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David Offutt |
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“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” - George Santayana |
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Films For the Christmas Season (October 2005) Movies that contain scenes about Christmas often seem awkward if we see them at the wrong time of the year. I presume you already know about It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story, so I have selected twenty other personal favorites to recommend that have something to do with Christmas. Remember, though, they may not be what you would normally call a Christmas movie.
On the Left: Robert Mitchum and Billy Chapin in The Night of the Hunter |
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1. Captain Newman, MD (1964) with Gregory Peck and Tony Curtis: This is a comedy-drama about a psycho ward in an Arizona military hospital during World War II. Angie Dickinson agreed to a six-year contract in order to play opposite Gregory Peck in this film. There are great performances from Eddie Albert, Bobby Darin, and Robert Duvall (in his second big-screen appearance). The scene when Curtis explains to Peck how the ward got its five-foot Christmas tree is a screen treasure. It ends on Christmas Day.
2. A Christmas Carol (1984) with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge: This one has been filmed many times, but this version is my favorite thus far. Timeless!
3. A Christmas Memory (1966) with Geraldine Page and young Donnie Melvin: Melvin plays Buddy, who is actually Truman Capote; and Capote narrates his own personal memoir of his childhood. This one is super special. “It’s fruitcake weather!”
4. The Christmas Tree (1969) with William Holden, Virna Lisi, Bourvil, and young Brook Fuller: The critics hate this one, but I love it. Holden’s son, Fuller, is exposed to radiation from the explosion of a plane carrying a nuclear bomb. While Holden explains to his girlfriend that his son’s condition is incurable, you hear a car crash. When he leaves, you see the commotion of the accident, but Holden, the devastated father, never notices it. Holden tries to make his son’s last days as happy as possible, and he even gets him two wolves as pets. “We’re so lucky: every day is a holiday!” the boy exclaims. If it were only so. It ends on Christmas Eve.
5. A Dog of Flanders (1959) with Theodore Bikel, Donald Crisp, and young David Ladd (son of Alan and former husband of Cheryl): A boy and his grandfather befriend an abused dog; the dog befriends them by helping to pull their milk cart on their daily rounds; an artist, Bikel, befriends the boy, who also wants to become an artist. But what happens when the grandfather dies and the boy must survive on his own? Filmed on location in the Netherlands. It ends on Christmas Day.
6. The Homecoming (1971) with Patricia Neal and Richard Thomas: This inspiration for The Waltons TV series was recognized as an instant classic the moment it first aired. Patricia Neal was still recovering from three strokes and had to be persuaded to take the part of the mother. It’s the Depression Era, and the father has had to find work far from home. It’s Christmas Eve, and his family is waiting for his homecoming. It’s John-Boy, the recipe, and even sleigh bells.
7. The Lady and the Tramp (1955) with the voice of Peggy Lee: This is my all-time favorite Disney animated classic. Can a streetwise stray settle down with pampered cocker spaniel? The Tramp treats the Lady to a spaghetti dinner outside an Italian restaurant and the result is pure magic. It begins on one Christmas Day and ends on another.
8. A Little Game (1971) with Ed Nelson, Diane Baker, Katy Jurado, Howard Duff, and young Mark Gruner: A boy brings his best friend home from a military academy for the Christmas holidays. The boy hates his new stepfather (Nelson), and he may have already murdered a classmate back at the academy. The stepfather hires a private detective, superbly played by veteran actor Howard Duff, to investigate. Mark Gruner is excellent as the deranged cadet.
9. Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) with Alec Guinness and young Ricky Schroder: An impoverished New York City youth learns that he is the heir to a British title and estate. He moves into his grandfather’s castle, but his mother must live separately in a distant cottage. The Earl wants nothing to do with her. Things begin to change when another youth claims to be the rightful heir. Look for Patrick Stewart (Star Trek’s Captain Picard) in a small role. It ends on Christmas Day.
