So in the spirit of the season, combined with our evergreen love for movies, we’re celebrating the 10 greatest classic holiday films.
Animated pictures, comedies and timeless four-star, four-hankie weepies mingle in this brew, making it a lot less than you’d think — this is not granny’s ubiquitous fruitcake.
Though “White Christmas” is the more popularly known film, we prefer its predecessor of sorts, “Holiday Inn,” where we first hear Bing Crosby sing the famous Irving Berlin tune. Bing plays a retired singer who leaves show biz to manage an inn in Connecticut (is that the greatest state for Christmas, or what?), which is open only during holidays. When Crosby’s ex-partner, played by the legendary Fred Astaire, visits the inn, a complicated romantic triangle ensues over Bing’s main squeeze (Marjorie Reynolds).
It’s not a terribly complex picture, but to see Crosby and Astaire share screen time makes for some fantastic entertainment, especially when Astaire does his solo Fourth of July “Firecracker” number. And really, Irving Berlin songs mixed with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire make anything festive.
This quaint screwball comedy stars the supreme Barbara Stanwyck who, not surprisingly, manages to appear in two of the movies topping our list. Babs makes for good cheer. Here she plays a Martha Stewart-like personality — “America’s Best Cook” — which is really just a big sham. The woman can scarcely make toast. This leads to innumerable problems when the truth threatens to be revealed. It’s romantic, winsome and adorable without being syrupy, and we can’t find anything wrong with spending Christmas in Connecticut — preferably, with Ms. Stanwyck.
'The Bishop's Wife' (1947)
It’s pretty tough to dislike a movie boasting the dual debonair power of David Niven and Cary Grant. And Grant as an angel no less! Niven plays a bishop who prays for guidance while raising money for a new cathedral. In comes angel Dudley (Grant) whom everyone, naturally, falls for, including one bishop’s wife (played memorably by the lovely Loretta Young). Can we say complications ensue? “Delightful” can be such an over-used word, but in the case of The Bishop’s Wife, it’s most appropriate. And, during the stress of the holidays, we need a little delight, don’t we? God bless us, everyone? God bless Cary Grant.
'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' (1989)
Not every family is crying their eyes out over Jimmy Stewart howling “Merry Christmas, Bedford Falls!” as he runs almost spasmodically down the street to the safe haven of hearth and home. Instead, they’re nestled around the TV watching that other, uh, American icon, Chevy Chase (his name is classic Americana — Chevy?) tumbling spasmodically down the side of the house while attempting to hang Christmas lights.
Considered by some the best of the Griswold family adventures, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” has famed patriarch Chase setting up a holiday gathering that was supposed to run smoothly until, well, it just doesn’t. When one of our favorite hillbillies, Cousin Eddy (the terrific Randy Quaid), shows up with his out-of-control brood, the usual Christmas mayhem begins. Though it’s hyper-slapstick, there are a lot of families who can relate to the chaos of the Griswold clan — even when Chase is sent shooting down a snow slope on a sled greased with cooking oil. It could happen.
'Miracle on 34th Street' (1947)
Santa on his way to being institutionalized and labeled insane? Divorced mothers toiling in department stores? A courtroom battle? What kind of movie is this? Well, it’s an incredibly sweet, wonderfully old-fashioned yuletide classic. Starring an impressive and so-cute-you-could-eat-her-up Natalie Wood as the little girl who encounters the real Kris Kringle (or is he?) working at Macy’s, “Miracle on 34th Street” plays its power-of-imagination mojo to surprisingly poignant degrees. And we absolutely love Edmund Gwenn as Santa. We believe!
'Remember the Night' (1940)
An overlooked classic, “Remember the Night” (scripted by Preston Sturges) is witty and urbane, sentimental without being sappy and as sharp and funny as only that madcap cynic Sturges could write. Barbara Stanwyck stars as an acerbic shoplifter who’s busted and sentenced to the clink during Christmastime. Fred MacMurray plays the prosecuting attorney with a conscience — the image of Barbara hauled off during the holidays is too much for him and he posts her bail. But what to do with her? Hmmm … maybe fall in love? Romantic, sexy and poignant, “Remember the Night” should become another holiday staple.
