by Julie Gittens
As there are 12 days of Christmas, I’d like to offer 12 movies (okay, two are TV movies) that I like to watch during the holiday season. What are your favorite Christmas movies? Please share!
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS MOVIES
It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)–This film is the ultimate Christmas movie! An angel, (Lionel Barrymore) comes to Earth on Christmas Eve to show a compassionate, but truly sad business man, George Bailey, (James Stewart) what life would be like if he had never existed.
Holiday Inn (1942)–At an inn that’s only open on holidays, a singer, Jim Hardy (Frank Sinatra), and a dancer, Ted Hanover (Fred Astraire), try to win the affections of a young woman, Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds). The Academy Award winning song “White Christmas” is from this movie.
Meet Me in St. Louis (1945)–Set in the year leading up to the 1904 St. Louis World Fair, this is the story of the four Smith sisters who must prepare to move to NYC. Judy Garland, the older sister, sings “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” to Margaret O’Brien, her younger sister.
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)–When a nice old man, Edmund Gwen, who claims to be Kris Kringle is called insane, a young attorney decides to defend him in court and an unhappy little girl, Susan (Natalie Wood), learns about happiness.
The Bishop’s Wife (1948)–The ultimate Episcopal Christmas movie. This is the story of a suave angel named Dudley (Cary Grant), who comes to Earth to help an Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham (David Niven), build a new cathedral as well as save his marriage to Julia (Loretta Young.)
White Christmas (1954)–A successful song-and-dance team, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye), becomes romantically involved with performing sisters, Betty Haynes and Judy Haynes (Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen), and they go to Vermont to save a failing inn and experience a White Christmas.
FAMILY CHRISTMAS MOVIES
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)–In this classic TV special from 1965, Charlie Brown finds himself depressed at the upcoming holiday season, so Lucy Van Pelt suggests he direct their school’s Christmas play. Well, Charlie Brown isn’t appreciated as their director, but Linus Van Pelt does teach him the true meaning of Christmas.
Frosty the Snowman (1965)–Another TV classic, Frosty the Snowman tells the story of an inept magician, Professor Hinkle, who is hired to perform for school children. These kids build a snowman (Frosty) during recess and Professor Hinkle’s rabbit, Hocus Pocus, gives Frosty Professor Hinkle’s special hat. The magical hat works much better on Frosty. And Professor Hinkle is determined to get it back.
Home Alone (1990)–The McCallister family is planning to spend their Christmas vacation in Paris, France. However, winter storms make them late for their flight and they accidentally leave their son, Kevin (Macaulay Culkin), at home alone. Home alone with junk food, TV movies and two burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). So, while his parents try desperately to get back to him, Kevin has some holiday fun.
Elf (2003)–Elf is the story of Papa Elf’s son, Buddy (Will Ferrell), who discovers he’s adopted and wants to find true father. By traveling to NYC, Buddy learns Walter Hobbs (James Caan) is his father, but more importantly, he learns how to make the Christmas season happier for other people.
ADULT CHRISTMAS MOVIES
The Apartment (1960)–The Apartment is the Oscar winning (10 nominations/5 wins) romantic comedy of Bud Baxter (Jack Lemmon), an up and coming insurance salesman. Bud thinks he can climb the corporate ladder by letting some managers use his apartment for their non-business related activities. So where does Christmas come in? It’s at a company Christmas party where Bud learns the truth about his boss, Jeff D. Sheldrake (Fred MacMurray) and the girl he has a crush on, Fran Kubelik (Shirley Maclaine).
Die Hard (1988)–On Christmas Eve, NYPD officer, John McClane (Bruce Willis) travels to Los Angeles to try and reconcile with his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), an executive at the Nakatomi Corporation. During the company’s Christmas party, a group of terrorists try to take over the building by using Nakatomi employees as hostages. And, as only a NYPD officer can do, John McClane comes to the rescue. A new version of Santa Claus.
Comment(1)
A parishioner says:
December 20, 2016 at 9:59 pmI kind of love “One Magic Christmas” with Mary Steenburgen — certainly not to everyone’s taste and I would not have small children view it, but I think it’s good.
I’m very fond of “The Homecoming”, the Christmas TV movie which introduced The Waltons, with Patricia Neal as the mother. All the children joined the TV series cast.
Just wanted to share these with you. You hit all my all-time favorites with your “Classics” list. Merry Christmas!