 |
It's A Wonderful Life
Some would say that this movie is one of the best Christmas movies of all time and I would surely agree. Frank Capra's, It's A Wonderful Life delivers Americana with a pure, familiar and innocent warmth that simply isn't captured in any other film. Jimmy Stewart's role as George Bailey is nothing less than priceless. It should be required viewing for any fledgling actor. It's a beautiful movie that's sure to touch your heart and that's why it's at the top of our list of the best Christmas movies ever. |
|
|
 |
Remember the scene where Donna Reed threw a rock to bust a window out of the old Granville House? Frank Capra actually hired a marksman to shoot the window out for her on cue but to everyone's surprise Reed turned out to be a good aim and broke the window out without any help. |
|
 |
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
This big budget remake of the classic television cartoon features Jim Carrey as the Grinch and I'm telling you, watching him do this role is reason enough to see this film. He's outrageously brilliant in this role.
The recreation of Whoville is another reason to watch this, it's nothing short of amazing. A very funny take on a time honored story, fantastic acting and blow-your-mind sets makes "The Grinch" one of the best Christmas movies ever. |
|
|
|
Just like the original drawings in the book, everything in the film revolves around a swirl, even the clouds. Look closely at them in several scenes and you will find the initials "C.H.", "J.C.," and "R.H." briefly form as the clouds move. This stands for actor Clint Howard (Whobris), actor Jim Carrey (The Grinch), and director Ron Howard. |
|
|
 |
A Christmas Story
Based on a series of anecdotes by Jean Shepherd this holiday classic is a wonderful slice of middle class Americana set in the early 40s. Uproariously funny and adorably innocent, we couldn't possibly leave this one out of our list of best Christmas movies...even though you have probably seen it a bazillion times.
A Christmas Story was not much of a hit when it was released in 1983 but became a holiday mainstay soon after and is still shown in 24 hour marathons on some television channels. |
|
|
|
Director Bob Clark, let it be known that Jack Nicholson was given the script and was very much interested in the role of Mr. Parker, "The Old Man". However, Clark didn't learn of this until later and the studio didn't want to pay Nicholson's fee anyway, which would have doubled the budget. Regardless, Clark says that Darren McGavin was still the better choice and was born to play the role. |
|
 |
A Charlie Brown Christmas
I reallize this is a made-for-TV-movie but to keep it out of the list of best Christmas movies seems to me a crime I'm not willing to commit. Generations of kids have grown up loving this holiday classic and for that reason alone it deserves a place on our list of best Christmas movies.
The story is timeless and helps us remember the true meaning of Christmas as our hero, Charlie Brown is disgusted with the commercialism of the holiday and seeks to find it's true meaning. The music alone is worth watching this classic. |
|
|
|
When they first saw the show, CBS executives were horrified at the idea of an animated Christmas special with such a blatant message. They also strongly objected to the fact that the show had no canned laughter. |
|
 |
Elf
After wreaking havoc on Santa's elf community due to his ungainly size, Buddy (Will Ferrell), the man-sized elf discovers that he isn't an elf at all and trecks to New York to find his real father and his identity.
Will Ferrell plays a hilarious role in this movie and it's good to say that it's family friendly as well. It has a light-hearted fanciful appeal and is great for children of all ages. Favorite scene: Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel sing a duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" |
|
|
|
The elf Ming Ming, who appears briefly in the beginning of the film, is played by Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie Parker in the classic holiday film A Christmas Story (1983). |
|
 |
Miracle On 34th Street (1947)
A timeless classic that has been remade time and time again. We suggest you opt for the original film starring Edmund Gwenn as Santa Claus, Maureen O'Hara as Doris Walker and Natalie Wood as an adorable Susan Walker.
This favorite Christmas tale delivers all the hope and magic that Christmas should bring and Edmund Gwenn makes the perfect Santa Claus. |
|
|
|
20th Century-Fox studio head Darryl F. Zanuck was very much against making this film because he thought it too corny to succeed. He finally agreed to a medium-sized budget provided writer/director George Seaton would accept his next three assignments unconditionally. Seaton, who desperately wanted to get the picture made, agreed. |
|
 |
 |
The Nightmare Before Christmas
My kids wouldn't speak to me again if I left off Tim Burton's stop motion feature. The Nightmare Before Christmas has already become a holiday classic and Burton's twisted genius is evident in every scene of the movie.
The animation is creepy but charming as only Tim Burton could pull off. The musical score is endearing and hauntingly memorable. |
|
|
|
Tim Burton has said the original poem was inspired after seeing Halloween merchandise display in a store being taken down and replaced by a Christmas display. The juxtaposition of ghouls and goblins with Santa and his reindeer sparked his imagination. |
|
 |
Scrooge (1970)
The most memorable (musical) retelling of the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol. Albert Finney plays a brilliant Ebenezer, both fearsom, loathsome and heart-breaking and when he wakes from his nightmarish ordeal he is gloriously transformed if not disturbingly so.
