Cover of The Bells of St. Mary's
It was two days before Thanksgiving and the Christmas decorations were out in K-Mart and from that point on it’s been Christmas season unplugged! I can remember when holiday music was played on the radio every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, but I think it got out of control when The Chipmunk Song was on the air every 30 minutes. I don’t think I’ve heard any holiday songs on the radio BUT every store and shop has either music or muzak playing so we are not entirely bereft of the sounds of the season! Not so in the movie department. Where are all the old Christmas movies? Even TCM, the guardian of the classics hasn’t been featuring any oldies. Perhaps next week during the countdown till Christmas.
Well, all this chatter has been leading to the question: What is your favorite holiday movie? I can’t wait to hear from you – is Charlie Brown’s Christmas or The Christmas Story? Are you partial to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or does Frosty the Snowman warm your heart? The Little Drummer Boy?
I love the old classics and could and do watch Miracle on 34th Street and It’s A Wonderful Life whenever they are being shown. I like these movies because they are full of the emotions and feelings we all hope and believe are part of this season. These movies make me cry… I used to wait every year for Christmas Eve because that’s when I would be able to watch The Bells of St. Mary’s, now there’s a tear-jerker and plus you get to hear Bing Crosby croon!!!
But my favorite? Ahhhh, I’ve saved the best for last – The Bishop’s Wife! NOT the new version (which I never saw), I’m talking about the original version with the fabulous trio of Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Omg this movie is the BEST Christmas movie! First of all you get Cary Grant as an angel!! Can you stand it? He’s so gorgeous to begin with and now he plays the role of an angel, dear lord, it’s great. And you have the angelic face of Loretta Young as the wife of the beleaguered bishop who is played by David Niven. Perfect casting in a perfect story. I don’t want to give away the plot or the story line because IF you can find it on TV or rent it from NetFlix, you should. Such a sweet treat for Christmas!
Ok, so what’s yours? Please share your favorite holiday movie with us and tell us why (or not).
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Pbenjay's Blog 
“it is a wonderful life”… this movie has become a ritual in my household for the past 32 years… I watch (or hear it in the background) every Christmas eve..
Who is ever over.. must take 2.5 hours to watch this movie.. I love this movie.. We chuckle at me.. I get the food out and we munch down while watching…YEP.. my movie…
“A Christmas Story”, based on the story by Jean Shepherd. I LOVE this movie! I’m not one to watch a film over and over. But this is on TBS every Christmas Day and they run it for 24 hours. I always try to watch it a few times, or at least parts of it during the day. I can’t explain it, but it just resonates with me. It’s a funny, sweet, classic, perfect film.
Excuse me? I mean seriously, excuse me?!?!?! Where is my favorite movie of all time? You mention Charlie Brown, before you mention AFI’s number 11 best movie of all time?!?!?
God Bless you Karen for mentioning the best movie of all time before I give my Aunt a lobotomy from the brain damage she suffering from! Of course you are allowed to disagree but not to mention “It’s A Wonderful Life” is like asking how many outs are in one inning? It’s Un-American I tell ya! Blasphemy!!
“No man is a failure who has friends! Thanks for the wings!!!”
I love this movie because of it’s dark side as well for it’s Capra Corn, but it’s Jimmy Stewart’s unforgettable performance that steals the show!!!
Also I am very horny young gentleman who never really was interested in looks of actresses in black&white films but this a family blog so I can’t tell you what I would want to do to Donna Reed in that film!!! Aye Mamacita!!!!
Hey there horny young nephew – I DO mention It’s A Wonderful Life – go back and reread!!!
My vote goes to White Christmas. LOVE IT, can’t wait to watch it Christmas Eve.
We use to take the train to Philly to see the Army/Navy games and we’d sing the SNOW SNOW SNOW song all the way down there.
Some of the VT scenes are picture perfect and when I’m up in VT in the winter I’m always on the look out for a lovely old inn.
S