piano music)

Berlin found the assignmenta challenge for two reasons.

As a Jewish man who hadgrown up in an Orthodox

household, he had no realexperience with Christmas.

And twelve earlier, his three week old son

had died at Christmas time.

But Berlin persisted

and when he was finished,he told his secretary

not only is it the best song I ever wrote,

it's the best song anybody ever wrote.

On Christmas day, 1941, popular crooner,

Bing Crosby debuted the song on the radio,

just a few weeks after thebombing of Pearl Harbor.

Throughout the War, it wasthe most requested song

from soldiers abroad.

Irving Berlin won an AcademyAward and White Christmas

went on to become the bestselling single of all time.

(dramatic Christmas music)