# Anyone have some obscure Christmas movie suggestions? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967 "2007-11-18T23:47:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/41 "2007-11-19T11:31:23Z")
If you’d like something a bit sweeter and nicer, may I recommend **[A Christmas Without Snow](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080532/)**? A friend of mine put me on to it years ago. Here’s the plot: a woman has moved to San Francisco after a divorce. She’s trying to put her life together and face her first Christmas in a new city and, as part of that, she joins a choir which is going to sing Handel’s _Messiah_. John Houseman plays a curmudgeon cut from the same mold as his character on _The Paper Chase_ and has some of the best lines in the movie. It’s a good movie to watch while curled up with friends and a good cup of hot chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/42 "2007-11-19T13:20:40Z")
The Ref and Silent Partner (If I told you John Candy was in it would that make you want to see it, well he is but you might not recognize him.) ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/43 "2007-11-19T13:29:26Z")
[Groundhog Day](http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/) has an uplifting Winter atmosphere - and some snow at the end! ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/44 "2007-11-19T14:09:04Z")
One little heartwarming movie is [J.T. (1969)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0158681/). Unfortunately, it’s never been released to video, and it hasn’t been shown in years. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/45 "2007-11-19T14:23:18Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] The original _We’re No Angels_ with Humphry Bogart. [/QUOTE] I concur. And I’ll second someone else’s recommendation of _The Lion in Winter_. _Moonstruck_ takes place in a New York\* dressed for Christmas–although the holiday is never mentioned. But I don’t need much of an excuse to watch that movie. And it’s time to drag out \*If I Should Fall from Grace - The Shane MacGowan Story \*. Yes, it’s mostly very sad. But there’s a performance of [Fairy Tale of New York](http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/LPs/IfIShould/Fairytale.html). * * * - And a Toronto dressed like NYC. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/46 "2007-11-19T14:27:06Z")
Not exactly obscure, but not terrifically commonly shown: **Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol** – the very first Christmas Cartoon Special, predating Rudolph by years (and assuming you don’t count those self-promoting Disney “From All of Us” episodes, as I don’t). Short, well-done, with music and lyrics by a proven Broadway team. And UPA’s Gerald McBoing-Boing as Tiny Tim is a cute touch, although it was years before I realized it. **A Christmas Carol** – The 1971 animated version used Alistair Sim’s voice (he played Scrooge in arguably the best filmed version ever, from 1951), a scenario by Chuck Jones (!), and animated the original drawings from the book. It won an Oscar (even though made for TV). I’ve never seen it. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068373/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068373/) \*\* The Blue Carbuncle\*\* – One of the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes ones, done for Granada/WGBH. **Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer** – The animated one, but not THAT animated one. This one predates it by a fair bit, having come out in 1948 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068373/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068373/) ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/47 "2007-11-19T14:47:16Z")
Another vote for **The Ref**. Great performances all around, and it manages to be snarky through and through, and still wind up kind of heartwarming. A couple years ago when it came out on DVD, my husband got it for me for Xmas, knowing it’s my favorite. Also, **A Muppet Christmas Carol** is a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/48 "2007-11-19T14:48:28Z")
Always a favorite but not for the kiddies, Reindeer Games. Holdup and shootout at a casino by a gang dressed as Santas. Lots of double crossing. Snow. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/49 "2007-11-19T14:56:59Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] Oh, and of course I must mention [**Silent Night, Deadly Night**](http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Night-Deadly-Jonathan-Best/dp/B000WC38A0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1195443718&sr=8-1). [/QUOTE] I didn’t see this post earlier. I saw SNDN when it came out. Loved it. I’ll have to pick it up. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/50 "2007-11-19T15:06:00Z")
_Love, Actually_. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/51 "2007-11-19T15:06:36Z")
I was going to suggest **Christmas Eve on Sesame Street** , which is my favorite Christmas movie of all time…but Neflix doesn’t have it!! [Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/Sesame-Street-Christmas-Eve/dp/B00006RJAK) has it, though 🙂 **Elmo Saves Christmas** is decent. Not nearly as good as **Christmas Eve on Sesame Street** , but Netflix has THAT one. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/52 "2007-11-19T15:14:07Z")
In this circumstance I usually recomend [Comfort and Joy](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087072/). I’ll also second A Midnight Clear, but I’ll warn you that it’s a bit of bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/53 "2007-11-19T15:43:58Z")
_The Apartment_ takes place during December, through Christmas and New Year’s Eve. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/54 "2007-11-19T15:50:46Z")
**Trapped in Paradise** is set at Christmas time, and is a pretty funny movie. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/55 "2007-11-19T15:54:21Z")
One more suggestion: [La Bûche](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211286/). Set in Paris in the days leading up to Christmas, with a moderately dysfunctional family disovering things about themselves. (“Bûche” is the French for a Christmas cake in the shape of a log). ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/56 "2007-11-19T17:06:09Z")
I don’t know whether it’s available on Netflix, but IMHO [_Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life_](http://www.amazon.com/Franz-Kafkas-Its-Wonderful-Life/dp/B00005ASP8) is well worth seeking out. Short but funny, and it stars [Richard E. Grant](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001290/). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/57 "2007-11-19T18:13:59Z")
Can’t believe I left out [A Christmas Carol](http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Carol-George-C-Scott/dp/B00000K3CJ/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1195495971&sr=8-2) with George C. Scott; the best version of this classic, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![ChattyChattyBingBing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@ChattyChattyBingBing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChattyChattyBingBing)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/58 "2007-11-19T18:31:36Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] _Love, Actually_. [/QUOTE] I second this. I consider it a rarity: a sentimental British flick. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/59 "2007-11-19T18:45:58Z")
I’ve lawys been creeped out by “Miracle on 42nd Street”-and it is always on. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967/60 "2007-11-19T21:29:43Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I’ve lawys been creeped out by “Miracle on 42nd Street”-and it is always on. [/QUOTE] Yeah, that’s a really creepy flick. However “Miracle on 34th Street” is kinda charming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-some-obscure-christmas-movie-suggestions/426967.md?page=4)