Thursday 13- Christmas movie style!

Last week I mentioned some of my favorite Christmas songs. Today I thought I would post 13 of my favorite Christmas movies as part of my Thursday 13.

It's A Wonderful Life (1946): One of my favorite movies! My sister Martha and I watch it every year at Thanksgiving (to kick off the Christmas movie watching season). A classic tale of a man who gets to see what his hometown would be like had he never lived. Jimmy Stewart is another one of my favorite actors! By the way, I prefer the black and white version, not the colorized version!

White Christmas (1954): One of my favorite Bing Crosby movies! A successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.

Holiday Inn (1942): At an inn which is only open on holidays, a crooner and a hoofer vie for the affections of a beautiful up-and-coming performer. The song "White Christmas" made it's debut in this movie. Bing Crosby's version will forever be my favorite one of this song.

Christmas Child (2003): A life-sized nativity leads a man to learn about his past. Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman makes an appearance in this movie as a preacher who sings (not too much of an acting stretch for him!) :)

Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): Repelled by the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas. This is my favorite scene in the movie!

A Christmas Carol (1984): An old miser who makes excuses for his uncaring nature learns real compassion when 3 ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve. This movie has been remade many times, but the George C. Scott version has to be my favorite!

Miracle on 34th Street (1947): I prefer the older version, I didn't really care for the remake of this back in the 90s. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. Again, give me the black and white version of this movie, I don't like colorization of old movies! This is a cute scene in the movie.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945): A food writer who has lied about being the perfect housewife must try to cover her deception when her boss and a returning war hero invite themselves to her home for a traditional family Christmas.

The Bishop's Wife (1947): Ah, Cary Grant. Gotta love him! A bishop trying to get a new cathedral built prays for guidance. Yes, they remade this as The Preacher's Wife back in the 90s, again, I prefer the original! I love the trailer for the movie!

A Christmas Story (1983): You'll shoot your eye out! Ralphie has to convince his parents, teachers, and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940's.

 

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 cartoon version): A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.

 

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): The Muppet characters tell their version of the classic tale of an old and bitter miser's redemption on Christmas Eve. I love this scene! Rizzo!


 

The Christmas Box (1995): I think I like this one because I like Richard Thomas (John Boy from The Waltons). A ski-shop owner and his wife and daughter move in with an elderly widow who needs help. Meanwhile he suffers from recurring dreams.
 

Honorable Mentions:

Babes in Toyland (1961): Since I grew up watching The Disney Channel, this version aired all the time, especially at Christmas. Besides, who doesn't like a good Annette Funicello movie! After getting fired for messing up an order from Santa Claus, toymakers Stan and Ollie rescue Bo-Peep and Tom Tom from Bogeyland.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983): What can I say, I watched a lot of The Disney Channel back in the 80's. This is the first version of A Christmas Carol that I remember seeing. The classic Disney animated characters play the roles in this animated retelling of the Charles Dickens masterpiece.

One Magic Christmas (1985): An angel must show a mother the true meaning of Christmas. It's not just presents and materialistic things, but the people she cares about.

(I just discovered these below last year and absolutely love them!)

 

Remember the Night (1940): This stars Fred MacMurray (of My Three Sons fame) and Barbara Stanwyck (from Christmas in Connecticut). Just before Christmas, Lee Leander is caught shoplifting. It is her third offense. She is prosecuted by John Sargent. He gets the trial postponed because it is hard to get a conviction at Christmastime. But he feels sorry for her and arranges for her bail, and ends up taking her home to his mother for Christmas.

 

Fitzwilly (1967): I'm ashamed to admit this is a Dick Van Dyke movie I had never even heard of until last year when it aired on the Turner Classic Movie channel. It also stars Barbara Feldon (AKA Agent 99 to all you Get Smart fans!) A butler funds his employer's charitable activities with various illicit schemes, climaxing in an attempt to rob Gimbels department store on Christmas Eve. I LOVE IT!!





I was recently told about Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash. I believe I'll be having that for my Thirsty Thursday.

I'm not really wearing a "special outfit", but I am wearing my Texas Rangers snowmen earrings. I've been wearing these all week.

Have a great day!!