What's your all-time favorite Christmas film?
Here's a few of mine (in no particular order):
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. If you have to be told the plot of this Frank Capra masterpiece, shame on you! It's hard to believe but when IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was first released, it was a bit of a dud. But, thankfully, it was rediscovered decades later and has maintained an extremely loyal following. Jimmy Stewart won an Oscar for Best Actor. Donna Reed (AKA Mary Hatch) went on to star in her own television series. And I will be eternally grateful to Neal Gabler, who introduced it to me via a PBS telecast on Channel 13-New York City over 35 years ago. As for the plot: a timeless story of an everyday person who discovers that his everyday life is really quite extraordinary.
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. It's a simple tale of loyalty between two soldiers from WWII to Broadway. Although most of the tunes are semi-forgettable, Irving Berlin's"White Christmas" remains a classic. And in this case, you can't watch Bing sing it (towards the very beginning of the film) without shedding tears. Another Irving Berlin song, "Count Your Blessings," was nominated for an Oscar.
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER (1940) Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan and Frank Morgan (the Wizard from THE WIZARD OF OZ) head up an all-star ensemble. It's so classic that Nora Ephron borrowed the storyline for her own version, not tied to Christmas (YOU'VE GOT MAIL). The original plot revolves around a department store in Budapest and the clandestine correspondence that turned into a romance between Stewart (Alfred Kralik) and Sullivan (Klara Novak).
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1938) Based on the story by Charles Dickens (which was also a strong indictment against the social system in his day), This is the version with Reginald Owen as Ebenezer and Gene Lochart as his long-suffering clerk, Bob Cratchit. Although the list of actors who have played Ebenezer is long and filled with famous thespians (like George C. Scott, Vincent Price, Jim Carrey, Jim Backus and Albert Finney for starters), you'd be hard-pressed to find a more believable turn from bad guy-to-good guy than Owen's portrayal. His Ebenezer's initial mean-spiritedness is so palpable that it shines almost supernatural light on his transformation towards the end of the storyline.
THE BELL'S OF ST MARY'S (1945) Bing Crosby stars as Father O'Malley who tussles with Sister Mary (Ingrid Bergman) over educational philosophy. Father O'Malley is an at-ease sort, Sister Mary is not. Although not technically about Christmas, the film had its premiere in December. The film won an Oscar for Best Picture, and Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman both picked up Oscars (for Best Actor and Best Actress).
THE APARTMENT (1960) There isn't a more
perfect film for those who love to cheer for romantic underdogs. I first saw this Jack Lemmon classic (directed by Billy Wilder) on New Year's Eve in New York City, in a "revival house" theatre showing older films. The Regancy was on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, less than a ten-minute walk from where I was living. Lemmon is a luckless office clerk and Shirley MacLaine is the equally unlucky in love Miss Kubelik. If, for some reason, you've never seen this one, please do yourself a favor and watch it. THE APARTMENT earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Writing.
WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (1995) I saw this one in Chicago, where it was filmed, which makes it even more special. A young and eternally upbeat Sandra Bullock heads up the cast, with help a-plenty from Bill Pullman, Jack Warden (a seasoned, cigar-chomping wise-guy), Glynis Johns, and Peter Boyle as the family patriarch. It's a sweet film. Watch for Michael Rispoli doing a great turn as Bullock's wanna-be boyfriend neighbor, Joe Fusco, Jr. (Bullock shoots off a great line about him: "Joe Junior? He's so delusional he thinks he invented aluminum.")
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983). Peter Billingsly is preternaturally amazing as a young midwestern kid obsessed with getting "an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle" for Christmas. Darrin McGavin is equally great as his long-suffering Dad. Based on the incredible short story about growing up in Indiana in the 1940s authored by Jean Shepherd.
(McGavin has one of the best lines in the film, saying of his "major prize" when it's delivered in its crate as he mispronounces 'fragile' "See that? It says fra-jill-lay, It's from Italy!") BTW, Ralphie's Dad is the about the only family member who doesn't tell him that "you'll shoot your eye out!"
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947) Who could resist a young Natalie Wood as a pint-sized Santa agnostic? And Maureen O'Hara as her supremely down-to-earth, no-nonsense, no time for romance mom? Not to mention Edmund Gween as the sweetest, kindest, most sincere Santa ever captured on film. Gween was so convincing that he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and the picture picked up an Oscar for Best Story as well.
THE BISHOP'S WIFE (1947) starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. A trifecta of lovable sophisticates. Grant plays Dudley, an angel, sent to help a bishop (David Niven) in response to his prayers. Young plays the bishop's wife. While the bishop thinks Dudley is sent to help him with fundraising for a new building, Dudley's ideas involve helping the poor. The film won an Oscar for Best Sound. In 1996 Penny Marshall directed a version of this film, called THE PREACHER'S WIFE, which starred Denzel Washington.
THE POLAR EXPRESS (2005) An animated masterpiece based on the famously charming book by Chris Van Allsburg. Featuring the voice of Tom Hanks as the conductor on the Polar Express which takes some refreshingly grateful children on a trip to the North Pole where they discover, first hand, the wonder of Christmas. A magical, fun, absolutely beautiful film. The Polar Express captured an Oscar for Best Song. Although released in 2005, it's timelessness helps it fit nicely into the "classic" category.
If you're interested in a more official rating of Christmas films, here's Indie Wire's list, in order:
THE APARTMENT
BABES IN TOYLAND (1930 version, with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy)
BAD SANTA (2003, with Billy Bob Thornton)
THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (2013)
A CHRISTMAS STORY
ELF (2003) with Will Ferrell and James Cann
Now, here comes the $68,000 question: What are
YOUR favorite Christmas films???! Feel free to share!
Photo Credits:
Playbuzz.com, ranker.com, George Eastman Museum, Wikipedia, Emmanuel Levy, Did You See That One?, Decider,com, Buzzfeed.com
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