'A Christmas Carol' (1951)
We had a tough time picking our favorite among the various versions of “A Christmas Carol.” And we’re not talking just the two famous British films of the same name — we’re talking the 1951 “Christmas Carol” vs. “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (Michael Caine playing it oh-so-wonderfully straight! And with Muppets!) and Bill Murray in “Scrooged.” But because we’re discussing classics, we settled on the 1951 version in which Alastair Sim plays a perfect baddie Ebenezer Scrooge. It’s heartwarming, always scarier than we anticipate (who needs “Silent Night, Deadly Night”?) and most importantly, a flat-out brilliant adaptation of Charles Dickens. “A Christmas Carol” is as essential as the star atop the tree.
'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' (1966)
Forget Ron Howard’s obnoxious, odious “The Grinch” ever happened. How could anyone even think to attempt to top Chuck Jones’ masterful adaptation of one of our most beloved Christmas stories? And Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is right up there with the best of them. Using the dulcet tones of one Boris Karloff (aka Frankenstein’s Monster) to narrate the creepy but, finally, genuinely touching tale was the first beautiful touch — ditto for the theme song, one of the coolest in all of Christmas cinema. And the animation is lovingly Seuss. It’s as if we opened up our book and it came to life. The poetic story, a fable really, is gorgeously rendered with the green creepy, callous Grinch taking out his plan to loot the presents from the innocents of Whoville. Famously, when he realizes that presents (aka, materialism, commercialism, Hallmark sentiment and all that kind of malarkey) aren’t the true spirit of Christmas, he has a major change of heart. Three times major. We get teary just thinking about it, especially when he cuts the “Roast Beast.”
'A Christmas Story' (1983)
Subversive and sweet before family subversion was readily accepted on television and movies, “A Christmas Story” made such an indelible impression on viewers that it has maintained a cult following as devoted as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” But why? Well, for one, the trials, tribulations and obsessions (chiefly a Red Ryder BB Gun) of blond, bespectacled little Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) were something many of us could relate to. And for two, the “average” Indiana family of the late ’40s made us question just what “average” is — certainly not the Parkers and, in turn, certainly not our families. The humor is much supplied in both Ralphie’s adult narration and by a lovably cantankerous Darren McGavin as Mr. Parker (“No, I promise, Daddy is not going to kill Ralphie!” says Mother).
Holiday hopes, dreams and hell are captured so wonderfully, you can’t help but get choked up when anything nice happens to the characters. And that epic line to the mall Santa — thank goodness one movie (before “Bad Santa”) understood all the human tragedy and trauma that goes into the wait. Perfect.
'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946)
To all those fashionable contrarians who consider Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” maudlin tripe, we say, humbug! How many times do we have to remind you people that what has been too frequently labeled “Capra Corn” is really a very dark, complex and thought-provoking movie? James Stewart plays George Bailey, a guy who’s so down in the dumps that he’s about to commit suicide via jumping into the icy waters of the Bedford Falls River. Never mind his cute brood of kids (whom he yells at) and his patient, loving wife (an incredibly comely Donna Reed) at home. But when Guardian Angel Clarence (a terrific Henry Travers) shows up, he gets quite the eye-opener. Just what would life be like without you, George Bailey? As George learns what that means, Clarence says, movingly, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” Call us saps, but Stewart’s performance, in which desperation turns to heart-swelling, borderline hysterical happiness (you gotta wonder if George is bipolar) is handled with such tender aplomb that, sniff, it gets us every time. If you haven’t cried enough this holiday, here’s your chance.
source: [msn entertainment]
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Certainly. But some of us, without fail, equate the holidays with a Red Ryder BB Gun.