10. The Lion in Winter (1968) with Peter O’Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Timothy Dalton, and Anthony Hopkins: Henry II is having a Christmas Court and hopes to pick the heir to his British
11. Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol ((1962) with the voice of Jim Backus: The nearly blind Magoo is a great Scrooge! You will be surprised at how faithful this animated version of Dickens’ story is handled.
12. My Mother’s Castle (1991) in French with English subtitles: This is the sequel to the splendid little film My Father’s Glory, which is one of my favorite summer movies and should be seen first. Autobiographical, this movie continues the story of Marcel Pagnol’s wonderful childhood. With young Julian Ciamaca playing Marcel, the film is in good hands. For the Christmas holidays, Marcel’s family decides to return to the hills where they had vacationed the previous summer . Beautiful!
13. My Side of the Mountain (1969) with Theodore Bikel and young Teddy Eccles: One critic described it as “an improbable story of a boy who ran away from home to live on his own in the woods.” Ironically, it is a true story based on the actual experiences of a GIRL! When the girl wrote her book, she changed herself to a boy so that readers would find her adventures more believable. Teddy Eccles plays the young “Thoreau” with confidence and maturity. It ends on Christmas Day.
14. The Night of the Hunter (1955) with Robert Mitchum, Shelly Winters, Lillian Gish, and young Billy Chapin: Billy Chapin carries this film, while being surrounded by some of the very best in the business. Chapin and his little sister, possessing money stolen by their late father, are chased by madman Mitchum, but they find refuge with Lillian Gish. This is the only movie ever directed by screen and stage legend Charles Laughton. Incredibly, this beautifully filmed movie was originally panned by the critics, and Laughton swore never to direct another movie. It ends on Christmas Day.
15. Ordinary People (1980) with Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, and Judd Hirsch: This is Hutton’s film, but his Oscar was for Best Supporting Actor. Ms. Moore’s supporting performance is astounding because we still recall her TV sitcom days; however, she was nominated in the wrong category and lost in the Best Actress competition. This was the first film directed by Robert Redford, and it is pretty near flawless. The teenaged Hutton is recovering from a failed suicide attempt. His brother had recently drowned in a boating accident, while he had been able to survive. His mother can seemingly show him no love. Part of the story takes place during the Christmas season.
16. The Rocking Horse Winner (1949) with John Mills and young John Howard Davies: A boy (Davies) rides his rocking horse to receive tips on winners at the race track. The hired hand (Mills) places the bets for him. He hopes the money will help keep his troubled family together. Interesting and off-beat. Part of the story occurs during the Christmas season.
17. Simon Birch (1998) with Joseph Mazzello, Oliver Platt, Ashley Judd, David Strathairn, and Ian Michael Smith: Young Mazzello plays a boy who is eager to learn who his father is. His best friend is a dwarf named Simon Birch who believes he has a special destiny. Their church’s Christmas play, with Simon as the baby Jesus, is a riot! Jim Carrey narrates and also makes a cameo appearance at the end.
18. Three Godfathers (1948) with John Wayne, Harry Carey, Jr., Pedro Armendariz, and Ward Bond: Three bank robbers, being pursued by Ward Bond’s posse, help deliver a baby and promise the dying mother to take care of the newborn infant. One of the Duke’s best and directed by John Ford! Before you know it, you discover the western you are watching is a Christmas tale.
19. We’re No Angels (1955) with Humphrey Bogart, Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray, Leo G. Carroll, Basil Rathbone, and Joan Bennett: On Devil’s Island, three escaped convicts help out a naïve family at Christmas time against a ruthless relative. The hero turns out to be Adolph. You never see Adolph, but he is Aldo Ray’s pet snake.
20. White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and Dean Jagger: They are at a Vermont ski resort; Christmas is approaching, and there’s no snow! Need I say more?
Send me an E-mail: dboffutt@suddenlink.net . |
