Well, it is that time of the year. I’d love some ideas of some Christmas movies that aren’t the most obvious. I’m looking for some movies that are available on DVD through Netflix.
What do you mean by obvious? Like, no Christmas trees? No classics like Scrooge? Or what exactly? I might have some ideas.
My usual Christmas movies are the several versions of A Christmas Carol. It’s a Wonderful Life. The Rankin-Bass cartoons. Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Charlie Brown Christmas,
My favorite is probably Scrooged. It’s Bill Murray in his silly days, yet it’s still quite good. Almost as good as groundhog day for that type of thing. But it’s got a really nice feel to it.
I’ve seen Scrooged, but it is a good suggestion. I’ll add it to my Netflix queue. I haven’t watched in a few years and the movie doesn’t turn up on cable that often.
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
The original We’re No Angels with Humphry Bogart.
The Ref. Not the usual holiday treacle.
I know that’s on the shelf somewhere. I’ll have to look for it.
I recommend “A Midnight Clear” an unusual war film set in the Ardennes in Christmas 1944
KISS saves Christmas?
I hope it’s the MST 3K version. Otherwise you’re in for a world of pain.
Nope. It’s the same version they used to show every year on Family Film Festival (KTLA-5, L.A., hosted by Tom Hatten).
I second The Ref. My favorite Christmas Movie of all time.
Scrooged does show up on cable around this time of year (TBS and TNT), but it’s hacked to bits by the censors. You’re better off renting it or actually buying it. It’s my favorite holiday movie.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is John Ford’s Three Godfathers, the story of the Three Wise Men transposed to the Old West. Remade recently as Tokyo Godfathers.
The Thin Man.
Tokyo Godfathers. Srt in Tokyo at Christmas time, and full of miracles But note that, being Japanese, most of the characters are not Christians. Indeed, there are a number of references to Shinto practices. It’s probably not suitable for young children, either. However, it’s a movie I watch again and again, because it’s such a feel-good movie.
I’ll third The Ref. Hilarious, and definitely not for kids.
If you like oldies, I recommend Remember the Night, starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck (a few years before they were paired so memorably in Double Indemnity). The supporting cast is excellent, too: Lots of wonderful character actors, including Sterling Holloway, Beulah Bondi, Elizabeth Patterson, and Fred “Snowflake” Toones.