I guess the season is upon us. American Thanksgiving is past, Black Friday is taking place and the Christmas movies will soon be everywhere. Unless you’re a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, in which case I think they started some time around June. Which means already thousands of well dressed, up and coming city dwellers have already been dumped in favour of guys wearing flannel. And as I am currently wearing flannel, I won’t go against that.
But we probably all have our favourite movies this time of year. I know I have several. Movies that I just have to see at some time over the next few weeks or the season will not be complete.
For me, that has to include A Christmas Carol. And not just any version will do. It has to be the 1951 version with Alastair Sim as Scrooge.
And the original version of Miracle of 34th Street. The one with Natalie Wood as the daughter. Not the remake with Natalie Wood as the mother. Or the even later remake. I need that original.
And of course, It’s A Wonderful Life. To me, it just doesn’t seem like Christmas until George figures out his purpose in life and the cornflakes start falling again. I know. It’s supposed to be snow. But we know it isn’t real snow. But I still need to see it.
I’d also have to throw in A Christmas Story. I haven’t seen the updated version of the story, but I have to put that on my list, at least for this year. We’ll see if it remains there after this year.
And of course, if I can squeeze them in, Home Alone and Christmas Vacation.
And the one that I have to watch every year, even though I will agree with many that it isn’t a Christmas movie… Die Hard. Christmas isn’t really Christmas until Hans Gruber falls off the Nakatomi Tower. I even have a John McLane Christmas ornament. And I was given a Die Hard picture book version, which, since it’s sort of kid oriented, is a little light on the Yippee Ki-Yay’s, but that’s to be expected.
I’d also have to throw in a few TV shows, like How The Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
So many things to see, and so little time to see them all. But it’s part of the season.
