Back when I lived in Virginia, we could barely get network TV in our rural area, and cable had not found its way that far into the country. So, we watched VHS tapes – generally tapes that my mom recorded in Florida and sent our way. One of those was a Christmas tape, and it had my three favorite Christmas movies.
1) It’s a Wonderful Life – delightfully sentimental and sappy. No Christmas season is complete without it.
2) A Christmas Story – this was before the movie was driven into general consciousness by the 24 hour Ralphie-a-thon on TBS every year. There is barely a moment in that movie that is not brilliant. I lived some of it growing up in the Midwest.
Be careful not to shoot your eye out. And yes, your tongue will stick to the frozen pole.
3) A Christmas Carol. I believe in healthy debate, but this is not open for discussion. There is only one version of this Dickens classic worth watching (actually, the old one with Mr. Magoo as Scrooge wasn’t bad) and that is the George C. Scott version. That man was born to play Patton and Ebenezer Scrooge. I will not tolerate dissent on this topic. If you wish to watch inferior versions, I cannot stop you, but this version (was it 1983?) is the best of them all. Don’t argue with me!
When our kids were younger, it was a family tradition. We watched these movies together to get the Christmas season started.
So, what are your favorite Yuletide classics? Miracle on 34th Street? White Christmas? Scrooged? Are you low-class enough to love Tim Allen’s Santa Clause(s)? Are you a fan of the Grinch?
By the way, though it is not a movie, the Andy Griffith Christmas Show is the the single most brilliant half hour of television ever.
I won’t be around to discuss, but I will have my phone and can delete comments that dissent from my authoritative opinion about A Christmas Carol.
For those of you who have never had this glorious experience, the YouTubes has the full Christmas episode of Andy Griffith.
- If you invest 26 minutes it will turn your Grinchy heart all festive.
- You will never hear a better version of Away in a Manger that Andy and Ellie sing. (Why didn’t Andy marry Ellie? She was WAY better than Helen!)
- Barney is the worst Santa ever. He’s still great.
- If ol’ Ben singing through the bars in the window doesn’t put a tear in your eye, your heart is hard beyond help.
Here it is. You might want to get a tissue before you watch this.
