Be it A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Miracle on 34th Street, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, everyone has a favorite Christmas show. What's yours?
22 comments:
ScottDS
said...
Even though I'm Jewish, I grew up watching A Muppet Family Christmas which was actually one of the first Henson productions to include characters from The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock.
This will sound sacrilegious but I've never seen any of the shows you mentioned in their entirety, even Charlie Brown. Off to Netflix...!
If we're also doing movies, then I will throw my hat into the ring and mention National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Die Hard. :-)
I remember going with my mom and younger brother to see A Muppet Christmas Carol when I was little. I thought the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was surprisingly dark. (I hadn't read the original story so I didn't know what to expect.)
Scott, It was dark, but all good kids movies/books, etc. used to have darker elements in them -- look at any of the classic Disneys or any of the fairy tales of old.
They used to strive to inject real emotion into kids to make the stories and lessons memorable. Today they want everything sugar coated, easy to swallow, shallow, and obvious. It's kind of sad really.
I'm with patti - Hands down "It's A Wonderful Life". I still cry when George runs through Bedford Falls yelling "Merry Christmas" to everyone including that mean Mr. Potter!
Then I can't miss "Miracle on 34th Street" with a tiny Natalie Wood, not the newer versions.
And all the versions of "A Christmas Carol" including "Scrooged" with Bill Murray.
Jesus of Nazareth...the mini-series, I have it on tape, and because it reminds me that at least once a year there is a season when most of the world at least pauses to think of Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God who gave so much that all might be made free. Merry Christmas.
I just want to add one more - "The Christmas Show" at Radio City Music Hall. If you ever get a chance to see this show you will not be disappointed. The Rockettes are fabulous and they still have the last quarter of the show is devoted to the birth of Jesus and the gifts from the Magi including live camels and manger livestock! It's just spectacular!
Scott: "Die Hard"... I just watched this last night! LOL! It is a Christmas movie after all. And don't forget about "Lethal Weapon" too!
I'm a big fan of the stop-motion animated classics such as "Year Without a Santa Claus" (featuring the Heat Miser and Snow Miser characters.) I also like a rare HBO special, "Rich Little's A Christmas Carol", where Rich Little plays every major character including W. C. Fields as Scrooge, Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit, Richard Nixon as Jacob Marley, Groucho Marx as Fezziwig, and Peter Falk and Peter Sellers as Christmas ghosts.
I like all Christmas movies, but “The Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation (as X said despite Chevy Chase), The Grinch.”
Charlie Brown Grinch (original) Frosty (original) Miracle on 34th Street (original)
I have discovered this year that there are oodles of Christmas Carol adaptations - Hallmark & ABC Family have a lot of them - and some are quite good. I got Final Jeopardy Wednesday because I had just watched several (as written & modernized)! [I got yesterday's because I was a senior in 1989].
The original Miracle on 34th street is my fave. Followed by White Christmas and pretty much all the 1940s and '50's Christmas movies.
A "dollar store" movie from 1940 I discovered a few years ago that is pretty good, but could benefit from some better editing, is called "Beyond Tomorrow". It was colorized, renamed "Beyond Christmas" and re-released on DVD by 20th Century Fox in 2004. It's a little heavy on the Catholic point of view for my Baptist background tastes, but is a charming movie. It is one I'd like to see remade as long as the original theme is handled with care. I was delighted to find another "golden age" Christmas movie when I thought I had seen them all.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" is a 46 minute story set to music with acting vignettes between each song. If like TSO, you'll like this DVD.
I'll give honorable mention to Jack Frost starring Michael Keaten.
"Prancer" is pretty good.
And because I don't know when to quit... I'll add that I've purchased several Christmas-themed Old Time Radio shows the last couple of holiday seasons and every one has been great (Jack Benny, Phil Harris, Burns and Allen, etc.)
22 comments:
Even though I'm Jewish, I grew up watching A Muppet Family Christmas which was actually one of the first Henson productions to include characters from The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock.
This will sound sacrilegious but I've never seen any of the shows you mentioned in their entirety, even Charlie Brown. Off to Netflix...!
it's a wonderful life, then white christmas.
My favorite is A Muppet Christmas Carol. . . and of course, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Well, and of course, It's a Charlie Brown Christmas -- sad tree Mr. Brown. And then there's Frosty the Snowman. And the Year Without Christmas.
Hmm. . . now that I think about it, I think I like them all.
P.S. Patti, I like those too -- and The Bishop's Wife with David Niven. . . good stuff!
