Once the tree is trimmed, light a fire, grab some popcorn and settle back for a holiday movie marathon this season.
From November 2011 Southlake Style, written by Rhonda Ross.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and we allbrcelebrate in our own traditional ways. Yet whatever your plans are, we thinkbrthere's nothing better than a fireplace, some hot chocolate and a classicbrholiday movie. With such a wide selection available, we've pooled ourbrcollective knowledge to offer what we think are the must-see holiday films (inbrno particular order). From Jimmy Stewart and Bing Crosby to Chevy Chase and WillbrFerrell, you're sure to find one of your favorites here. So, get comfy and bringbron the popcorn.
White Christmas (1954)
Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) starbras two Army buddies who become a successful musical act after the end of WorldbrWar II. They team up with the singing sister act of Betty and Judy Haynesbr(Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to save the failing inn of their formerbrcommander, General Waverly. Crosby originally sang the classic tune, “WhitebrChristmas,” in the 1942 film, Holiday Inn.brShowcased in this production along with other classics like “Sisters,” “ThebrBest Things Happen While You’re Dancing” and “Snow,” the soundtrack to thisbrmovie is as delightful as the dancing. Despite a few mishaps, the entire oldbrbattalion shows up on Christmas Eve to honor General Waverly and save hisbrbeloved inn. The memorable finale comes to a close with the snow falling andbreveryone raising a glass to toast, “May your days be merry and bright, and maybrall your Christmases be white.” It doesn’t get any better than that.
Our Take: The holidaybrseason wouldn’t be complete without a musical or two, and White Christmas definitely ranks as our favorite must-see musical.
It's a Wonderful Lifebr(1946)
George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a long-sufferingbrbusinessman who has always put others before himself, but when he is facingbrfinancial ruin, he ends up on a bridge contemplating suicide. Enter Clarence,brGeorge's guardian angel who overheard George bitterly wishing he had never beenbrborn. Clarence helps George experience what the town and all his friends wouldbrbe like if he had never existed, showing George all the lives he has touchedbrand the contributions he has made to the community. When George is returned tobrthe present, he realizes that while his experiences might not have turned outbrexactly how he planned, he still has had a wonderful life.
Our Take: Nothingbrbeats this heartwarming, part romance, part drama film that makes you rememberbrwhat Christmas is all about. It stands the test of time as a celebration ofbrlife and a feel-good fix. Trust us, this one will restore your faith inbrhumanity.
Miracle on 34thStreet – 1947
Macy's hires a department store Santa named KrisbrKringle (Edmund Gwenn) only to find out he claims to be the one-and-only realbrSanta Claus. Events lead to Kris being committed to Bellevue Mental Hospital, judgedbrto be mentally unstable by declaring he is Santa. To earn his freedom, he is putbron trial and defended by an idealistic attorney. His lawyer sets out to provebrthat Kris is recognized as Santa in a moving trial that warms your heart.
Our Take: Thisbrmovie has been remade several times but we love the original, classic versionbrthe most and think you will, too. From the awestruck expressions on the facesbrof the children telling Santa what they want for Christmas to the inevitablebrhappy ending, this film can bring out the child in you.
A Christmas Story (1983)
The only thing young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wantsbrfor Christmas is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200 shot Range Model Air Rifle, butbrall he hears from his parents is, “You'll shoot your eye out.” This comedy setbrin the 1940s brings back the life of a boy trying to convince his parents to purchasebrthe coveted Christmas gift. Ralphie pleads his case to anyone who will listen,brincluding Santa himself. On the big day, a package under the Christmas treebrlabeled “from Santa” does contain the sought-after BB gun but predictably, whenbrtrying the rifle out for the first time, Ralphie almost makes the direbrpredictions come true when a ricochet hits him just below the eye.
Our Take: All’sbrwell that end’s well in this sweet recollection of time gone by, and webrguarantee you’ll find this film playing almost every night throughout thebrholiday season. Nevertheless, having your own copy is still a good idea.
Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell stars as Buddy the Elf, a boy who was raised bybrelves at the North Pole. But when he heads off to New York City in search ofbrhis real father, he has a bit of a hard time fitting in. After confronting hisbrfather and being sent away, he lands at Gimbels, where he discovers thebrdepartment store Santa is an imposter. A fight ensues and Buddy ends up beingbrhauled off to jail. After bailing Buddy out, his father takes his son home tobrthe family. Like a fish out of water, Buddy struggles to fit in, yet in doingbrso, he helps bring back the Christmas spirit to even the most jaded NewbrYorkers.
