I had my wonderful little family here during Thanksgiving and they were tasked with unpacking the Christmas tree. I took it apart last year, left it decorated, and packed it away in three plastic totes. While putting the pieces back together and rehanging a few ornaments that had slipped, my daughter put on her favorite “decorating” film, White Christmas. It made me think about how films have worked their way into our holiday traditions over the years. We’ve grown up with them in the background of our lives for many reasons. I confess, I like the classic films best. Here are some of my favorites:
It’s Wonderful Life (1946)
The classic Christmas Frank Capra film, teaching us all a moral lesson about life and about what it means to be an American. That’s what Capra was famous for.
The film rights lapsed and it fell into the public domain for several decades. That meant that TV stations who were looking for holiday content could show this film without cost. So, it became an American classic maybe not because we all fell in love with it, but because it was on TV so much during our lives.
There are several other films in his repertoire that are worth exploring:
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
- Meet John Doe (1941)
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
Actors were under studio contract back then, so you would see the same handful appearing again and again in films. John Ford made all those famous John Wayne films with the same group of actors over and over again. The villian from It’s a Wonderful Life, Old Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) is cast in another wonderful Capra film, You Can’t Take It With You (1938), as the wise old Grandpa Vanderhof. It’s a stage play and seems like it when you watch the film. A very kooky cast of characters. It will make you want to look for your harmonica. Of course, a great lesson at the end.
As I mentioned, White Christmas (1954) is the traditional film my daughter puts on when she’s decorating. All kinds of songs in the background while your digging around in the boxes of ornaments. No one sounds like Bing anymore, unless it’s Michael Buble. This film sort of originated as a black and white called Holiday Inn (1942). Not really a Christmas film, it has musical numbers for all the holidays throughout the year. It might be fun to watch as well. It has received criticism because of a blackface musical number for Lincoln’s birthday. They used to show it with is part edited out. Not anymore, promising to show the original unedited version of films only.
I’m a sucker for life lessons. The Bishops Wife (1947) has Cary Grant as a visiting angel who has come in answer to the prayers of a bishop trying to get a cathedal built. The angel performs a number of miracles all in the hopes of helping the mortals understand God’s real priorities.
For years, my all time favorite has been Christmas in Connecticut (1945). Barbara Stanwyk plays a sort of pre-Martha Stewart magazine columnist. The magazine owner invites himself to her imaginary farmhouse for Christmas – to share with her made up husband and baby. Very much a romantic comedy. You’ve got to see it!
Again, the studio is using the same actors in multipe films. You will see Felix the cook and Mr. Yardley the magazine owner pair up again in Casablanca. Barbara Stanwyk is great in anything you can see her in. Another slapstick comedy with Henry Fonda (comedy?) is The Lady Eve (1941). She’s a black widow killer in the classic film noir, Double Indemnity (1944). That one has Fred MacMurray from My Three Sons fame as the dark and dying narrator. Don’t this!
Do you remember from your childhood watching A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)? Get your kids and grandkids together and talk about YOUR childhood Christmas – back when you had to walk two miles in the snow to haul firewood back home… This is back on some subscription services this year. Why can’t we get on the networks? Is there really that much on the schedule that needs to be there??
Recently I have added The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) to my holiday tradition. It’s about Charles Dickens and his struggle to write A Christmas Carol. Very funny and tragic all at once. I love Christopher Plummer’s Scrooge. Each of the characters come to life and haunt Dickens as he invents them on the page. We learn about the terrible childhood that inspired so many of the characters and settings of Dickens classic stories. Also, the origin of some of our Christmas traditions from this time period. I highly recommend this one to everyone each year.
For people without kids yet…
Love Actually (2003) has become the new classic holiday romance. Can you believe it’s twenty years old? I’m seeing interviews with some of the now long in the tooth stars of the film who can’t believe it has remained so popular for so long. Everyone is a sucker for love – all the different layers that are portrayed in this story, even the Prime Minister. It’s funny, sad, heartwarming, and inspiring. Maybe a good date film why you realize you didn’t get the right gift this year?
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, Die Hard (1988) has become a Christmas tradition for many. It’s the action film that will attract the sleepy males in your family. We love it so much because by now, we can recite the lines together, right? This one is good for late at night when there’s a crowd in the house and maybe too much uncomfortable stuff got said at dinner?
A relatively recent survey listed these films (in order) as America’s holiday favorites:
- It’s a Wonderful Life
- A Christmas Story
- Home Alone
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Elf
- Miracle on 34th Street
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Die Hard
- Love Actually
My list isn’t too far off. I do admit watching A Christmas Story again and again when it first came out (1983). What’s on YOUR list? Post a reply and let everyone know. I leave you with the moral to the story – what’s important is sharing some time with your family and friends and making some more memories. It doesn’t cost much, just some time and intention.
“You told me once that we shall be judged by our intentions, not by our accomplishments. I thought it a grand remark. But we must intend to accomplish—not sit intending on a chair.” ―
The Invisible Man 
My kids say the Grinch (the modern animated version before the Jim Carrey version), and Home Alone, the Santa Clause, the Nightmare Before Christmas, and Elf are staples in our home. I’d say A Christmas Carol (the 3D version of Jim Carrey’s was interesting to watch). Growing up it was Miracle on 34th Street, Prancer, and Annabel’s Wish.
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