Holiday movies bright, even in black and white
Christmas in Hollywood
By Dave Workman Special to the Acorn Newspapers

Some may feel that the same ol’ classic movies have been aired way too much during the holidays—again and again and again. But others (me among them) take a subtle joy in setting the holiday season with another colorless dose of Jimmy and Cary and Bing. (Granny’s high-octane goose liver eggnog helps.) But these Christmas staples aren’t the only game in town. These days, there are plenty of holiday flicks to set the season bright. For those of you who are more into Tim Burton than Tiny Tim, here’s a list of personal favorites for practically everybody.

B&W traditionalists: In “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947) little Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) doesn’t believe in Santa Claus—but he believes in her. In Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) Jimmy Stewart wonders what life would be like without him (but of course, you knew that). Charles Dickens’ infamous Scrooge first came to the silver screen (in the guise of Alistair Sim) in 1938’s “A Christmas Carol.” There have been newer versions, but none better than the scratchy, grainy black and white original that brings home the right blend of nostalgia and spirit. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as marriage-minded song-and-dance buddies who, after WWII, want nothing more than a “White Christmas.” A close runner-up is Crosby (with Fred Astaire) in 1944’s “Holiday Inn,” which, ironically, introduced Bing’s classic rendition of “White Christmas.”

Near classics: Chances are you’ve seen the Norman Rockwell-esque “A Christmas Story” (1983), aired almost as much as “It’s a Wonderful Life” this time of year. Ralphie wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree. The scene where Ralphie’s friend sticks his tongue to a frozen flagpole (because he was double dog dared) is worth watching. “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945) stars Barbara Stanwyck as a noncooking cooking expert who ends up making Christmas dinner for war hero Dennis Morgan. In “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947), Cary Grant plays Dudley, a dapper angel who steps in to straighten out the lives of Loretta Young and David Niven.

Next generation classics:

“The Polar Express” may just be the sleeper hit of many a Christmas to come. The animated fantasy (voiced by Tom Hanks, among others) concerns a doubtful boy aboard a magical train headed for the North Pole on Christmas Eve. In “Scrooged” (1988), yuppie Bill Murray updates the traditional Dickens’ tale with humor and panache and, believe it or not, it’s what our grandkids may someday call a Yuletide classic. Slightly irreverent but somehow magnificently magical, Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is utterly watchable.

For the Christmas renegade: In “Bad(der) Santa,” Billy Bob Thornton plays a hard-drinking thief who masquerades as a department store Santa so he can clean out fat safes during the Christmas rush. It gets a little violent toward the end, but the resolution is strictly holiday fare. “The Ref” is about Gus (Dennis Leary), a cat burglar who takes a dysfunctional couple (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) hostage on Christmas Eve. It’s coarse and loud, but with a sweet ending—y’know, one of those holiday message movies.

The rugged individualist: Based on a true incident in 1914,

in “Joyeux Noel” (2005, French) German, French and British soldiers drop their weapons for one night of unauthorized peace and serenity. It’s a moving, poignant tribute. Also based on a true event, “Silent Night” (2002, TV) is a WWII tale about a group of American soldiers who confront a group of German soldiers at a French farmhouse on Christmas Eve—and sit down together for dinner. A tad less tranquil, “Die Hard” isn’t exactly about Christmas. It’s about a lot of over-the-top action that takes place around Christmas.

Holiday relationship buffs: “The Family Stone” depicts both sides of family love in a bittersweet Christmas tale. “Bridget Jones’ Diary” is another almost Christmas fable about love and loss and love again. “Love Actually” depicts several families attempting to survive one another and the holidays. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” meanders cleverly about a Christmas theme but delivers an utterly Christmasfriendly message—both Steve Martin and John Candy give superb performances. “Grumpy Old Men” (1993) provides a nice Yuletide lilt, snuck in between Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau’s hilariously cantankerous escapades.

For the cherubs: The original “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) features both Charles Shultz’ Peanuts gang and Vince Guaraldi’s jazz piano at their best—this one only improves with age. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966) is Dr. Seuss’ original animated treat, read by a surprisingly melodious Boris Karloff. Less about Christmas joy than a child’s homage to selfsurvival, “Home Alone” (1990) has become a bona fide Christmas treat. Have a terrific holiday!