Cropped screenshot of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye from the trailer for the film White Christmas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Everyone has a favorite Christmas movie and I think last year I asked my readers to send in their fans-so why not again this year and let’s see which one emerges as most popular choice. I love the holiday movies and look forward to seeing the old classic Christmas movies. Here are 8 of my favorite holiday films:
- THE BISHOP’S WIFE – My perennial favorite with Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. Made in 1947, this movie is terrific. Cary Grant as a charming angel tempted by the lovely Loretta is amusing and can you EVER really get tired of looking at his oh-so-handsome face? David Niven is perfect in the role of the uptight minister. WHY do they remake an already fantastic film?
- MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET – Year and year out ever since I was a child, I have watched Kris Kringle charm little Susan into believing. Suitable for kids of all ages and timeless.
- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – A holiday tear jerker for sure but I never get tired of watching it. Jimmy Stewart in the lead role of a small town boy all grown up and itching to go to the big city. However, love steps in, evil lurks around the corner and this lovely tale of good and evil and David and Goliath is well-acted and will bring out your holiday spirit. Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore and Henry Travers flesh out the cast and are superb in their roles.
- HOLIDAY INN – With Bing Crosby singing and Fred Astaire dancing and Irving Berlin writing the songs…really now you know this is a very entertaining movie. A 1942 romantic comedy and set in New England, this is a true holiday movie because the Inn is only open on holidays. Produced in 1942.
- WHITE CHRISTMAS – 1954 Twelve short years and Bing is back in the hotel business. This time he has even more talent around him to make this a cute song and dance film. Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney and Dean Jagger. Everyone pitches in to help save the inn!
- A CHRISTMAS STORY – 1983 YES there was a time in our lives (well mine anyway) when you or your brother could actually ask for and GET a B-B gun for Christmas. Ralphie is a pudgy nerdy-looking kid who is perennially picked on and molly-coddled by his mother. Some of the most memorable scenes are the tongue-sticking on the freezing pole, the pink bunny pajamas, the leg lamp and the fateful visit to the store Santa. Darren Magavin as the Old Man.
- A CHRISTMAS CAROL – I know of at least 6 versions. My choices are the 1938 film starring Reginald Owen as Scrooge, the 1971 Alastair Sim and Michael Redgrave movie and the 1984 George C. Scott version.
- THE GATHERING – A 1977 made-for-tv movie starring Ed Asner. This is 5 tissue tear-jerker, believe me. Adam (Ed Asner) knows he’s going to die so he tries to pull his torn-apart dysfunctional family together for one last Christmas celebration. I wish I could see it again…
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 
Where Have All The Movies Gone??
Posted in BY THE WAY, From My Point of View - Personal commentary on Movies and Books, tagged A Christmas Story, Christmas, Holidays, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, It's A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Santa Buddies, Santa Claus, Santa Clause, Scrooged, The Bells of St. Mary's, The Bishop's Wife on December 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Cover via Amazon
We all have our favorite Christmas holiday movie – we established that last week. But when are they playing on TV and on what station? This is as much a mystery as how do reindeer fly? In hopes of finding The Bishop’s Wife or Bells of St Mary, I thought I would try to check the TV listings for the next couple of days and look at channels I don’t ordinarily watch – but then again we already know I am not in control of the remote so if it isn’t on TCM or MSNBC chances are I won’t see it.
An hour or so on the web and I’m not sure that A Christmas Story is showing on any channel other than TBS! Well for sure I didn’t find either of the two I mentioned above. I do love It’s A Wonderful Life and if I don’t set an alarm on my blackberry for 8pm on Christmas Eve, I won’t get to see that also 😦
T’is the season for sharing so I’m posting your all-in-one-place Christmas movie TV guide – right here in my blog.
THURSDAY:
12:00 AM – Holiday in Your Heart – Lifetime
8:00 AM – Once Upon A Christmas – ABCFH
9:15AM – Holiday Inn – AMC
10:00AM – Twice Upon A Christmas – ABCFH
1:51PM – The Night Before Christmas – ABCFH
4:30PM – Polar Express – ABCFH
6:00PM – Deck the Halls – Lifetime
6:30PM – The Santa Claus – ABCFH
8:00PM – Holiday Switch – Lifetime/Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas – ABC
10:00PM – An Accidental Christmas – Lifetime
FRIDAY:
12:00AM – Santa Jr. – Hallmark/Remember the Night – TCM
2:00AM – The Santa Suit – Hallmark/Meet Me in St. Louis – TCM
4:00AM – Mrs. Scrooge – Hallmark/Bell, Book & Candle – TCM
6:00AM – Moonlight and Mistletoe – Hallmark
8:00AM – Santa Jr. – Hallmark/An Accidental Christmas – Lifetime
10:00AM – Miracle on 34th St. – AMC/A Christmas Proposal – Lifetime
11:00AM – Marry Me – Lifetime/The Flintstone’s Christmas – ACFH
12:00PM – Recipe for a Perfect Christmas -Lifetime/Pinnochio’s Christmas – ABCFH/Where God Left His Shoes -IFC
12:15PM – White Christmas – AMC
1:00PM – T’was the Night Before Christmas – ABCFH
1:30PM – Rudolph’s and Frosty’s Christmas in July – ABCFH
2:00PM – Holiday Switch – Lifetime
3:00PM – Miracle on 34th St – AMC
3:31PM – Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer + The Island of Misfit Toys – ABCFH
4:00Pm – The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Hallmark/The Road to Christmas – Lifetime
5:00PM – A Christmas Wedding – Lifetime/
5:15PM – White Christmas – AMC
5:30Pm – T’was the Night Before Christmas – ABCFH
6:00PM – A Secret Santa – Lifetime/Jack Frost – ABCFH/Scrooge – TCM
7:00PM – Eve’s Christmas – Lifetime/Frosty’s Winter Wonderland – ABCFH
7:30PM – T’was the Night Before Christmas – ABCFH
8:00PM – Miracle on 34th St – AMC/Disney Prep & Landing – ABC/Battle of the Bulbs – Hallmark/It’s A Wonderful Life – NBC/The Bishop’s Wife – TCM
8:30PM – Phineas and Ferb’s Christmas Vacation – ABC
9:00PM – A Boyfriend for Christmas – Liftetime/The Year Without A Santa Claus – ABCFH/The Santa Claus – ABC
10:00PM – Eloise at Christmastime – Hallmark/Rudolph’s Shiny New Year – ABCFH/On Strike For Christmas – Lifetime
10:15Pm – White Christmas – AMC
SATURDAY:
12:00AM – Ernest Saves Christmas – ABCFH/ **
7:00AM – A Flintstone Christmas – ABCFH
8:00AM – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – ABCFH
9:00AM – A Christmas Carol (1938) – TMC/The Year Without A Santa Claus – ABCFH
10:00AM – Miracle on 34th St – ABCFH/Susan Slept Here – TCM
12:30PM – Santa Buddies – ABCFH
4:30PM –Home Alone 2 – ABCFH
7:00PM – Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch Who Stole Christmas – ABCFH
8:00PM – A Christmas Carol (1984) – Fox/Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas – NBC
8:30Pm – Christmas Attack Zone – NBC
10:15Pm – Surviving Christmas – TBS
** Midnight till 8pm – A Christmas Story – TBS/Scrooged – AMC
Since posting this blog I’ve found TCM’s Christmas schedule and Yay The Bishop’s Wife and others are now in the schedule.
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