25 Christmas Favorites

25 Christmas Favorites

Ok, we’ve had the turkey, watched hours of football and (maybe) plunked a little antacid, and are getting geared up for the weekend.  We’ll open the closets and attic hatches, take deep mindful breaths and get started on decking our halls . . . well, you know the drill.

In our family (and I mean the ENTIRE family), we make a priority of bringing out the Christmas movies along with the decorations.  These are just a sample of my personal holiday themed favorites, listed in alphabetical order, so that I didn’t have to single out an all-time favorite.  I’m sure you will agree and groan at the same time while reading this list, but then again, that’s why it’s mine - Ho Ho Ho!

Seriously though, I encourage you to take the time to see these films, as most of these are merely set at Christmas, but have broader, over-arching themes. Besides, they’re fun!

1. Auntie Mame

True, we could (and do) watch Rosalind Russell anytime of the year, but I love the Christmas Scene, and that for her, generosity was like breathing - something that made both Mame and Patrick truly richer than their holdings in the Knickerbocker Bank.      

2. Bells of St. Mary's 

I love this film now that I’ve finally seen this Bing Crosby & Ingrid Bergman classic in its entirety. You have to see this on a DVD or on AMC; otherwise, you’ll find the Patsy character has gone missing in action to accommodate the commercials.       

3. The Bishop's Wife 

This is hands down my favorite Christmas movie!  I never tire of watching Cary Grant wave his hand to decorate a tree, or David Niven getting stuck to that chair!  I can’t believe their roles were reversed at the last minute. It would’ve been a completely different film!  Remake Watch:  There is also a very good contemporary remake “The Preacher’s Wife” with Denzel Washington and Courtney B.Vance (yeah, Whitney’s in it too).     

4. Christmas in Connecticut 

In this screwball comedy meets Christmas card, Barbara Stanwyck plays a single, New York columnist posing as a “pre-Martha” domestic goddess. She gets roped by her magazine into entertaining a Vet for Christmas, and the hjinks ensue  Remake Watch: There is one; it has Arnold Schwarzenegger in it . . enough said.  

5. A Christmas Story

The Ralphie character in this boyhood holiday yarn is as universally loved as Scrooge or George Bailey, and the phrase “you’ll shoot your eye out!” has  become part of my generation’s holiday lexicon.       

6. Die Hard 

Corporate greed, marital strife, bad guys, Alan Rickman playing mega bad guy, Bruce Willis playing John the good guy, action, gunfire, terrorism, clever writing, quick jokes . . . when I say Christmas movie, this is what my guy usually reaches for!    

7. Elf 

Will Ferrell stars as a human raised in the world of Christmas elves.  He embarks on a hilarious journey to find and then bond with his father, played by James Caan. Ferrell is surprisingly charming as a true innocent trapped in our overly-commercial world.

8. The Family Stone 

I admit, I’ve had a bias against Sarah Jessica Parker, but what she brings to this family’s Christmas table (headed by Diane Keaton & Craig T Nelson) is nothing short of extraordinary. Even the house is a character in this story - I guarantee you’ll love it! 

9. Holiday Affair 

I don’t know why this film isn’t mentioned more often as it is a perfect Christmas love story. Janet Leigh plays a single mom who can’t afford a toy train for her son.  Robert Mitchum helps her out, putting them both in a funny predicament. Truly Charming.     
    

10. Home Alone 

It’s safe to say that McCauley Culkin is what carries this movie, and that his portrayal of Kevin, an eight year old who ironically gets exactly what he wished for has become another addition to the family of iconic Christmas heroes.  Don’t bother with the sequels. I am warning you.

11. It's a Wonderful Life 

Jimmy Stewart’s portrayal of George Bailey has elevated the character to the level of one of Faulkner or Shakespeare in our collective consciousness.  It’s hard to believe that this beloved Frank Capra classic was originally a box office flop!  Remake Watch: They’re all awful.  Accept no substitutions.      

