Where do these Christmas movies rank?

Kindah’s Top Ten Christmas Movies

By: Kindah Mardam Bey  

1. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) 

I have such an affinity for James Stewart and his ‘everyman’ persona that he managed to bring to every role he ever committed to screen. But It’s A Wonderful Life is more than that, it is Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore, and Frank Capra. Even more than that, It’s A Wonderful Life is about Zou Zou’s petals, ‘hot dog!,’ George lassos the moon, Buffalo gals, ‘the luckiest man in town,’ and ‘I want to live again Clarence, I want to live again!’ If none of that made any sense to you, then you are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. Every child should be annually weaned on It’s A Wonderful Life (just as I was!) to learn about community, kindness, family, friendship, the meaning of life and the human spirit.   

2. White Christmas (1951)

I watched White Christmas incessantly growing up during the Christmas Season; what with a crush on funny man Danny Kaye, and a penchant for always requesting Rosemary Clooney’s red dress with white fur on my Christmas wish list to Santa every year (it just so happened that many years later I received that dress under my Christmas tree…attached to a Rosemary Clooney doll!) Mostly White Christmas is a romantic romp with the delightful voices of Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney singing ‘Count Your Blessings’ and the dancing skills of Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen to ‘The Best Things, Happen While Your Dancing,’ all wrapped into a Irving Berlin inspired spectacle. A cinematic treasure from the old Hollywood that is fun, sentimental and wraps up with a happy ending!  

3. A Christmas Carol (1951) 

It must be agreed upon that Alastair Sim’s Scrooge is the meanest portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge ever brought to the screen. So the conversion into a reformed and better man is a vindicating and treasured experience for any viewer. I would also recommend reading the Charles Dickens classic this year by the fireside (or a few candles), as you will truly understand why this classic has been reproduced so many times on screen, why it virtually changed the face of Christmas into a legacy that carries on through to today and what a fabulous story this truly is. Yes, yes, you can also enjoy the condensed version in any of its celluloid forms as well. 

4. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) 

‘You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch…’ I’m an advocate of all things irrationally Seussical, and the Grinch is high on my list. I do recommend the 1961 animated version, but Jim Carrey as the Grinch and Ron Howard directing, brought a wonderful rendition of this story to full fruition in the 2000 version. Little Cindy Lou Whos’ smile is what makes Christmas so lovely, and Carrey’s humour has me in hysterics every Christmas season. I quote the mean Grinch often throughout the year ‘solve world hunger…tell no one!’ or ‘one man’s garbage is another man’s potpourri…I don’t know, I think it’s some kind of soup.’ Whenever a less logical response is required, I quote the Grinch, however the Grinch is a great story with valuable themes about kindness, inclusion, community, and ‘the other’ which are worth revisiting every Christmas. 

5. Little Women (1949) 

This is my borderline Christmas film, as it is not entirely Christmas themed, but has an all season approach to its story, where Christmas is a part of that larger theme. I wanted to be June Allyson as Josephine March growing up; perhaps it is a subconscious part of my need to be a writer, like the character. Janet Leigh as Meg, Elizabeth Taylor as Amy, and Margaret O’Brian as Beth are not quite depicted as Louisa May Alcott had originally penned in her original novel about four sisters growing up, but they did make the characters memorable and heartfelt. I realize making this list I have taken my fair share of quotes from Christmas films, and I use Jo’s term ‘I’ll be elegant or die’ on more than one occasion throughout my year! 

6. An American Christmas Carol (1979) 

So trust the non-American to consider the American version of A Christmas Carol as top-ten worthy (this is perhaps where irony lives). Henry Winkler (the Fonz) plays Benedict Slade (Scrooge) during the Great Depression where jobs and food are scarce. Scrooge/Slade repossesses items if debts are not paid, and much of his collection comes from out-of-work citizens, orphanages, and book store owners. A newer spin on a classic, Winkler does a fantastic job and if you have not yet unearthed this version of the Dickens’s story, I recommend you do so as it will be well worth the searching. 

