Christmas Movies – my favorites

On these cold nights there’s nothing like a classic Christmas movie to get you in the holiday spirit.
I’m a movie lover and find a lot of pleasure in watching my favorite films, many are Christmas movies.

The four featured above with the original classic Christmas posters, courtesy of movieposters.com
are four of my very favorite. It’s a Wonderful Life, may be one of the greatest films of all time regardless of the season. This classic film, by Frank Capra, teaches a great lesson about what is truly important in life. I think it should be watched at least twice a year to drive that point home for all of us. It also was made the year I was born, 1946. A Christmas Carol, the classic book by Charles Dickens has been made into many film versions. Being a purest, I believe the 1951 version with British actor, Alstair Sim as Scrooge is the most accurate to the book and the best. Avoid the colorized version, it does not have the same impact as the Black and White, original version. Like many classic Christmas film this one is available in a deluxe re-mastered version that is well worth the price. Another re-make of the A Christmas Carol well worthing watching was the 1979 Version called An American Christmas Carol with Henry Winkler. One last version makes my Good List, Scrooged with Bill Murray. I have to admit, however, that I’ve never see a version of a Christmas Carol that I didn’t like.

Miracle on 34th Street, the original, once again, B&W is the best, a real classic that will have the most curmugeoned skeptic a believer. This is one of the best of all the, “There really is a Santa Claus films.” This classic was remade a few years ago and it was actually very well done, just not up to the standard of the original film. The Santa Clause films with Tim Allen are pretty good, getting worse at the end, but still fun to watch. White Christmas featured above is a good film, but I think the film that predated it, Holiday Inn, is my favorite. Bing Crosby and Fred Astair steal the show in this one which is a true classic featuring the wonderful music of Irving Berlin.

One of my favorites which runs non-stop through out the season is A Christmas Story, featuring Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsly is one of the funniest films looking back at Christmas in the 1950’s. The film is taken from the classic book by Jean Shepherd, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. I guess being about to turn 65, this film takes me back to a much simpler time.

Falling in the same catagory of mid 40’s & 50’s throw back films would be three classics, The Bishop’s Wife, Going My Way, and the Bells of Saint Marys. Featuring such classic actors as Cary Grant, David Niven, Loretta Young, and Bing Crosby.

The most important thing about Christmas is lost on many main-stream films, the Birth of Christ. My two favorite films focused on the real Christmas story are; The Nativity Story and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas. The latter one of Jimmy Stewart’s best performances, near the end of his life.

Of course lots of movies can be listed that are just good old Christmas fun ,for a good laugh or two; Home Alone and Home Alone 2 (forget 3), Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase, Polar Express, and the new Christmas Carol from Disney featuring Jim Carey, thankfully without his usual vulgarities.

Of course when the grandchildren come over we watch all the old animated Christmas movies like;
Frosty The Snow Man, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and The Grinch That Stole Christmas.

One last favorite, Emmet Otter’s Jug-band Christmas, has long been a family favorite.

I’m sure you have great suggestions too, that I’ve left out. Please feel free to share your recommendations here.

Surround yourself with family and friends, pop some popcorn, and light the fire in the fire place
and enjoy the movies.

Just don’t forget the Reason for the Season…………

the pilgrim

P.S. Just got the movies Mrs. Miracle (2009), good family fare……..