Posted by
Tom G. on Wednesday, December 10, 2008 12:00:00 AM
So, it is the season to feel good, to reflect upon the gifts and blessings you have been given. I am a movie lover, who likes a good story over the art of technology. Admittedly, I like older movies!
My list of best Christmas movies are...
1a) It's a Wonderful Life...please, can it get any better...the cast, the characters, the story...it has it all! George Bailly is the every man, struggling, doing what is right and then life strikes...Clarrence re-focuses him and he comes to the reality that life is a gift, and friends are the wrapping. Enjoy it, and then call your best friends! The Casablanca of Christmas!
1b) White Christmas (1954)...I cannot decorate my tree with watching and singing the wonderful tunes associated with Bing and Christmas. My children are fans of the movie and love to dance and sing to it as well. I rate it as my all time favorite.
2) Scrooged (1988)...To funny! What a great modern version of A Christmas Carol...I never look at a toaster without making sure a ghost is not ready to smack my upside my head with it...nor can I wait to the end of the movie when the singing starts...puts you into the Charitable mood in a nano-second.
3) A Christmas Carrol...but it has to be the 1951 version with Alister Sims...the story is a classic and the wonderful laugh of Scrooge after he has been visited by the last ghost and he realizes, he has a chance to change...nothing compares to his laugh!
4) Mirracle on 34th Street (1947)...come on, who doesn't love Payne as he starts to realize, maybe he did not do such a good job as an attorney...or the the interplay btw Payne and O'hara...No more perfect Santa can be found in any movie! Edmund Gwenn is perfect!
5) Bells of St. Mary's (1945)...I cannot wait to start watching Bing...Bing is CHRISTMAS! The Boxing Nun...the crooning Priest, it has it all! And the gentle old Priest (Fitzgerald), the everyman priest!
6) The Bishop's Wife (1947)...Cary Grant and David Niven play so well against each other...you can hardly imagine they are acting...Grants dry wit, David's aristacratic clumsiness and and the beauty of Loretta Young!
7) Mirracle of the Bells (1948)...the most under-rated actor in cinima history is at his best..Fred McMurray, Frank Sinatra and the wonderful story of a coal town in western Pennsylvania, Hollywood, Joan of Arc and the Media...all in one film!
8) All Mine to Give (1954)...what you haven't seen it...well, when you do, get the tissues ready (yes, even you guys)
9) A Christmas Story (1983).... OK, come on...I know you are still wondering if your toungue will stick! Everyone can relate to the embarrasment of the lamp, the joy of the red rider gun and the efforts to hide a childhood mistake.
10) Going My Way (1944)...Bing it on agian! Where the hell is Rainbow Hill? And how can you swing upon a star, I dunno but I sure love to sing it!
11) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)...Of course, no list can be complete without Boris Karloff...
12) Home Alone (1990)...the slapstick humor is endless. Forget the reality, it is too much fun listening to the voice of the Wonder Years
get his from a little kid!
13) A Charlie Brown Christmas...just a classic. (but don't miss the other cartoon features of ...Rudolph, Frosty, Nightmare before Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and The Year without a Santa Claus!
14)
The Nativity Story (2006)...how can I have a list without a movie about the true meaning of Christmas!
15) Christmas in Connecticut (1945)...Stanwyk is essential...she is outstanding and this movie is funny. Sydney Goldsteet, oh, well he is the best character actor ever!
BONUS MOVIE...It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)...A treat, if you have not seen it, you should...a Hobo is the modern Wil Rogers...a simple joy to watch!
Yes, I also have enjoyed the modern incarnations into Christmas movies, but I have to first watch these...some great humor has been produced over the last 2 decades in this genre, but the movies here are the A list...enjoy! Merry Christmas and may God Bless you as he has me!