Christmas films

[Villan]

Everyone knows that "Scrooge" and "It's a Wonderful Life" are great Christmas films but are there any other gems that are not so well known?

[Hackett]

First film came into my head was "The Great Escape" always on the t.v at christmas when I was a lad, generally Boxing Day I recall. Then if you ventured out to the cinama "The Wizard Of Oz" was usually doing the rounds in a double bill with "Tom Thumb". Most Disney films seem to do it, live action or cartoon, whatever time of year they are set. I know it's an American film but "Miracle on 54th Street", the Edmund Gwenn one, is my favourite. I've got an original black and white VSH tape. I have to watch it on my own as the kids get embarrassed when I choke up at the ending.

[DB7]

Scrooge with Alistair Sim is great film. If I remember correctly it was shown on CH5 last xmas in 'colorised' form. Somehow it detracted from the film's charm and I was less than impressed.



Some that spring to mind, and not exactly jingle bells all the way are:



Trading Places, Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd suffering Christmas role-reversal at the hand of the Duke brothers. One of the few films I can bear that stars Eddie Murphy.



The Amazing Mr Blunden, maybe it's the ghostly/fantasy recipe with this one, or maybe that Lionel Jefferies also directed The Railway Children which is screened nearly every Christmas.



Groundhog Day, just the perfect holiday period film.



And of course, you can't have a bank holiday without a Bond film on ITV, The Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or The Wizard of Oz. Also those great ghost stories that used to be shown on BBC2.

[Steve Crook]

DB7:

Scrooge with Alistair Sim is great film. If I remember correctly it was shown on CH5 last xmas in 'colorised' form. Somehow it detracted from the film's charm and I was less than impressed.

Glad to hear it. The 'colorized' version should be avoided at all costs

[DB7]

I mentioned earlier the BBC'S Ghost Story For Christmas series. I was wondering if anybody had any favourite episodes? I've got The Signalman (Denholm Elliott) DVD but wondered if there were any others people recommend?



(I was in my early teens at the time so my memory is very sketchy)

[smudge]

LOST HEARTS is a good n spooky segment of the Ghost Stories For Xmas. 2 or 3 are available from BFI - Oh Whistle And I'll Come To You is worth a view.



Smudge

[Polynikes]

I suspect Villian wants to know about films with a Christmas theme rather than the type of film that the Radio Times always prefixes a review with "Another chance to see..."



Most are US movies like "Miracle of 57th Street", "Santa Claus The Movie", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "A Christmas Nightmare" and "The Santa Clause". Don't forget Arnie's attempt at humour in "Jingle All The Way".



.....I'm struggling to think of a British Christmas film - unlike the obligitory "Christmas Single", it's not part of British culture.



This is tough.



Sorry, apart from "Scrooge", I can't think of a single one....

[Steve Crook]

Polynikes:

[snip]



.....I'm struggling to think of a British Christmas film - unlike the obligitory "Christmas Single", it's not part of British culture.



This is tough.



Sorry, apart from "Scrooge", I can't think of a single one....

How about The Snowman (1982)? [The Raymond Briggs story in cartoon form with 'Walking Through The Air']



Apart from that and the many versions of Scrooge or A Christmas Carol, I can't think of any either.



Steve

[Polynikes]

I just thought of a tenous British Christmas movie...actually it might be Australian:



"Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence".





David Bowie: "...Oh....that's a good one!!!"

[DB7]

Tales from the Crypt.



There's a segment in which Joan Collins does away with her husband on Xmas Eve. Sadly, there's an escaped lunatic in a Santa outfit around town.



Very Christmasy... snow... decorations... hymns on the radio... killers on the loose

[anthony chubb]

iam sorry to report i am a xmas buff i have dozens of xmas carol i e scrooge ihave a sims the best a finney /jack palance /george c scott/muppets.flintstones/royal ballet etc etc boks too and i am proud to have been a friend of kathleen harrison for twenty years and have 40 of her films went to her funneral david tomlinson was there and 12 others why is it british films are easier to get in the usa where the format is differant and cant use here shame on the british film video companies so many deletions

[AMP]

The end of the Will Hay film "Where There's a Will" gets quite festive...

British films tend to have christmas scenes rather than setting the plot around the season. Television dramas are more christmas friendly - 'Box of Delights' anyone? - rubbish effects but you can't beat that atmosphere!

[Villan]

Kathleen Harrison was fantastic. If I saw that she was in a film I'd always make the effort to watch or tape it. Was never disappointed.

[Brian Brandt]

Although it's not British, I would recommend "A Christmas Story" (1983) based upon an autobiographical story by Jean Shepherd. It's the story of Ralphie, a pre-teen growing up in 1940s Indiana, and his quest for a BB gun (which his mother won't let him have).



Darren McGavin is brilliant as the harried father.



Jean Shepherd narrates, in the distinctive voice familiar to any of us who were lucky enough to hear his nightly show from WOR-AM New York in the '60s.

[DB7]

It's a Wonderful Life tops all time Christmas film poll



A 1946 film has topped a poll to find the best Christmas film of all time.



Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, starring James Stewart, is nearly 60 years old, yet it has stood the test of time.



It beat off competition from two very different Christmas films - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Die Hard.



Die Hard is not a traditional festive film but it's set on Christmas Eve - hence its high ranking (number 3) in the poll of over 10,000 film fans



It's a Wonderful Life also swept the board when film-lovers were asked which movie features the best Christmas kiss.



The scene at the end of the film - when James Stewart's character is reunited with his wife and family - was voted the best.



Love Actually made it to number three in the best Christmas kiss with the scene where Hugh Grant kisses Martine McCutcheon onstage at a school nativity play. The film made it to number 10 in the top ten Christmas films.



In between was the scene in Batman Returns when Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Michelle Pfeiffer as Selena Kyle kiss under the mistletoe.



The top 10 Christmas films of all time according to the Amazon.co.uk poll are:



1) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 18%



2) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 11%



3) Die Hard (1988) 11%



4) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) 11%



5) Scrooged (1988) 6%



6) Home Alone (1990) 5%



7) The Muppet Christmas Carol (1993) 5%



8) White Christmas (1954) 4%



9) Miracle on 34th Street (1994) 3%



10) Love Actually (2003) 3%

[Angry Hector]

How about Ralph Richardson in "The Holly and the Ivy".



For years that was a Christmas day regular on Australian television.

[David Brent]

One film that my family & relatives have made a ritual to watch every Christmas is NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989) starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo.

Always funny no matter how many times you watch it.

I think we can all relate to 'odd' relatives like Cousin Eddy that come calling at this time of the year.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Christmas with the Griswald's.

Anyone else have a film or program that they make a habit of watching every festive season?



Dave.

[sanndevil]

I always liked Denholm Elliott in THE SIGNALMAN, which seemed to be a staple at Christmas time on BBC1. One of the few films which I have thought were genuinally frightening. ghostly



Have to say it though, and no offence, but I've always thought that Chevy Chase is as funny as a kick in the balls! Just don't get him at all!



Cheers

Nigel

[DB7]

Lordy, is it really only 12 months since this topic last appeared. eek! I'm getting old.



I'll watch Alastair Sim in Scrooge next week (again) and maybe dig out DVDs of A Warning to the Curious or Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You. (unless those nice people at the BBC transmit them again this year)

[Brian Brandt]

Try not to miss "A Christmas Story" (1983) - Jean Shepherd's story about his life in '40s Indiania. As Keith Phipps says in his review, "It's not just any BB gun, it's a Red Ryder BB gun."