If we're also doing movies, then I will throw my hat into the ring and mention National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Die Hard. :-)
I remember going with my mom and younger brother to see A Muppet Christmas Carol when I was little. I thought the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come was surprisingly dark. (I hadn't read the original story so I didn't know what to expect.)
Scott, It was dark, but all good kids movies/books, etc. used to have darker elements in them -- look at any of the classic Disneys or any of the fairy tales of old.
They used to strive to inject real emotion into kids to make the stories and lessons memorable. Today they want everything sugar coated, easy to swallow, shallow, and obvious. It's kind of sad really.
Christmas Story and National Lampoon.
I'm with patti - Hands down "It's A Wonderful Life". I still cry when George runs through Bedford Falls yelling "Merry Christmas" to everyone including that mean Mr. Potter!
Then I can't miss "Miracle on 34th Street" with a tiny Natalie Wood, not the newer versions.
And all the versions of "A Christmas Carol" including "Scrooged" with Bill Murray.
Jesus of Nazareth...the mini-series, I have it on tape, and because it reminds me that at least once a year there is a season when most of the world at least pauses to think of Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God who gave so much that all might be made free.
Merry Christmas.
I just want to add one more - "The Christmas Show" at Radio City Music Hall. If you ever get a chance to see this show you will not be disappointed. The Rockettes are fabulous and they still have the last quarter of the show is devoted to the birth of Jesus and the gifts from the Magi including live camels and manger livestock! It's just spectacular!
Bev, We watched that on PBS the other night. I loved the dancing Teddy Bears!
1. The 1938 A Christmas Carol with Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Leo G. Carroll as Marley.
2. The 1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street.
And like DC AlleyKat, we always watch Jesus of Nazareth during Christmas Week (as well as Easter Week).
I am one of those oddballs who like It's A Wonderful Life, but never thought of it as a definitive Christmas movie.
I also prefer Holiday Inn to White Christmas, though White Christmas is definitely the prettier production.
Scott: "Die Hard"... I just watched this last night! LOL! It is a Christmas movie after all. And don't forget about "Lethal Weapon" too!
I'm a big fan of the stop-motion animated classics such as "Year Without a Santa Claus" (featuring the Heat Miser and Snow Miser characters.) I also like a rare HBO special, "Rich Little's A Christmas Carol", where Rich Little plays every major character including W. C. Fields as Scrooge, Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit, Richard Nixon as Jacob Marley, Groucho Marx as Fezziwig, and Peter Falk and Peter Sellers as Christmas ghosts.
Pitts, I love the Miser brothers!
Ooh, LawHawk, how could I forget "Holiday Inn" and "White Christmas". You can't have Christmas without Bing!
I love "Lethal Weapon" - You don't get a more definitive opening for a Christmas movie than "Jinglebell Rock"!
It's a Wonderful Life
Then,in no particular order
Charlie Brown Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Christmas Vacation (despite Chevy Chase)
I like all Christmas movies, but “The Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation (as X said despite Chevy Chase), The Grinch.”
Charlie Brown
Grinch (original)
Frosty (original)
Miracle on 34th Street (original)
I have discovered this year that there are oodles of Christmas Carol adaptations - Hallmark & ABC Family have a lot of them - and some are quite good.
I got Final Jeopardy Wednesday because I had just watched several (as written & modernized)! [I got yesterday's because I was a senior in 1989].
I am with Scott - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation stands atop my list.
The original Miracle on 34th street is my fave. Followed by White Christmas and pretty much all the 1940s and '50's Christmas movies.
A "dollar store" movie from 1940 I discovered a few years ago that is pretty good, but could benefit from some better editing, is called "Beyond Tomorrow". It was colorized, renamed "Beyond Christmas" and re-released on DVD by 20th Century Fox in 2004. It's a little heavy on the Catholic point of view for my Baptist background tastes, but is a charming movie. It is one I'd like to see remade as long as the original theme is handled with care. I was delighted to find another "golden age" Christmas movie when I thought I had seen them all.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve" is a 46 minute story set to music with acting vignettes between each song. If like TSO, you'll like this DVD.
I'll give honorable mention to Jack Frost starring Michael Keaten.
"Prancer" is pretty good.
And because I don't know when to quit... I'll add that I've purchased several Christmas-themed Old Time Radio shows the last couple of holiday seasons and every one has been great (Jack Benny, Phil Harris, Burns and Allen, etc.)
THE FAMILY MAN with Nick Cage!
USArtguy, I really liked the Tran-Siberian Orchestra (liked Bond too).
Cheryl, I actually haven't seen that.
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