7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) 

What can I say? Christmas indulgence? I think not. I am under the impression that National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is actually a documentary about the Christmas Holiday amidst ‘normal’ families. It might be a slightly over exaggerated comedy starring Chevy Chase, but I stand by my point! No one comes away from family gatherings unscathed, and sometimes Christmas, for all the want of a ‘perfect time’ can often end in chaos, disarray, and a police squad plummeting through your front window. Chevy Chase has an epic sized speech of discontent after a series of problems converge to ruin his ‘hap..hap..happy Christmas.’ This speech alone is worth watching the film, but it is also a great film to start up the seasonal film watching with.   

8. The Bishop’s Wife (1947) 

Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young, an all star cast in a story about a lost Bishop, his lonely wife and a divine intervention. How was the Bishop’s wife not supposed to fall in love with Cary Grant? (um…I mean ‘Dudley’). The Bishop’s Wife is a gentle story of Christmas with many delicate layers.

9. Miracle On 34^th Street (1947) 

Natalie Wood plays a disillusioned little girl made ‘practical’ by her Mother’s (Maureen O’Hara) example; never knowing the magic of Christmas. Good thing Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) walks into little Susan Walker’s (Wood) life and changes all that disbelief. My big school ground comeback to kids telling me Santa wasn’t real was this film. I even quoted the end court scene with the Federal Postal Service as my firm example that Santa did indeed exist. Miracle on 34^th Street is a film for anyone who believes in the spirit of Christmas and anyone who wants to believe. 

10. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) 

Who hasn’t heard of A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree?! The worst looking tree in the tree lot is dubbed ‘The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree’ every year! I feel that because Charlie Brown is such an under dog, the bottom of the top ten list, might be the best position for this animated classic. Aside from Charlie Brown’s distaste of the over commercialization of Christmas, Snoopy’s insanity over decorations, Lucy’s self-absorbed take on the season, it is Linus’ speech that pulls everyone together for the true meaning of Christmas.  

It appears I quote Christmas films often (as I’ve discovered today) and have a penchant for the Christmas themed storyline, so limiting my list to ten has been extremely hard. In consolation I’ve added some other Christmas films that didn’t make the cut, but are worth a viewing of anyways.  

A Christmas Story (1983) – see Deborah’s picks for this one!

One Magic Christmas (1985) – Mary Steenburgen is the lead in perhaps the most sad Christmas film ever made, but with the deepest and most important examination of what is significant at Christmas. Ironic that this should be a Disney film. 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, animated) – A half hour show, seen many times on TV during the Christmas season, How The Grinch Stole Christmas in its animated version is a great show.  

Holiday Inn (1942) – Bing Crosby again, but paired with Fred Astaire this time. The debut of the song White Christmas is in this film.  

Scrooged (1988) – Who doesn’t love Bill Murray as the self-absorbed TV exec gaining redemption on Christmas Eve? I laugh every time he suggests to staple the antlers on the mice masquerading as reindeer on the TV Special he’s pulling together. It’s funny because he sees the woman he once loved disapproving of cruelty to animals, so he changes his idea to gluing the antlers on the mice! Plus Bobcat’s demise into insanity is hilarious. 

The Ref (1994) – To be watched only by those who can take a joke about Christmas. Definitely not for everyone, this witty film about Denis Leary’s character holding a family hostage over their Christmas festivities is quirky and hilarious at times. Glynis Johns pulls in a great performance as the nasty Mother-In-Law to Kevin Spacey’s inept and brimming volcanic son-in-law. 

Within my list and ‘other Christmas films’ list I have covered every decade from the 1940s onward; finding a Christmas classic nestled within each decade. Whether you watch a single Christmas Film this season, or not, it is being reminded of those themes found within the films, and the stories that matter at this time of the year and all year long.