# Best Christmas Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 1999, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631 "1999-12-01T15:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![saraam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@saraam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saraam)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/21 "1999-12-01T20:38:00Z")
White Christmas! It makes me cry! I have a videotape of my sister and I reenacting the song-and-dance to “Sisters”. (That makes everyone else cry). Then, Holiday Inn (a sucker for old musicals, I guess). And then, the Charlie Brown Christmas - haven’t missed it in 25 years! ---
**Author:** ![smilingjaws](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@smilingjaws](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smilingjaws)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/22 "1999-12-01T20:39:00Z")
Hey, what about Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck? Ditto on: Alister Simm’s A Christmas Carol Holiday Inn–both versions (Love that Fred Astaire! And Bing Crosby–what a crooner!) Scrooged Miracle on 34th Street-old one. Now I feel like singing– I’m dreaming of a White Christmas! (I have to dream since I have never experienced a white christmas in my life!) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/23 "1999-12-01T20:46:00Z")
OK, here we go: 1. A Christmas Story. 2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (it’s on CBS tonight, by the way. FYI). 3. Home Alone. No one has mentioned either of these, but I believe they deserve honorable mention: 1. Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. I’ve never seen it at any video store; any TM’s have a copy? 2. The NEW Miracle on 34th St., with Sir Richard Attenborough and one of the Baldwin’s. The scene with the little deaf girl chokes me up every time. _snif_ ---
**Author:** ![WallyM7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5e925/32.png) [@WallyM7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WallyM7)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/24 "1999-12-01T20:50:00Z")
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/25 "1999-12-01T21:20:00Z")
C’mon, Wally! Where’s your CHRISTMAS SPIRIT? [slops his eggnog on Wally’s good necktie as he slaps Wally on the back.] You ol’ SCROOGE! ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/26 "1999-12-01T21:45:00Z")
What! No **“Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”** , that 1964 classic with a very young Pia Zadora?? “A Christmas Story” is a rare modern tru classic; Alistair Sim was/is the best Scrooge of all time; It ain’t Christmas till we open the last can of Who Hash; We never, never, ever miss the Christmas morning tradition of watching the Queen’s Christmas Message. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/27 "1999-12-01T21:49:00Z")
The Yule log on channel 11. I miss it so much. ::sniff:: ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/28 "1999-12-01T22:52:00Z")
Well, this isn’t a traditional Christmas movie, but **The Dead** by John Huston happens at Christmas and I thought it was a good movie. To mention movies that haven’t been mentioned by other people: Do any canadians remember seeing a movie about a martian at Christmas? I remember seeing it and liking it as a kid. I think it was a french canadian movie. And I remember seeing (also as a kid) a movie with Bob Hope called “The Lemon Drop Kid”. If I remember right, that had a Christmas theme also. In Switzerland, for some reason, around Christmas, they used to show Charlie Chaplin movies on TV every year. So those movies have become associated with Christmas in my mind. “City lights” was one of my favourites. My favourite movie: It’s a Wonderful Life My favourite story: A Christmas Carol My favourite “birth of Christ” scene: From “The Life of Brian”. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/29 "1999-12-02T03:42:00Z")
In no particular order: Miracle on 34th Street (the original; I haven’t seen the remake) Lethal Weapon Die Hard Santa Claus is Coming to Town A Charlie Brown Christmas The Little Drummer Boy I cannot stand It’s a Wonderful Life. Rudolph might have made the list, except that Santa Claus is such a jerk about Rudolph’s red nose and a grouch through so much of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/30 "1999-12-02T05:00:00Z")
