By noreply@blogger.com (Alexandra Sokoloff)
To me, the best thing about Christmas, besides champagne, is Christmas movies. And you all know how I love lists, so here it is, the Top Ten Holiday Movie List.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE
A non-escapist fantasy that puts you through the emotional wringer only to emerge the feel-good – that’s, feel GOOD – film of all time.
Used to show it to my gang kids in prison school – it remains one of the all-time highlights of my life to see those kids start out whining that I was showing them a black and white film and then watch them fall under this movie’s spell. Oh man, did they GET it.
George Cukor directing a Donald Ogden Stewart & Sidney Buchman adaptation of a Philip Barry play starring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. Anything else you need to know?
PHILADELPHIA STORY
See above, plus Jimmy Stewart, and the brilliant and under-known Ruth Hussey (“Oh, I just photograph well.”) and Virginia Weidler as the weirdest little sister on the planet (“I did it. I did it ALL.”) Not a holiday movie, per se, but if you’re looking for cheer…
HOLIDAY INN
The ultimate escapist fantasy. Yes, let me make a living doing 12 live shows a year, simultaneously keeping two men at my beck and call, one who sings, one who dances. Where do I sign? Best line: “But I do love you, Jim. I love everybody.” Best song: “Be Careful, It’s My Heart”. Best dance – Fred and the firecrackers. Best cat-fight moment: Marjorie Reynolds trying to look contented with Bing Crosby while Fred is dancing up a storm with Virginia Dale. (But be sure to get the one with the appalling Lincoln’s birthday sequence edited out…)
RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
Best Christmas musical soundtrack there is – one great song after another – only the whole thing makes me cry so hard I generally end up avoiding it.
FAWLTY TOWERS
BBC series written by and starring John Cleese and Connie Booth, with Cleese as the most incompetent innkeeper in the history of innkeeping. The entire series is genius, every single episode – not exactly holiday themed, either, but guaranteed healer of depression and all other ills. Be prepared to laugh until you’re sick.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
My brother turned the fam onto AB FAB and now it just wouldn’t be a holiday without Patsy and Eddy and Saffy. Sin is in, sweetie.
GODSPELL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Okay, so I’m not technically a Christian or anything, but I can see God in those two shows.
So what movies mean Christmas, or the equivalent, to YOU?
Have a wonderful holiday!!!
– Alex
Via: Alexandra Sokoloff
