Christmas: The Classics, Part the Second

Since the incessant mommy-calling has made it impossible for me to get anything productive done... it has been brought to my attention by several people that I left a lot off my last list of Christmas Classics. The thing is, I was kind of focusing on Christmas specials in that post, but a lot of the classics are actually feature films. So here goes!



A Christmas Story is hands down the best Christmas movie ever. My family does not understand this, but I maintain my position, fully supported by my sister's husband. I love anything having to do with the teacher, especially Ralphie's fantasy that she is so enthralled by his Christmas theme, aka "the theme I've been waiting for all my life!!!! A plus!! plus!!! plus!!!" And I was guilty of having the same childhood fantasy after I would get in trouble that someday I would be stricken with some terrible affliction and then wouldn't they feel bad! Apparently my mother said I was also unaware of the fact that sound carries, and would talk about how bad they would feel after she had sent me to my room. Provided a lot of entertainment for them I think!



We've already covered my feelings on A Christmas Carol, although I would like to comment here that in the category of tongue in cheek movies, A Muppet Christmas Carol totally rocks. Actually I think much of Dickens' work would have been more interesting had it been written by Gonzo and involved more chickens :)



A Miracle on 34th Street. The 1947 version with Maureen O'Hara is by far the best. I have to admit to having a tiny crush on Maureen O'Hara, it started when I saw The Parent Trap and she is just awesome in everything she is in. But even if she weren't in it, the 1947 version would still be the best. I have never been able to forgive the new version for changing the ending. I actually liked it up until the end, thought they had done a good job modernizing the story. But the end of that movie is the best part, and there was nothing that has changed in the last 50 years that would have made it necessary to change the ending. Well, except maybe that kids probably now e-mail Santa instead of actually sending letters :)



Bing Crosby. OK so he is not so much a movie per se, but for some reason I associate him with Christmas. Probably because his White Christmas album was and still is a Christmas staple in our house. He also made several holiday movies, my favorite of which is White Christmas. It got even better once VHS was invented and it became possible to skip through some of the worst song and dance numbers (specifically, the one called Choreography, the rest of them are cheesy and fun). But watching him and Rosemary Clooney sing together is wonderful. Neither the Bells of St. Marys or Going My Way are specifically Christmas movies, but I also watch them in December. I love the little Irish priest in Going My Way, and it's funny to watch how they handle sensitive issues like prostitution in such a retro 1950's way. Too bad he wasn't as nice to his own kids as he was to the kids in the movies.

It's A Wonderful Life. So I have the same crush on Jimmy Stewart as I have on Maureen O'Hara. I can't really explain it. Still, this movie is interminably long, and the second half is much better than the first! My theory on this is that once you know the particulars of George Bailey's life it is not necessary to watch the first half of this movie more than about every 3 or 4 years. Then you can skip to the part where Clarence shows up after he drives his car into the tree and enjoy! The second half; however, is mandatory yearly Christmas viewing :)

In a more modern tradition, another movie I watch every year is The Santa Clause. I'm normally not a big Tim Allen fan, but I think this movie is really good. And the kid in it is just adorable, although I am sure he is now probably old enough to drink. The use of the Oscar Meyer Weenie Whistle is classic too. "Christmas came... noooo weenie whistle...." If I had to recommend one movie made in the past 20 years this would be it. Unless you count Gremlins as a Christmas movie, because that movie is awesome.

I think that pretty much covers movies I watch every year. There are a whole lot more, to be sure, but these are the ones I try to make a point of watching. Which ones are your favorites?