12. Lethal Weapon 

Here’s another addition to my Christmas movies for guys list.  My brother and cousins relish adding this buddy film to the pile.  There are the requisite good cops and bad guys, but it is the chemistry between Mel Gibson & Danny Glover that make you smile.    

13. Little Women 

I am of course, referring to the version starring June Allyson as Jo, which had always been played at Christmastime while I was growing up.  The all-star cast includes Mary Astor, Janet Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor to name a few.  Remake Watch: Actually, the original stars Katherine Hepburn, but that version seems flat to me.  Winona Ryder takes the lead in the ‘90s version, but the standout there (in my opinion) is Susan Sarandon as Marmie.  You be the judge. 

14. Love, Actually 

This one was an instant hit with me. I also think that Hugh Grant’s dancing had nearly every woman I know fall in love with him again. It also features what has to be the most unique Christmas Pageant on record.  Check out the extra scenes on the DVD too.

15. Meet Me in St. Louis 

It was my Grandma’s favorite, and she raised us all to make it one of our favorites as well. Judy Garland is probably at her most beautiful in her role as Esther.  The film also launched the perennial hit “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.  

16. Miracle on 34th Street 

Again I am referring to the one true version, starring Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood.  They play a modern mother and daughter who have stopped believing in fairy tales, magic and Santa Claus - until the man himself shows up. Remake Watch: There is a ‘90s version with Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle, but it’s more of a send-up of the original, which makes me wonder why it was made at all.  

17. Mixed Nuts 

If you end up suffering from the holiday blahs, this film should help you get over it.  The story is set at a 1-800 suicide prevention hotline, but the people who work there are just as messed up (more so) as anyone else. Liev Schreiber in drag is worth it alone.     
    

18. Penny Serenade 

One of my favorite Cary Grant films, particularly because he’s playing against type.  You see him be the perfect dad - playing with his child, yell at a judge to keep her and beam with pride at her school Christmas play without crying.  Bring Kleenex.

19. The Polar Express

I paged through the book years ago, and thought it to have some of the most beautiful illustrations I had ever seen.  To see them faithfully translated to the big screen is wonderful.  3-D IMAX version is spectacular!

20. The Ref 

If you can’t get through the holidays without Lexipro and a shot of tequila, then this is the film for you. Dennis Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar who gets stuck with the ultimate dysfunctional family going through the motions of the holidays.

21. The Santa Clause

Tim Allen shines as a dad trying to live up to his obligations both on the ethereal and temporal planes.  The film is a testimony to all who not only continue to believe in Santa Claus, but to those who believe in them.

22. Scrooge

Many have made Alastair Sim’s portrayal of the famed character part of their yearly tradition.  It is especially so here in Chicago, where it was always shown on WTTW every Christmas Eve.    Remake Watch:  There are more film & TV versions of the Dickens story than I can count. There are a lot of people who prefer the Reginald Denny version. My sister once proposed that if you took the Tiny Tim from Reginald’s, and paired him with Sim’s Scrooge, that no one would argue anymore.

23. Scrooged 

This modern version stars Bill Murray as Big-Wig producer of a Mega Million TV station, and the ghosts take him on a wild ride through his shallow, pathetic past.  A mildly flawed but underrated film.

24. While You Were Sleeping

You can see that family is a favorite theme with my choices.  Sandra Bullock stars in a story about a woman who goes from having no one in her life to having an instant family for Christmas, all based on a little white lie.

25. White Christmas

I have been caught making faces at people that admit they haven’t seen this film. If you can’t laugh watching Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye perform “Sisters, Sisters” then you have no soul. Check out the sing-a-long screenings at the Music Box Theater.   So there you are, love ‘em or hate ‘em, every family has their own special choices whose stories speak to them.  As long as you sit down and actually watch them together, that’s what’s important.   · Happy Holidays from everyone here at italkfilm.com!        

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