Christmas Story – Department store scene
with Santa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm-Zsjvc3nY
Christmas Story- “Fra-gee-lay. That must
be Italian!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKOeSDaI6ds
Christmas Story – Memorable Christmas dinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Y5jZzgW7M
It’s A Wonderful Life – Original
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBWjK-ae3Ns
The Junky's Christmas (part 3 of 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvS6-JDwT3Y
national lampoons christmas vacation -
attic stairs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOlBthE1ODY
It's
A Wonderful Life (1946)
The essential film when it comes to Christmas, It's A
Wonderful Life is a story about a man going through some hard times, and makes
the wish that he had never been born. Feeling that the world would be better
off without him, he wants to remove the pain of everyone around him, by
removing himself. For a short time, and angel grants him his wish, and the
chance to see what life would be like if he really had never been born. Frank
Capra directs, and Jimmy Stewart stars as George Bailey, a family man, who has
come across some tough times. The movie is really about hope, and the thought
that everyone has something to offer, no matter how small we may feel we are
in the scheme of things. The film attempts to show just how much one man can
change the lives of everyone around him, and gives us the feeling that even
the smallest of deeds can turn into the biggest of deals for someone else.
It's A Wonderful Life if a classic Christmas film that has made some lists as
one of the best movies ever made.
Miracle
on 34th Street (1947)
Is there really a Santa Clause? You bet there is, and this
is the film that proves it! Another one of the classic films about Christmas,
A Miracle on 34th Street surrounds a man who claims to be none other than Kris
Kringle himself. Of course nobody believes him, and it is up to a lawyer and a
little girl who must set aside their logical thinking just long enough to have
faith that this man could really be THE Santa Clause. Edmund Gwenn as Kringle
exemplifies everything we have ever associated with what Santa Clause would
look like. He fits the part, and from the start of the movie, you want to
believe that it is really him, but you have no proof to go along with your
assumptions. It is one mans word, and we are taken through legal proceedings
where he must prove who he is, or be deemed insane by the state. It is really
a great story about the opinions that people have, and whether or not we are
willing to believe something we can't see or prove for ourselves. Miracle on
34th Street is one that should not be missed if you haven't seen it yet.
The
Santa Clause (1994)
When something happens to Santa Clause, Tim Allen's
character must step in and take over the role in order to make sure that
Christmas can continue. Not really accepting the role, and not looking
anything like Santa Clause, leaves the man with a lot of doubt about his
beliefs or anything he associates with the holiday. But slowly, he starts
growing the beard and the belly, and soon enough he looks just like Santa
Clause! Though the reason he takes over is a little dark for a movie like
this, The Santa Clause does a great job of bringing a lot of humor to the
topic of Christmas and everything it entails. The job of delivering presents
to all of the children of the world over one night is not as easy as it seems,
and for one man, that task has become his sole responsibility. This film is
hilarious at times, and was done well enough to have a sequel 8 years later.
The Santa Clause is another one of those Christmas movies that should not be
missed. When it isn't funny, it is heartfelt and sincere, and truly is one of
the better family movies of recent years.
Home
Alone (1990)
When it hit theaters in 1990, nobody thought that Home Alone
would turn out to be one of the most successful movies of all time. Home Alone
is about a huge family that is going on a Christmas vacation with a truck load
of kids. Unfortunately, on the morning of the trip, everyone wakes up late and
ends up rushing around to try and make it to the airport on time. One of the
kids (Kevin) is left behind, and when he awakes, he finds that he has a
mansion size house all to himself. He had been mad at his whole family, and
found himself happy to be left alone. Now he must run an entire house, and
defend it against thieves who are attempting to rob his family. Through it
all, he comes to realize how important his family really is to him, and he
learns some valuable lessons about life and the love for the people he holds
most dear. Home Alone is another one of those great family movies that puts a
lot of humor into everyday events. I found it to be a great film back then,
and even though I have aged a little since its release, I still find myself
watching it when it comes on now.
Frosty The Snowman (1969)
Another of the great holiday animations, Frosty The Snowman
tells the tale of a magical top-hat, that when applied to the head of a
snowman, brings him to life. Named Frosty, this man made of snow shows the
children of a small town everything great that the Christmas season has to
offer. Though it comes it at less than half an hour, this Christmas Special
really does a good job of presenting many different emotions in that short
amount of time. You find yourself laughing out loud as he marches through
town, and even sad at the thought that someone could keep Frosty from having
his snowy fun. It is a far-fetched story if we are going to look at it
honestly, but it is fun to watch, and it is endearing in everything that it
presents. The best part though, is the theme song of Frosty, which is
something I always end up singing during the Christmas season. Frosty The
Snowman is one of the great animations that came out of the 60's around
Christmas time, and still has a place in my home movie collection.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947,
directed by George Seaton)
Christmas in Connecticut (1945,
directed by Peter Godfrey). Stanwyck plays a sort of Martha Stewart of the
pre-television WWII era who can write convincing advice about domestic
matters, but can't cook and is not at all the rural persona of her columns.
Her editor (a sly Sidney Greenstreet) thinks that it would be good publicity
for her to make Christmas dinner for a war hero (Dennis Morgan) on leave.
Complications are many (centering on a borrowed baby and borrowed chef) and
the ending predictable, but it's a genial screwball comedy.
