I don't know about you, but one of my favorite ways to get into the spirit of Christmas is by taking out those classic movies I've watched year after year, and revisiting my favorite characters, songs, and all those quotable moments. It's twice as fun when I'm introducing a classic to someone for the first time, whether it's my youngest sister, the B.I.L. (brother in law), or a dear friend.
I've compiled a list of the Christmas classics that my family tries to get out and watch almost every year. If you get a chance to pop in a DVD (or a VHS, you gotta love 'em) over the holidays, these are pretty much perfect for the occasion.
This is always a fun way to revisit the holiday, despite the fact that no kid should be called a "blockhead," no matter what sort of Christmas tree he picks out. (Poor Charlie Brown!) Lucy and her Psychiatric Help booth is my favorite. And, of course, Linus is always on hand to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
I danced ballet for five years when I was younger and this was always a favorite. If you can't get out to the actual ballet, this is the perfect substitute for the Christmas season. The cast is excellent and Macaulay Culkin as Drosselmeyer's Nephew is absolutely adorable. My brother looked just liked M.C. when he was little, and it makes this twice as fun to watch.
This one is not necessarily known as a holiday classic, but the film marches through each season of the year in beautiful and amusing ways (love the Halloween scenes), and the story reaches its climax on Christmas Eve. Judy Garland puts in one of her most memorable performances, introducing the song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," and Margaret O'Brien steals the show with her brilliant acting. This is one of my top three Judy films and highly recommended.
This is not only one of the greatest Christmas classics, but one of my favorite films ever. The music is fantastic, including the tunes "White Christmas," "Snow," "Sisters," and more. Oh yes, and there's also my favorite movie dance of all time, where Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen prove that "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing." Danny is hysterical throughout this entire movie, Vera is an exceptional dancer, and then (of course) there's Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. The latter is one of my favorite voices of the era, and she just shines through the whole film ("Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" is is superb). Just go watch this already!
The Christmas movie to end all Christmas movies and one of the most touching and uplifting films ever made. I don't think there's anyone out there who fails to identify in at least some small way with George Bailey, embodied by the always amazing Jimmy Stewart, as he takes an incredible Christmas journey and learns that "no man is a failure who has friends." If you are an American, this movie is a requirement. And if you aren't, see it anyway. Can never recommend this highly enough.
Special mention goes to another bunch of Christmas-y classics: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, The Little Drummer Boy, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone 1 and 2 (can't honestly recommend these since there's language and many cringe-worthy moments, but Macaulay Culkin is adorable), and The Nativity Story (excellent telling of the real Christmas story - sorry, Santa!).
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Another film (and book) that always makes me think of Christmas is Little Women. The opening scenes (and chapter in the book) are such a lovely depiction of a family coming together in 1860s New England. The film version with June Allyson is my favorite.
Lastly, my Nana's favorite film comes to a sweet conclusion during the Christmas season. If your grandmother remembers this movie, An Affair to Remember, starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, you might just want to dig it out for the holidays.
Did I miss any? What Christmas classics are your favorites?
I'm hoping my family can find time to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" tonight. I'm just aching to relive a certain Charleston Contest... ;)
-Amanda
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I'm hoping my family can find time to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" tonight. I'm just aching to relive a certain Charleston Contest... ;)
-Amanda
14 comments:
Now that you've reminded me, I've just got to watch Frosty the Snowman this winter! :) And Rudolph, and Charlie Brown. We've seen The Nutcracker twice so far--the 2001 Royal Ballet (my fave) and a recent NY performance on PBS. Another one I love is "The Snowman"--so sad, but a beautiful Christmas film!
I love the ones you mentioned plus some more oldies that you didn't mention, like: Christmas in Connecticut {1945}, It Happened on 5th Avenue {1947}, The Shop Around the Corner {1940}, I'll Be Seeing You {1944}, Christmas Holiday {1944}, The Great Rupert {1950}, and The Bishop's Wife {1947}.
I love White Christmas and The Muppet Christmas Carol! :D I also love How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Disney's A Christmas Carol with Scrooge McDuck:D
I have watched about half of these and they are on my must watch Christmas list also! I'll have to look into watching those others...
Very good picks, I have seen all but the Nutcracker (which you have got me interested in) my family loves the classics too! I especially love Little Woman and Muppet Christmas Carol :) I Should get them out again this year!
Love Little Women but really prefer the newer version. The older one is just.. o.k.
Merry Christmas, Amanda. =)
Charlie Brown....gotta love it =D
An Affair to Remember is my favorite classic movie EVER. Oh, I need to watch it again sometime soon
Merry Christmas Amanda!!
That's my favorite Little Women too! I think it captures the characters in the book so well!
Ooh, I have to say that "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of those movies we watch every single year, along with "A Christmas Carol" (go Patrick Stewart!) and "The Homecoming, a Walton Family Christmas". :D There are others, but these three usually stand out the most.
Hi Amanda!
I have a quick question for you, totally not related to the post!
Do you get/look at Vogue, Elle and other secular magazines like that? Like, being a Christian do you get your inspiration from there? I'm just asking out of curiosity, because I love being up to date on fashion and stuff, I just wondered what your take was on it, what position you were in etc. :-)
I adore your blog! It's awesome to have such a wholesome place to talk about fashion and style and glorify God!
Thanks so much for all your work!
Much love,
Haley
I love most of these movies! Charlie Brown is SUCH a classic I could watch it so over and over. I always loved Linus. :) Meet Me In St. Louis is also adorable. :)
We usually watch Charlie Brown and Its a Wonderful Life, each year. A newer favorite is The Nativity Story ... love the music.
Thank you all for your comments! I love hearing what films you like to watch each year, and also your suggestions!
Marian - Wow, I haven't seen The Snowman since I was really little. I do remember it being sad... I'll have to get my hands on that one again sometime.
Ashley - I haven't seen any of those (expect the very end of The Bishop's Wife on tv). I'll definitely have to check them out. Thanks!
Rissi - I grew up on the older version of Little Women and didn't see the new one with Winona Ryder until I was in my teens. I was actually really disappointed with it. I didn't feel like it captured the spirit of the book and just seemed too contemporary. Despite being made more recently, it seemed just as inaccurate as the old one. But all that said, I would like to give it another watch some time. :)
Haley - Thank you so much for your comment. I have never subscribed to any of the big fashion magazines (mostly because I hate to dish out the money ;), but when I first started the blog and used to teach at Jo-Ann Fabrics, I would stay pretty up to date and flip through all the new issues of InStyle and Lucky. I also did a lot of fashion reading (you can see some picks here: http://astore.amazon.com/amanonli-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=9 ).
I have always liked to sort through the garbage of fashion magazines and web sites and salvage the good stuff, and often share it on my blog. These days I am much more busy and spend less time on fashion, but I do like to pick up used copies of InStyle, Vogue, et cetera when they're in the front hall at the library.
But I would never recommend these magazines, especially for young girls or teenagers, and I find that now the blatant immodesty and sexuality that pervades them really bothers me a lot more than it used to. It's just so sad to think that these are the sorts of things that young girls are measuring themselves up against.
I don't think it's going to happen at this stage, but I'm thinking that later in life I may run a fashion and lifestyle magazine that focuses on modesty and inner beauty. I want my daughters to have something nice to page through! ;)
Thank you again for your comment. I'm so glad you enjoy the blog. God bless!
Oh yes, and I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas! I'm looking forward to the new year!
Oooh, I've seen them all!! =) lovely!
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