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brightknightie) wrote2020-12-24 03:14 pm
brightknightie) wrote2020-12-24 03:14 pm
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Winter holiday film favorites
A few days ago, I asked about favorite winter holiday episodes/specials of fannish shows. Thank you for the recommendations!
Today, may I ask about your favorite winter holiday movies? These would be standalone feature films or made-for-TV movies, not specials (like my precious, precious Rankin-Bass holiday specials) or spin-offs from shows.
My own personal all-time favorite is the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947), preferably in black-and-white. I pretty much love everything about it. I watch it every year on the evening of US Thanksgiving. It makes me happy.
My runner up is The Night They Saved Christmas (1984), which is set in my home state, and which I watched on TV as a child. I know it's not an extraordinarily good movie, but I love it. In the midst of what you could expect from many a family '80s Christmas made-for-TV movie with Santa and the North Pole, there is also an aching subplot in which some of the characters believe the rest of their family has died, and they have to go on without them (though in the end, everyone is okay). And did I mention it is set in my home state, and is almost realistic!? Nothing is set in my home state, never mind remotely realistically! (Okay, not literally "nothing," but you know what I mean. ~grin~)
An odd -- I'm all with the odd! -- third place goes to Bed of Roses (1996), which has barely three scenes set at Christmas, and that all goes wrong, so maybe it shouldn't count as a Christmas movie at all. But I just love this bittersweet movie about broken people trying hard, and I think of it at Christmas. (Also While You Were Sleeping (1995), which is in some ways similar, but much lighter fare and happier ending than Bed of Roses.)
Also An American Christmas Carol (1979) starring Henry Winkler as Scrooge.
Today, may I ask about your favorite winter holiday movies? These would be standalone feature films or made-for-TV movies, not specials (like my precious, precious Rankin-Bass holiday specials) or spin-offs from shows.
My own personal all-time favorite is the original Miracle on 34th Street (1947), preferably in black-and-white. I pretty much love everything about it. I watch it every year on the evening of US Thanksgiving. It makes me happy.
My runner up is The Night They Saved Christmas (1984), which is set in my home state, and which I watched on TV as a child. I know it's not an extraordinarily good movie, but I love it. In the midst of what you could expect from many a family '80s Christmas made-for-TV movie with Santa and the North Pole, there is also an aching subplot in which some of the characters believe the rest of their family has died, and they have to go on without them (though in the end, everyone is okay). And did I mention it is set in my home state, and is almost realistic!? Nothing is set in my home state, never mind remotely realistically! (Okay, not literally "nothing," but you know what I mean. ~grin~)
An odd -- I'm all with the odd! -- third place goes to Bed of Roses (1996), which has barely three scenes set at Christmas, and that all goes wrong, so maybe it shouldn't count as a Christmas movie at all. But I just love this bittersweet movie about broken people trying hard, and I think of it at Christmas. (Also While You Were Sleeping (1995), which is in some ways similar, but much lighter fare and happier ending than Bed of Roses.)
Also An American Christmas Carol (1979) starring Henry Winkler as Scrooge.
no subject
I like Bell, Book, and Candle as a holiday movie. It's set around the holidays, and is my Jimmy Stewart holiday movie of choice rather than the other more famous one (which I cannot stand).
What else? Hogfather, though I tend to watch it only every other year. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe which isn't truly a holiday movie, but because of all the snow and Santa Claus appearing to give the Pevensie children their gifts, totally counts.
I enjoy the sappy love story of The Santa Clause 2; I tend to watch the entire trilogy every year, but that's my favorite of the three.
And, of course, The Muppet Christmas Carol, which is, hands down, the best adaptation of the original book that I have seen.
no subject
Bell, Book, and Candle is not currently available on Amazon, but the others are.
Your note that you prefer Bell, Book, and Candle over the more famous one made me suddenly remember my affection for The Miracle of the Bells (which stars Fred McMurry, not Jimmy Stewart, but...). Curiously, it is also not available on Amazon at this time.
Thank you!
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