Hello Everyone!
I'm new here but have been a TCM fan since it's inception. I thought I would start out by offering a personal "Best" list for one of my fav genre's - Christmas movies. This list is open for discussion and I'd really enjoy any feedback. I know that I've left out a lot of other peoples favs - but hey, that's the fun of these types of forms right? To get others opinions and thoughts. BTW, as the list will suggest, I'm 56 going on 6 and I'm a nut for the holidays! Anyway, here goes:

1. A Christmas Carol - 1951 with Alistair Sims
In my opinion, this is the best version of the Dickens classic. Black & White, moody, kind of campy with the perfect cast. Alistair Sims is so good & believable in this role from start to finish. My favorite scene is him in the restaurant asking the waiter for more bread. 2nd fav is the scene with his house maid and the junk dealer. Just doesn't get any better than those.

2. The Gathering - 1977 with Ed Asner
Yeah, I know it's a made for TV film but I'm from around the Cleveland area and the 1st scene in Chagrin Falls, Ohio just screams out holiday feeling. Many of you may not be familiar with this flick as it hasn't been released on DVD yet and doesn't get any air play. It's a real tear jerker about Asner finding out he only has a couple months to live and trying to reconnect with his estranged family. Maureen Stapleton plays his wife who helps him get the family together for a Christmas reunion - aka the title "The Gathering".

3. It's A Wonderful Life - 1946 with Jimmy Stewart
No reason to go on about this one except to say that no Christmas would be complete without it. I love ALL of Frank Capra's movies but this one is my absolute fav of all time!

4 A Christmas Story – 1983 with Peter Billingsley
Ok, I live near Cleveland so how could I not rank this holiday gem near the top. Being nostalgic, it doesn’t get better than Christmas in the 1940’s. I have watched this movie every year with my son who is now 19 and never get tired of it. From Ralphie’s burning desire for a Red Rider BB gun to Darren McGavin’s hilarious cussing at the furnace and his car to the infamous major award leg lamp, A Christmas Story is just a treasure and timeless holiday entertainment.

5. The Shop Around the Corner – 1940 Jimmy Stewart
Ernst Lubitsch direction in this film comes as close to Frank Capra’s style as any other I’ve seen. While it’s not a 100% Christmas movie, the final 20 minutes rivals any other holiday fare out there. The flick has it all, including a great love story, snow, the great character actors Frank Morgan as Mr. Matuschek and Felix Bressart as Pirovitch and so much more. It’s just a real pleasant film to cuddle up by a roaring fire with a cup of hot coco and watch with the entire family.

6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989 with Chevy Chase
This movie is exactly why we don’t have larger family get togethers during the holidays. Of all the “Vacation" movies by NL, this is without a doubt the best. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold and his dysfunctional family have me in stitches every time I watch it. There are parts of the flick that are – dare I say, pee your pants funny. From the hunt for the Griswold family Christmas tree, to the scene where Clark finally gets his lights to work, forcing the power company to switch on their auxiliary nuclear power, the movie delivers hilarious holiday fun for all.

7. A Christmas Carol - 1984 with George C. Scott
Yeah, I know I already listed another A Christmas Carol, and this too is a made for TV flick. However, George C. Scott’s tour-de-force performance in this one just can’t be ignored. Just hearing Scott scream out “*MR. CRATCHIT*” with that snarllly, low voice sends shivers up my spine. Plus, the ghost scenes are really well done and believable. The junk dealer scene with Peter Woodthorpe as Old Joe scratching himself is truly classic.

8. One Magic Christmas - 1985 with Mary Steenburgen
Although a little hokey, this flick has it’s memorable moments. Especially the acting turned in by little cutie Elisabeth Harnois as Abbie Grainger and by Harry Dean Stanton as the drowned cowboy, turned angle, Gideon. The scene with Abbie at the North Pole with Santa is truly heartwarming. Also, the scene where Ginny Hanks Grainger, (played by Mary Steenburgen), finds her old letter to Santa, is Christmas movie fare at it’s finest.

9. The Bishops Wife - 1947 with Cary Grant
The Bishops Wife is good clean holiday fun from start to finish. And who better to play the slightly mischievous angle “Dudley” than the suave Cary Grant. David Niven as Henry Brougham is excellent as the young over his head bishop, trying desperately to get a new cathedral built that is more a monument to his own ego. My favorite scene is when Dudley, Julia (played by Loretta Young) and Sylvester the taxi driver (played by James Gleason) stop to do a little ice skating. Their jovial banter and playfulness is so nostalgic and pure, it sucks you right into the scene. Another fav scene is Dudley’s rendering of David’s Psalm to little Debby Brougham (played by Karolyn Grimes). The tender tone that Dudley delivers it, and the look on Julia’s and Henry’s face while watching, is timeless.

10. Miracle on 34th Street – 1947 with Edmund Gwenn
Ah, bet you thought I’d leave this one out huh. This has to be the quintessential “I Believe” Christmas classic. Although the theme has been done over and over in other films, Miracle on 34th drives home it’s message better than the rest. The court room US mail scene is truly one of the best in this genre.

Honorable mention:
Pocket Full of Miracles - 1961 Another Capra great
How the Grinch Stole Christmas - 1966 with Boris Karloff narating
A Charlie Brown Christmas - 1965 Worth seeing for the jazz music alone

Well that’s it. Do you agree – disagree? What are your favorite Christmas movies? Classic or contemporary, full holiday or with just a smattering of Christmas visuals or dialog. It’s the perfect time of year to discuss. As I already said, I’m 56 going on 6! Happy Holidays and "God Bless Us, Every One!"

Edited by: ClassicCoCoNUT on Nov 20, 2009 9:54 PM
Fixed some typos to make the list easier to read and added an honorable mention section.