One of my favorite hobbies is collecting holiday films, especially those that bring out the true spirit of Christmas. For those of you with a high speed internet connection, you may wish to visit my YouTube site at www.youtube.com/priestray for a video I made that promotes some of these Christmas films. You may aldo go right to the Christmas video by clicking onto the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAeVT8Ww2Sw
Some of the vintage classic holiday films I highy recommend are as follows:
My personal Christmas favorite is IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE with James Stewart and Donna Reed.
There are several versions of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens. My favorite is the 1951 version with Alastair Sim as Scrooge.
One of my all-time favorite actors is Cary Grant. Be sure to check out his holiday classic, entitled THE BISHOP'S WIFE. (David Niven is the Anglican Bishop, Loretta Young is his wife and Cary Grant is a visiting angel.)
As with the case of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, there have also been several versions of MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. My favorite is the 1947 version with Edmund Gwenn in his academy award role as Santa Claus. Natalie Wood plays the little girl.
Christmas would not be complete without Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, featuring Bing Crosby singing the title song and the cast includes some popular actors and actresses.
For a couple films that guarantee some good chuckles and true Christmas cheer, be sure to see CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT with Barbara Stanwyck and THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan.
An Oscar-winning film that will steal your hearts is THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S. Ingrid Bergman is magnficent as the mother superior and Bing Crosby recreates his Academy Award role from GOING MY WAY in this film as well.
If you are a fan of British television comedies, as I am, be sure to rent or purchase the Christmas episodes of both THE VICAR OF DIBLEY and ARE YOU BEING SERVED?
There are some contemporary holiday films I recommend as well, although some of them contain a few crude words. The titles are: 1.) LOVE ACTUALLY, 2.) EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, 3.) A CHRISTMAS STORY (has become a holiday classic over the past 25 years), 4.) THE FAMILY STONE, 5.) CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS
For children and adults alike, you will will love THE POLAR EXPRESS.
As a post-script, I just obtained a few classic Christmas films that have been re-released: They are: 1.) BLOSSOM IN THE DUST; 2.) IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVENUE; 3.) HOLIDAY AFFAIR; 4.) ALL MINE TO GIVE.
I want to wish all of you the best of the holiday season, and please enjoy some good Christmas-themed movies.
