audreyforever Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Okay everyone, you all probably think this is weird because it's only August 29th, but I am in the midst of a huge rain storm, and for some strange reason I realized that we not to far away from Christmas! Why I came across this I don't know, but it's probably because I saw on Amazon: TCM's Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday Films. The 4 films listed are all terrific, and now I can't get out of my head those wonderful days in December when we just sit back and relax, and watch such Christmas Classics as: Christmas in Connecticut Holiday Affair Susan Slept Here The Bishop's Wife The Man Who Came to Dinner I totally understand if you don't want to post, considering we are still in summer, but I'll leave that decision up to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b41960only Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 It's rainy and foggy and cool here too! My favorite Christmas films are usually not aired on TCM: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (1947 ONLY) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE I also do enjoy MEET JOHN DOE and LARCENY, INC (which has a bit of a Christmas scene in it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 I am always really disappointed that TCM does not air those two films. In fact, I believe It's a Wonderful Life is under contract with NBC, and no one else is allowed to show it during Christmas. As for Miracle on 34th Street, this is no doubt one of my all-time favorites for December, but since it's a 20th Century Fox film, TCM doesn't have the rights. Who knows, miracles may just happen with TCM this winter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 Other networks may hold exclusive rights to It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street, but at least both titles will finally be out on blu-ray this holiday season. Another movie that I think would play well during Christmas is Kind Lady (1951), which TCM just showed on Angela Lansbury day. It all takes place right around the holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 Funny you say that because I was going to watch that but didn't, and I would of never thought it would be a holiday film! It's a Wonderful Life will look great with Blu-Ray! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuchin Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 > {quote:title=audreyforever wrote:}{quote} > Okay everyone, you all probably think this is weird because it's only August 29th, but I am in the midst of a huge rain storm, and for some strange reason I realized that we not to far away from Christmas! I don't think that's weird -- I'm getting a little frantic because I can't find the molds to make Jell-o skeletons for Halloween. Being a bit perverse, one of my favorite Christmas movies is *We're No Angels* (1955). I love the part where they're going to actually buy someone a present, but they don't know where to steal the money for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 We're No Angels is one of those classics that just doesn't get enough credit. It is really funny. Peter Ustinov is a gem! And that song, Sentimental Moments, is so beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 Cover Art for November 3rd's release of TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Holiday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayallen Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I'm so happy you mentioned *Holiday Affair* and *The Bishop's Wife*. They're two of my favorites. Those and *The Shop Around the Corner*. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottman1932 Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 While I really don't care much for the M-G-M version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the other three films are great, so it more than makes up for the addition of that film. I will look forward to it's November release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b41960only Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 The world goes around and around. My favorite film on the DVD is absolutely A CHRISTMAS CAROL. That film makes me lose it every time it's aired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 I don't know about you guys, but I prefer Christmas in Connecticut.How could you not love Barbara Stanwyck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markfp2 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 > {quote:title=audrey forever wrote:}{quote}...I believe It's a Wonderful Life is under contract with NBC, and no one else is allowed to show it during Christmas. You're correct Audrey. I read someplace that NBC has it locked up for 20 or 25 years with options to renew the contract. If TCM could ever land that one it would be a miracle. Except for rare theatrical showings, the only way to see it without commercials is on DVD. Well worth spending a few bucks for. I think they'd have a better shot with MIRACLE ON 34th Street. While Fox shows it several times a year on The Fox Movie Channel (not just at Christmas), TCM has been getting more films from them so maybe someday they'll luck out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted August 31, 2009 Author Share Posted August 31, 2009 That is too bad. But, on the bright side, TCM has got the rights to a lot of classic Christmas films, and because they have no competition in cable, It's alright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbaetz Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 The number one Christmas film is the Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol", there is no other version that comes close to this one. Charles Dickens great grand daughter is supposed to have visited the set and told them they had it exactly right. Sim is a pure joy to watch working in this wonderful film.A side note,look for a very young Patrick Macnee before he was John Steed in "The Avengers" as the young Jacob Marley. Of course the great "You'll shoot your eye out Ralphie "A Christmas Story" which has been known to be shown once or twice around Christmas. Of course all the ones mentioned here by you all......HO HO HO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 > {quote:title=audreyforever wrote:}{quote} > I don't know about you guys, but I prefer Christmas in Connecticut.How could you not love Barbara Stanwyck? I love both Barbara and Dennis Morgan in that one. I think they had pretty good chemistry. And S.Z. Sakall is great for comic relief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 S.Z. Sakall was a great character actor. He is so funny in IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Did anyone notice that Remember the Night is getting it's TCM prime time showing on Christmas Eve at 8:00? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalnovelty Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 S. Z. Sakall was so cool. I recently got to see him in one of his German movies, a 1930 comedy called "Susanne macht Ordnung" starring Truus van Aalten. S.Z. was billed under the name Szoke Szakall at the time. It was so interesting to see him so young, but still the same funny character. There was one scene in which he had to answer a phone and he got all tangled up in the cord and was having all sorts of trouble holding on to the phone, all the while muttering funny stuff in German, but with that same familiar voice. So yes let's see a S.Z. Sakall festival on TCM, and maybe they can find some of his German films, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Is that German film on DVD? If so, I'm adding it to the queue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalnovelty Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Unfortunately that German movie "Susanne macht Ordnung" is not available on DVD or video or on TV anywhere that I'm aware of. I had to travel to a Film Archive to view it on 16mm, and I'd not be at all surprised if that's the only print there is. I watched it along with three other rare German films on 16mm, all featuring actress/comedienne Truus van Aalten, who was the reason for my viewing the films. It was an extra bonus to get to see the young S.Z. Sakall as well. If anyone has any tips or leads on where or how to find that one or other rarely seen late 1920's & 1930's German movies, please do let us know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollywoodGolightly Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 musicalnovelty, Was that film archive in the U.S. or in a German-speaking country? Just curious. It sounds like some very interesting piece of film history - though I suppose you'd better be fluent in German in order to enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicalnovelty Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 It was in an American archive I saw the four German films...A trip to Germany is a bit out of my budget! The one with S.Z. actually was released in the U.S. in when it was new, but only for German markets, so not subtitled. And so the print I saw was totally in German. And I don't know German, so I had to try to figure out what was going on. But I was able to follow it pretty well, having learned all I could about it already before seeing it. And by the way, in addition to having S.Z. Sakall in the cast, the leading man in the story was Franz Lederer, soon to come to Hollywood as Francis Lederer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrinceSaliano Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1951) is THE number one Christmas movie. The MGM version with Reginald Owen is also very entertaining. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is like fruitcake...not especially palatable but a part of the season...Capra-corn. I'm happy BEN-HUR (1925) is being shown this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audreyforever Posted September 4, 2009 Author Share Posted September 4, 2009 Ben-Hur is a lot of fun, it's just as good as the 1959 one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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