Our Take: We mustbradmit that the humor in Elf isn’t forbreveryone, but there is nothing like Will Ferrell in yellow tights to fill youbrwith the holiday spirit.
The Santa Clause (1994)
When Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) discovers his ex-wife and herbrhusband are trying to convince 6-year-old Charlie that Santa isn't real, Scottbrsets out to bring the holiday magic back to his son. One night while his son is asleep, Scott receives an unexpectedbrvisitor on the rooftop. Unfortunately, he startles Santa, who tumbles off thebrroof and disappears, leaving behind a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer and anbrempty Santa suit. Donning the stray suit, Scott magically becomes the real Santa.brComedy ensues.
Our Take: Althoughbrthis film continues to be a popular classic, we are perplexed as to why WaltbrDisney Studios made the equally awful two sequels that followed.
National Lampoon'sbrChristmas Vacation (1989)
It just wouldn't be December without a visit with ClarkbrGriswold (Chevy Chase) and his various assorted collection of relatives as theybrgather to celebrate a good old-fashioned family Christmas. As usual, the bestbrof intentions fall by the wayside as Clark encounters one hilarious problembrafter another. From an adventure with a squirrel in the limbs of the Christmasbrtree to an incident with an unfortunate cat, this family favorite will keep youbrlaughing until the New Year. Who can forget the expression on Clark's face whenbrhe plugs in his extravaganza of holiday lights and nothing happens, or the lookbron the neighbor's face when the brilliant display finally does come on.
Our Take: Canbranyone have this much bad luck? We bet you recognize someone from your familybrin this film. It might even be you, channeling a little Clark Griswold of yourbrown.
Home Alone (1990)
When Home Alonepremiered at the box office, the film reigned supreme for 12 weeks straight, sobrit’s no surprise it makes our list. Who could resist the cute-as-a-buttonbrMacaulay Culkin in his breakout role as 8-year-old Kevin, who accidently gets leftbrbehind when his family takes off for vacation? While the frantic familybrattempts to get back to Chicago from Paris, Kevin enjoys his adventure eatingbrcopious amounts of junk food, jumping on his parents’ bed and watching gangsterbrmovies. But on Christmas Eve, Kevin has to stand up and defend his home frombrtwo criminals (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) set on robbing the seemingly emptybrhouse.
Our Take: An improbable plot doesn’t seem to matterbrsince Kevin protecting the house from bumbling burglars is slapstick funny. Believebrit or not, you can have too much of a good thing. In this case, we suggestbrskipping the sequel, Home Alone 2: Lostbrin New York.
The Polar Express (2004)
The youngest of our classic films, The Polar Express tells the story of a young boy from Michigan (voicedbrby Tom Hanks) who is looking for a reason to believe in the true spirit ofbrChristmas. He boards a magical fantasy train for a journey to the North Pole inbrsearch of Santa. After a few trials and tribulations, he and his fellowbrpassengers reach the North Pole and watch as Santa prepares for his trip aroundbrthe world. Our hero finds that only believers can hear the beautiful sound ofbrthe silver bells on Santa’s sleigh. When the boy returns home and finds abrwrapped silver bell under his Christmas tree, both he and his sister marvel atbrthe sound. They realize that their parents can’t hear the bell, and the moviebrends with the narrator recounting that although he’s grown old, “the bell stillbrrings for me, as it does for all who believe.” Magical.
Our Take: The Polar Express is the only animatedbrfilm that made our list, and the adaption of this children’s book is simplybrphenomenal. Using a live-action performance capture technique, the filmmakersbrincorporated the movements of live actors into the animated characters.
A ChristmasbrCarol/Scrooge/Scrooged (1951, 1970, 1984, 1988, 1999)
Dickens' original story about a man who learns compassionbrwhen three ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve delivers a great message at a timebrof the year when we all need to remember our fellow man.
Our Take: Nobrmatter how you slice it, this holiday classic stays on our favorite listbrdespite overabundant versions appearing like fruitcakes this time of year. Webrenjoy each of them for their different portrayals of the timeless Dickens talebrwith the possible exception of the modern version, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray as a modern day Ebenezer Scrooge.brSomehow a cynical TV executive doesn’t jive with the image of the miserlybrVictorian man we’ve grown fond of.
Whether you have a full house or an empty nest, take time tobrhave a movie festival this holiday season. Light the fireplace and pop thebrpopcorn — you'll be making memories that can last for generations.
Our FavoritebrChristmas Television Specials
A Charlie BrownbrChristmas
Rudolph the Red-NosedbrReindeer
The Grinch
Frosty the Snowman
Santa Claus is Comingbrto Town