| Favorite Christmas Movies from Our Time Posted: 09 Dec 2012 02:27 AM PST This is a Guest Post by Jason Miner. If you would like to Guest Post for Baby Boomers US, check out our Guest Post for Us page. I am so thankful for television stations such as TCM and others that run the old movies from when things were simpler and sweeter. They may have not really been that way but at least the movies still depicted them that way. There are so many precious Christmas movies from that generation. I spent my youth watching these movies with my parents and I still watch them today. The feeling you come away with after watching these sweet movies can not be matched when watching some of the Christmas movies today. Don't get me wrong, there are some good ones but they are different and I suppose it is due to the times we grew up in that the older movies make more of an impact. I know that tastes vary and some movies are not for everyone but I am going to try and compose a list of my favorite old Christmas movies and hopefully some of them will be yours as well. - Scrooge or Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. This is a movie that has been re-made countless times over the years. There are several that I absolutely love and some not so much but all have the same wonderful message. Love your fellow man and try to figure out what is going on in other people's lives before you judge them. It is hard to say which one is my favorite because they all have different parts that make them what they are. I believe the Scrooge movie starring Reginald Owen made in 1938 and shown in black and white would have to be my favorite if I had to choose. I love the way Mr. Owens played Scrooge; I love the supporting actors in this one as well. Bob Cratchet is a plump, jolly fellow with sparkling eyes and you get the overwhelming feeling of the love he has for his entire family and his relationship with Tiny Tim is, as always, key. Scrooge's nephew is a handsome charismatic fellow with a pretty wife who does not let Scrooge deter his Christmas spirit or his love for his wife. In this particular Scrooge they delve into the lives of the characters so that you get a personal feel for all of them. In this one Scrooge fires Cratchet the day before Christmas and he tries to hide it from his family until after Christmas but ends up telling his oldest daughter which he only regrets because he has made her feel sad as well. Then after Scrooge is visited by the spirits and his heart changes he ends up at the Cratchet house smiling and practically giddy with gifts which causes Mrs. Cratchet to run screaming and hiding in a closet. All the while she is telling her husband to save the children! It is great fun and if you are a Scrooge fan then this one is a must see.
My next favorite of the Scrooge movies is one starring Alister Sims made in 1951 and also in black and white. My favorite part would have to be where his house maid comes in on Christmas morning to clean and sees Scrooge jumping around, giggling, and dancing about and she starts screaming, running, and calling for the Beagles, which I believe is the police. He has to chase her down and explain that he has not lost his mind and it is a quite tender scene where he tells her that he has been wrong and gives her a Christmas present of money. I am not sure she is convinced but the money makes her quite happy. My favorite line is “I don't deserve to be so happy…. (and then as he giggles a little he says) but I can't help myself!”The Scrooge with Albert Finney which was made in 1970 is in color and is a musical to boot! One of my all time favorite scenes is when he is with the spirit of Christmas future and the town people are dancing around singing the song “Thank You Very Much” and Scrooge figures out that it's for him but doesn't know that it is because he died and they are dancing on his coffin in appreciation for his death and that their debts are gone! He ends up in hell in this one. His hell is to have a room decorated like his office that is freezing cold because he would never let Bob Cratchet put any coal on the fire and his hands were freezing while he worked. Another part I absolutely love is when the spirit of Christmas past shows up, a large, bearded fellow and gets Scrooge drunk on the milk of human kindness. He plays it well. At the end they sing “Thank You Very Much” about him again but this time it is for the forgiveness of all their debts as he tears up his little black ledger! There are many, many Scrooge movies out there that deserve mention but I am just going to mention these four because they are the ones I watch every year. The Scrooge done by George C. Scott which was made for television in 1984 has got to be the scariest Scrooge with the darkest moments depicted on screen. Mr. Scott is a powerful actor who can pull off some pretty dark “Scrooginess”. There are some very dramatic moments in this movie one of which is when the spirit of Christmas present takes him to a dark alley somewhere in London to see the people living under a bridge and Scrooge is still unfeeling so he shows him the children who live under his robe. Their names are “Ignorance” and “Want” and they are an emaciated, sickly looking little boy and girl. Brrrr. Then the spirit of Christmas future shows up in all its creepiness and takes him to his tombstone. As creepy as he is he pulls off the ending in all its glory grinning and jumping up and down on the bed. All in all a good solid creepified Scrooge! - Christmas in Connecticut – I kind of had to choose between this one and my next favorite but they are so close and so different. I picked this one because it is just happy and funny and romantic and I just love it. It was made in 1945 and the stars are Barbara Stanwyck (which quite frankly I love her comedies but can't take her serious roles), Dennis Morgan who is absolutely adorable and sweet and ever so handsome, and many other actors. One other actor I will mention because to me he helps to make this show the joy that it is. S.Z. Sakall, a jolly fat man that cannot speak English very well and keeps running about spouting a new word he learned from his friend Barbara. “Catestrophee!” Everything in this movie turns into a catastrophe until the end and it is all quite precious. This is a must see if you haven't and a re-watch if you have.
- It's a Wonderful Life – I don't know of a single person who has not seen this movie. I personally do not know anyone who hates it but I am sure there are some real life Scrooges out there who don't. This movie, made in 1946 starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, is a wonderful Christmas story about the giving people of the world versus the taking people. The quirky angel by the name of Clarence that isn't real good at what he does along with Uncle Billy Bailey which is a really nice person but just a tad bit irresponsible with a lot of people's money make this movie great. If you have ever wondered what life would be like without you in it this is a story for you to see. The things we feel are unimportant make huge differences in the lives of people around us. This is truly a feel good movie at the end after it drags you through some pretty horrific times that is! A great movie to watch for the holidays.
These are my top movie choices for the Christmas season but there are other greats as well. For example, “White Christmas” made in 1954 starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye (love him), Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen. Another favorite is “Miracle on 34th Street” made in 1947 starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and a young Natalie Wood. I could go on from here but these are the top of the line for me. Every Christmas since I can remember my family and I watch these movies and I hope you enjoy them as well. Have a wonderful Christmas! About the Author: Jason Miner plays a vital role for www.blogcarnival.com. He is an expert in writing topics of different categories. He is helping the carnival team to grow & working on making this an even better place for bloggers. © Baby Boomers US Blog If you are reading this anywhere other than our RSS Feed Please notify us at blog.boomersus@gmail.com
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