The music in this film is touching, spirit lifting stuff indeed and if you have a couple of hours, you really should give this great Christmas classic a try. You won't be sorry. HINT: You might want to fast forward through the opening credits which seem to last forever. |
|
|
|
This version differs from the book in that, here, Scrooge's fiancée, Belle, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. In the book she is not related to them. |
|
 |
White Christmas
How can you have Christmas without this holiday classic? The film is innocent, fun, has wonderful music by legendary voices and a priceless cast. It's not really interesting for the kids but it's a great one to cuddle up with your honey and watch. It's just a happy, feel-good movie that sets the tone for a warm holiday.
Come on now, how can you have Christmas without hearing the Bing-meister sing White Christmas, really! |
|
|
|
 |
Home Alone
It's important to set aside your nature instinct to judge things like physics in this film but if you will simply sit down in front of your set ready to enjoy a silly but hilarious holiday film, you will thrououghly enjoy Home Alone. Hey, Christmas isn't about being all alalytical anyhow!
The humor in Home Alone is a lot like watching the Three Stooges but watching Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern take it to the face is more than funny. This is a fun and enjoyable movie and it's really great for the kids too. |
|
|
|
Joe Pesci kept forgetting that he was filming a "family" movie during his characters on-screen outbursts so director Chris Columbus advised him to say "fridge" instead of the "F-word". |
|
 |
National Lampoon's Christmas Vactation
This is one of the funniest holiday films you will ever see. Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid and Beverly D'Angelo are hilarious in this recent classic movie.
If you lament spending the holidays with your family, watch this one and you will feel much better. It can't possibly be as nightmarish as Christmas with the Griswolds. |
|
|
|
The Griswold's neighbor's house is the same house Murtaugh and his family lived in all the Lethal Weapon movies. The houses on this street are on the Warner Brothers Studios back lot. |
|
 |
The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
This is another made-for-tv movie that you should really see. It spawned the hit series "The Waltons." It's a beautiful piece of art depicting a large family during the depression era during the holidays.
It's heart-felt, meaningful and will make you feel thankful for the people who love you. You can find this movie as a dvd online. Check Amazon.com. |
|
|
|
The Waltons have a time-traveling radio. In one scene they are listening to the Johnson Wax Program, featuring Fibber McGee and Molly. But it is 1933 and Fibber and Molly did not come on the air until 1935. The program they are actually listening to is from 1947. |
|
 |
Santa Claus: The Movie
Who doesn't want to know how the bearded deliverer of ho-hos came to be the legend he is? The first half of this film shows how the jolly old soul was given immortality and chosen to deliver toys to all the children of the world.
The second half of the film takes us back to modern days when the head elf Patch, played by Dudley Moore falls into the clutches of an even toy manufacturer who wants to cut into Santa's business. Its a fun and fanciful film that's great for the whole family. |
|
|
|
Animal Rights activists protested at the premier about the use of reindeer for the 'loop the loop' section, thinking the production used real reindeer on a big dipper. Of course it was done with animation. What they didn't know was that ten reindeer were saved from slaughter in Norway to be used in the film. |
|
 |
The Polar Express
A beautifully animated holiday excursion into imagination and wonderment. Sure, it's creepy that many of the main characters resemble Tom Hanks but besides that, this is definately one not to miss.
A little boy who doubts the tales of Christmas and the legends of Santa Claus boards a magical train headed for the North Pole and Santa's home. If you have kids, it's absolutely imperative you watch this with them. Sweet and beautiful holiday fun will be had by all. |
|
|
|
A close examination of all the ticket numbers reveals that they all contain the number "1225" in them. Pere Marquette No. 1225 was used as a model for the Polar Express locomotive. 12-25 also refers to the date of Christmas - December 25th. |
|
 |
Scrooged
You might disagree with this choice as many of our friends do. We tell them, hey, it's out list, if you don't like our choices...make your own list. We have always been fans of Bill Murray and most any other classic SNL comics as well. Murray shines true to form in this 80s rendetion of the classic "A Christmas Carol."
Hey, you have a brilliant comic, 80's greed, a "feel good" ending and probably the scariest Ghost of Christmas Future ever seen on film, what more could you want? |
|
|
|
When the Ghost Of Christmas Present (Carol Kane) grabbed Bill Murray's lip she tore his lip so badly that filming was halted for several days. Haha! We loved the Carol Kane-Bill Murray fight scenes! |
|
 |
Frosty the Snowman
A discarded silk tophat becomes the focus of a struggle between a demented magician and a small group of children after they find the magic of the hat brings Frosty to life.
This is a television classic tale that has to be watched every single year. When I was a kid there just wasn't anything sadder than when Frosty melted and the elation I felt when he was brought back to life is still warmly remembered. Jimmy Durante's narration of this classic will make it required viewing for a lifetime. |
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