Where to start? 1. _A Christmas Story_ – No explanation needed. Simply wonderful. 2. _A Christmas Carol_ w/ George C. Scott – Why do I prefer this version? Call me a purist, but it is the most faithful to the original story of any that I’ve seen. 3. _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ – The _best_ Peanuts special ever, with the possible exception of _The Great Pumpkin_. Linus’ recitation of the Christmas story from St. Luke makes it. Even if you’re atheistic, the concept is still wonderful. 4. _Miracle on 34th Street_ (1994) – I’m not sure why, but I actually prefer the recent remake to the original. Maybe it’s Richard Attenborough’s performance as Kris Kringle. Maybe I’m not such a purist after all. 5. _A Wish for Wings that Work_ – AFAIK, the only Bloom County/Outland animated special. Great artwork, and does a very good job of delivering the feel of the comic strip. * * * Mr. K’s Link of the Month: [The Enchanted World of Rankin-Bass](http://www.rankinbass.com/) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/31 "1999-12-02T06:13:00Z")
> [@](#): > > And I remember seeing (also as a kid) a movie with Bob Hope called “The Lemon Drop Kid”. I know nothing about the movie, but a horse by that name won this year’s Belmont Stakes, upsetting Charismatic’s Triple Crown bid. Now I know the reference to his name! (Some racehorse names are like that–years later, you find out they actually meant something). Anyway, that’s neither here nor there. Best Christmas movies/specials: 1. **A Christmas Story**. Absolutely no contest. 2. (original) **Miracle on 34th Street**. The only black and white movie I’ve ever seen that I’ve ever really liked. Very touching. 3. **Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas**. No, I have never seen the video for sale, either, but I did happen upon it for the first time in 15 years last year on…Disney? Just the last half, though. But it was enough to remind me how much I still love it. 4. **Christmas Vacation**. I honestly think it’s the funniest of all the “Vacation” movies. * * * I used to think the world was against me. Now I know better. Some of the smaller countries are neutral. [Laura’s Stuff and Things](http://members.aol.com/lrconaway) ---
**Author:** ![ChrisCTP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@ChrisCTP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisCTP)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/32 "1999-12-02T07:35:00Z")
I’m with Phouka on “The Ref.” I was actually hoping that **I** would be the first to mention it… Aside from that, I’ve never seen a version of “A Christmas Carol” that I didn’t like (including “Scrooged”.) Another big favorite is “Santa Claus: The Movie” with Dudley Moore and John Lithgow. Wonderful stuff. * * * “…all the prettiest girls live in Des Moines…” –Jack Kerouac, _On the Road_ ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/33 "1999-12-02T17:24:00Z")
A Nightmare Before Christmas Home Alone Home Alone 2 Gremlins ---
**Author:** ![RoboDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbe5ce/32.png) [@RoboDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoboDude)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/34 "1999-12-02T17:25:00Z")
Beavis and Butt-Head Do Christmas (actually a collection of episodes) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/35 "1999-12-02T19:50:00Z")
Favorites that have already been mentioned: 1 - It’s a Wondeful Life 2 - Miracle on 34th Street (the original) 3 - A Christmas Story 4 - Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer 5 - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the Karloff version) 6 - Scrooged and two that haven’t: 7 - Santa Claus is Coming to Town 8 - Blackadder’s Christmas Carol ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/36 "1999-12-02T19:52:00Z")
The “Christmas theme” from THE LEMON DROP KID was “Silver Bells.” * * * Uke ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/37 "1999-12-02T20:50:00Z")
Last year I saw an adaptation of _A Christmas Carol_ produced for TV by TNT (Turner Network), IIRC. The setting was the American “wild west” and Scrooge (who owned the local saloon and cheated at poker) was played by Jack Palance. Absolutely the best version of the classic tale that I have ever seen. Palance IS Scrooge. I hope they re-broadcast this year. * * * The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/38 "1999-12-02T20:52:00Z")
A Christmas Story- one of my fave movies no matter what time of year. Home Alone-cracks me up every time. Scrooged ## Die Hard so you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts. what’s so amazing about really deep thoughts? Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631/39 "1999-12-02T21:18:00Z")
**Ukulele Ike** , you’re right, they had “Silver Bells” in that movie “The Lemon Drop Kid.” Forgot about that. What I meant by Christmas “theme” was not a “theme song”, but that the plot involved Christmastime generosity (I forget exactly how, haven’t seen the movie since that time when I was little.) I should rent it to refresh my memory, but of course, I might be disappointed with the film now that I’m an adult. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-christmas-movies/11631.md?page=1)