“Christmas, Christmas time is here
Time for joy and time for cheer…”
Hills of snow. The jingling of sleigh bells. Fireplaces with stockings hanging from them. Whether or not you get the Norman Rockwell/ Courier and Ives Christmas so lauded in songs and movies, I do wish you the best and present to you
TEN FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” – The Peanuts Gang sing Christmas carols while Charlie Brown, distraught with all the commercialism, tries to find the true meaning of Christmas. One of the best Charlie Brown TV specials and it endures to this day. Also, I think I grew up having the exact same tree Charlie Brown had for Christmas.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Narrated by Sam the Snowman (Burl Ives), this is the story of how a misfit reindeer and his friends Hermey and Yukon Cornelius brave the snow and the Abominable Snowman in order to make it to the North Pole, where it’s fogged-in until Santa finds a use for Rudolph.
“Miracle on 34th Street” – No offense to Richard Attenborrough, but I prefer the original 1947 version. When a man takes over being a store Santa he’s a hit but when the store manager (Maureen O’Hara) finds that he BELIEVES he’s Kris Kringle, she has him committed. It’s up to a young lawyer (John Payne) to prove he’s the real thing.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” – George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is a bank manager a heartbeat away from losing the bank his father helped found. Contemplating suicide, Bailey is visited by an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) who shows him what the world would be like if he didn’t exist. “Look Daddy! Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings!”
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” – Directed by Chuck Jones (the “Bugs Bunny” guy) and Bob Ogle, this is another TV staple that has stood the test of time. Based on the Dr. Seuss book, a grumpy recluse plans to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville. “You’re a mean one, Mister Grinch. You really are a heel…”
“A Christmas Carol” – There are a few film adaptations of the Charles Dickens book as well as numerous TV versions. Choose whatever version you can find but I suggest the 1984 TV version with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. For those who don’t know, this is the story of an elderly miser who is visited by ghosts from the past, present, and future who warn him what will happen if he doesn’t change his ways. “God bless us, each and every one.”
“The Muppet Christmas Carol” – Mickey Mouse, the Flintstones, and Barbie have all done their version of the story, so why not the Muppets? The first Muppet movie following the passing of creator Jim Henson, Kermit the Frog (voiced by Steve Whitmire) plays Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Trivia fact: Caine claims that this was one of his most memorable roles.
“Scrooged” – Bill Murray takes on the “Ebenezer Scrooge” role this time playing Frank Cross, a TV exec who doesn’t care about Christmas until he has to produce a TV version AND met by the ghosts of Christmas past (David Johansen) and Christmas Present (Carol Kane). Great movie. Lee Majors is hilarious in the trailer “The Day the Reindeer Died.”
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” – The third of the Griswold vacation movies finds the family planning for Christmas, which leads to disastrous, yet funny, results. Inviting both sets of parents to the home Clark (Chevy Chase) becomes consumed with creating the perfect Christmas. Joining in the mayhem is his cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family. Favorite scene: Clark “slicking up” the sled with some potent stuff before going bobsledding. Classic.
“Frosty the Snowman” – Jimmy Durante narrates this tale of a snowman who comes to life. Frosty (voiced by Jackie Vernon) is brought to life but must make his way to the North Pole before he melts. Following close behind is a magician who wants his hat back. This was the last movie for Jimmy Durante.
Honorable mentions:
“A Christmas Story” – “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” All Ralphie wants for Christmas is an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. Great movie, but after the 100th time it gets a little old. If you have NEVER seen, it, rent it immediately. Or, wait for TBS to show it for 24 hours straight.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” – Tim Burton animated movie about Jack Skellington, the king of Halloweentown, who decides to kidnap Santa Claus and bring his version of “Christmas” to everyone, with comical/horrifying results.
“Prancer” – A little girl named Jessica (Rebecca Harrell) finds a reindeer with a broken leg and believes that it’s one missing from Santa’s sleigh. Her father, an impoverished apple farmer, has other plans. For the record, my mom likes this one.
“Die Hard” – John McClane (Bruce Willis) is in Los Angeles to visit his wife Holly (Bonnie Bedelia). Problem is she’s at an office Christmas party taken over by terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). McClane must battle them, and the police who believe he’s a lone vigilante, in order to save his wife and the others in the complex. It takes place during Christmas so it’s a Christmas movie, right?
Enjoy the Holidays, and see you at the movies.
-Chas
This was first published in Wiregrass Parenting magazine. Check it out at: www.wiregrassparenting.com
Chas Andrews' Movie Blog 
awesome movieeee ,totally
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